THERE were much smaller entries at the South Molton Sheep Market in Devon last week. Below, you will find the market report for October 19 2023. 

758 prime lambs
A much smaller entry this week which was surprising as the lamb trade hardened this week. Overall a decent quality entry this week with fewer lighter and leaner lambs forward. Again, this week a large contingent of the entry were heavy (over 50kgs) all lambs were well wanted this week especially considering the smaller entry.

Numbers have been short nationally this week which appears to be driving the trade upwards as abattoirs are still reporting that the actual sales of the lambs are very slow. Best trade for all the heavy well fleshed lambs and the well-fed 43-46kg lambs especially. A few more buyers around the ring this week which also helped the trade.

Topping the market with £157.00 for a 60kg Charollais cross lamb was Mr SJ Bale of Challacombe.  Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh saw the best of their lambs to £154.80 for their Suffolk cross lamb. £153.00 was achieved for Messrs DL & JM Bray & Son of Knowstone for a 59kg Texel cross lamb. Tucker Crooke Burnell Ltd of North Tawton had a good run of lambs, firstly with a pen of 56.4kg Charollais cross lambs to £150.00 and secondly a pen of 54.4kg Charollais cross lambs to £147.20. The same vendor having other notable pens to £146.00 for 54.3kg Suffolk cross lambs. £147.00 to 55.2kg lambs from Mr G Clark from South Molton. Messrs RJ & KJ Cole of Ashreigney saw a pen of 57.2kg Suffolk cross lambs to £146.50. This was followed by a pen of 56kg Suffolk cross lambs to £144.50 from Messrs MW & SE Woolridge of Burrington. Miss S. Stentiford had a 54kg Charollais cross lamb to £142.00.

Best pens peaked to 274ppk to 42.6kg Meatlink cross lambs from Messrs Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh. This was closely followed by a pen of 45kg Charollais cross lambs to 273ppk for Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh. Tucker Crooke Burnell Ltd of North Tawton reached 271ppk for a pen of 54.4kg Charollais cross lambs. 270ppk was achieved twice. Firstly, for Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton for 44.7kg Charollais cross lambs and secondly for Messrs ME & SE Woolridge of Burrington for a pen of 43.2kg Suffolk cross Lambs. 269ppk was attained three times this week. Firstly, for Tucker Crooke Burnell Ltd of North Tawton with a pen of 54.3kg Suffolk cross lambs, secondly for Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh with their pen of 52.7kg lambs and thirdly for Messrs Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh with their 43.9kg Meatlink cross lambs. 268ppk was achieved four times. Firstly, for Messrs GW Jones & Sons of South Molton for their 44kg Texel cross lambs, secondly for Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton for their 43.8kg Texel cross lambs, thirdly for Mr SJ Bale of Challacombe for his 43.4 kg Texel cross lamb and finally for Messrs RJ & J Ridd for their 44.1kg Texel cross lambs.

178 Cull Ewes
As with the lambs, a much smaller entry than previous weeks. Again, a very mixed quality entry with very few big ewes forward. Trade very similar to last week with lots of grazing ewe buyers around the ring ensuring all ewes met a strong demand. Not so many very small ewes forward week or very plain ewes. As with the lambs, main buyers are reporting that the last two week’s stronger trade is due to the smaller numbers being sold nationally rather than much improvement in actual meat sales.

£125.00 was the top call for Suffolk ewes this week for Mr Jk May of Bideford. The same vendor having other notable pens of Suffolk ewes to £98.50. £107.00 was achieved for Messrs GW Jones & Sons of South Molton for their Texel cross ewe. Messrs WJ Woollacott & Sons of South Molton had a pen of Suffolk ewes to £104.00. £100.00 was reached for Mr AJ Huxtable of Bratton Flemming. Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh had a pen of mule ewes to £98.00.