Stags of South Molton report a larger entry again of new season lambs as they begin to come forward in leaps and bounds.

Trade was strong from start to finish with all buyers very keen to secure lambs especially the continentals crosses in the 38-43kg range with a few pens even pushing towards to 290ppk barrier.

It is clear that lambs want to be sold lighter as the heavier sorts (over 47kg) make less money.

It is a very export driven trade at the moment and the best prices are at present for the 38-43kg lambs.

Best pens to 289ppk twice; the first to 40.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge, the first big pick of just shy of 180 lambs being sold for the family, with the second to 39.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs DW & AE Enticott of Ashbrittle.

288ppk again to 41kg Charollais crosses from the Mills Family whose 41.5kg Suffolk cross pen followed at 286ppk and similar weight Charollais crosses at 284ppk.

283ppk three times; the first to 40.5kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh; the second to 41.9kg Charollais and Suffolk crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and the third to 41.4kg Charollais crosses from the Mills Family.

281ppk also three times; the first to 41.6kg Texel crosses again from the Enticott Family; the second to 40.5kg Pure Suffolks from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton and the third to 42kg Suffolk crosses from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton.

280ppk to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde with 278ppk three times; the first to 42.1kg Charollais and Suffolk crosses again from the Thorne Family; the second to 41.7kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh and the third to 41.3kg Suffolk crosses from Mr J Norman of Shirwell.

Top of the day at £119.50 to 43.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton closely followed at £119 for further Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey.

£118.80 twice; the first to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde and the second to 41.5kg Suffolk crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge.

£118.50 to 41.9kg Charollais and Suffolk crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreingey closely followed at £118.20 twice; the first to 42.9kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh and the second to 41.6kg Charollais crosses again from the Mills Family.

£118 twice; the first to 42kg Suffolk crosses from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton and the second to 41kg Charollais crosses from the Mills Family whose 41.4kg similar bred pen followed at £117.20.

£117 three times; the first to 41.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs DW & AE Enticott of Ashbrittle; the second to 42.2kg Suffolk crosses from Mr J Norman of Shirwell and the third to 42.1kg Charollais and Suffolk crosses again from the Thorne Family.

£116.50 to 42.8kg Suffolk crosses from Mr WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton. £116 four times; the first and second pen to 40-41kg Texel and Charollais crosses from the Mills Family; the third to 41.7kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh and the fourth to 42.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr Westaway again.

Another decent number of hoggs this week with a varied selection and again a large number of lesser quality types on offer as we near towards the end of the season.

As predicted the heavier hoggs are getting harder and harder to place especially the very fat hoggs.

It is unlikely this will change anytime sooner unfortunately.

Again the best trade for the export type hoggs (42-46kg) with many pens in the 210ppk plus bracket.

Topping the day at £99 to 67kg Suffolk crosses from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy with £98 to 64kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs J & J Watts of Goodleigh.

£96.50 to 61kg Texel crosses from Mr WJ Crocker & Son of Okehampton closely followed at £96.20 to 46kg Texel crosses from Mr PG Brown of East Worlington.

Seven pens at £95; the first and second to 47.9kg & 60kg Texel crosses from Messrs IFJ & JC Harris of Beaworthy; the third to 45.6kg Texel crosses from Messrs Kimbland Partnership of Brayford; the fourth to 46.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GR McLeod of Swimbridge; the fifth to 47.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton; the sixth to 46.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs B & T Baker of Alverdiscott and the seventh to 48.6kg Texel crosses from Mr & Mrs CTJ Ford of Chulmleigh.

Best pens to 217ppk to 40.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs B & T Baker of Alverdiscott with 216ppk to 36kg Texel crosses from Messrs PM & ME Smale of Burrington.

212ppk to 43.9kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers of Warkleigh with 210ppk four times; the first to 43.9kg Berrichons from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe; the second to 44kg Charollais crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill; the third to 44kg Texel crosses from Messrs Kimbland Partnership of Brayford and the fourth to 44.4kg Texel crosses from Mr PG Brown of East Worlington.

209ppk thrice; the first to 44kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh; the second to 44.5kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs J & J Watts of Goodleigh and the third to 46kg Texel crosses again from Mr Brown.

A smaller number of cull sheep compared to last week and definitely a lesser trade.

A large proportion of the ewes forward are too thick which appears to be a national problem.

As a result the leaner ewes are even more wanted and making as much money as the last fortnight.

The more thick ewes come forward the less they are being wanted with a number of abattoirs simply not wanting any thick ewes.

All buyers present but all wanting the same type of ewe.

Ramadan has started so trade likely to remain similar for the next couple of weeks.

Best Suffolk Mules this week £90-£105 and best Mules £65-75.

Topping the day at £123.50 for a grand Suffolk Mules from Messrs Cook Partners of Georgeham with similar ewes from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland at £113.

Further blackfaces from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton at £110 closely followed at £109.50 to other Suffolk crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge.

£105 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs IP & JIW Carey of Stoodleigh and second to Mules from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh.

£100 twice also; the first to Texel from the Dart Family again and the second to Berrichons from Messrs MC & YD Yeo of Yarnscombe.

£98.50 twice; both to Texel crosses from Mr AW Selley & Son of Ash Mill and Messrs Bragg & Jennings of South Molton.

£98 to Texels from Mr N Rottenbury of Heasley Mill with Suffolk Mules from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh.

Best rams to Texel from Mr AJ Webber of Umberleigh.