South Molton Market report for Thursday, May 14

Trade was strong from start to finish and actually got slightly firmer as the sale progressed.

Another decent quality entry as you would expect at this time of year and the full compliment of buyers around the ring. Stags urge you to keep picking the lambs as they come fit as the lighter 39-43kg lambs continue to make the most per head and per kilo generally. Best trade for the “fresher” lambs with good touch. The trade remains very export driven with the home trade still pretty quiet at the moment.

Top of the day at £115.50 for a 46kg Pure Suffolk from Mr R Lawrence of Iddesleigh with £114 twice; the first to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh, who again had yet another super run of 200 plus lambs, and the second to 43.2kg Texel crosses from Mr KA Hill of Bideford. £113.80 to 42.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs JB & MA Turner of Harracott with £113.50 twice; both pens from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton being 43-44kg Charollais and Lleyn crosses. £113.20 twice; the first to 41.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton and the second to 43.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs A & S Hoskin of Bishops Nympton. £113 twice; the first to 42.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Woollacott of South Molton and the second to 43.1kg Suffolk crosses again from Messrs Parsonage Farms. £112.80 five times; the first to 42.2kg Suffolk crosses from Mr JK May of Eastleigh; the second to 43.4kg Dorset crosses from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton; the third to 41kg Texel crosses from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey; the fourth to 42kg Charollais crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and the fifth to 42kg Suffolk crosses from Parsonage Farms. £112.50 to 42kg Texel crosses from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe with £112.20 twice; the first to 41.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey and the second to 42.7kg Texel crosses from Messrs White & Tucker of Pennymoor.

Read more: South Molton Market report for Wednesday, May 6

Best pens to 275ppk to 41kg Texel crosses from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey with 274ppk twice; the first to 39.6kg Texel crosses from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy and the second to 39.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr TJ Norman of Milverton. 272ppk to 39.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr JR Wescott & Son of Willand with 271ppk twice; the first to 39.8kg Texel crosses from Mr WJ Crocker & Sons of Okehampton and the second to 41.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr SG Lethbridge of Crediton. 270ppk twice; the first to 39kg Charollais crosses from Mrs JA Cockwill of Yarnscombe and the second to 41.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey. 269ppk five times; the first to 39.1kg Texel crosses from Messrs CJ & LM Hill of Yarnscombe; the second to 41.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr Westaway again; the third to 40.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs J & J Watts of Goodleigh; the fourth to 42kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh and the fifth to 42kg Suffolk crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney.

A similar number of hoggs to last week and a marked jump in trade especially for the best meat 44-50kg types. A large number of these hoggs are beginning to cut their first two teeth which are also meeting strong demand and generally only £10 per head behind the clean hoggs. Top of the day at £108 to 50kg Suffolk crosses from Mr MTD Pile of Dunkeswell with £107 twice; the first to 48kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Webster of Umberleigh and the second to 57.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh. £106.50 to 52kg Charollais crosses from Mr AR Bater of Chittlehamholt with £106 to 55kg Charollais crosses from Messrs MG & SP Hodnett of Pennymoor. £105.20 to 48.9kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers of Warkleigh with £105 to 60kg Texel crosses from Mrs JA Cockwill of Yarnscombe. £104 twice; the first to 55kg Texel crosses from Mr H Frankpitt of Bolham and the second to 55kg Charollais crosses from Mr DEJ Nott of Kennerleigh. Best pens to 223ppk to 48kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Webster of Umberleigh with 220ppk twice; the first to 41kg Charollais crosses from Mr LJ Ley & Partners of Goodleigh and the second to 45.7kg Charollais crosses from Mr CW Trenaman of Winkleigh. 217ppk to 30kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Webster with 215ppk twice; the first to 44kg Suffolk crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock and the second to 48.9kg Texel crosses from Messrs Beer Brothers of Warkleigh. 214ppk also to 48kg Texel crosses again from Messrs Beer Brothers with 213ppk to 43.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr P Coles of Hockworthy.

A bigger entry of cull sheep this week and again a large number of thick ewes on offer. With the market so full of sheep the sale of ewes concluded with the last 80 being sold in the “calf” ring across the road! Trade overall slightly better again with the leaner ewes still wanted. Ramadan comes to an end at the end of next week which may stimulate more demand. Top of the day at £119.50 to a pair of Pure Texels from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham with £118 to a Pure Suffolk from Mr R Lawrence of Iddesleigh. £108 to a Charollais from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton with £93.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr RF Jones of Heasley Mill. £93 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs RT & HD Kingdon of Barnstaple and the second to Texels from Messrs HJ & MR Moore of Knowstone. £88 to Suffolk Mules from Mr KA Hill of Bideford with £87 to Charollais from Mr S Stentiford of South Molton. £86.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge with £86 to similar ewes from Messrs Kingdon again. Best rams to £105 for a Charollais cross from Messrs FG & FM Saunders of Templeton.