Stags of South Molton report another decent entry of lambs again this week and overall another strong quality entry.

Trade as expected slightly back on last week but actually better than anticipated first thing. Best trade for the lambs with weight and a good covering with all lambs over the 43kg mark meeting plenty of demand. The heavier lambs again as dear as last week and more buyers this week for the lighter, leaner lambs helping them sell fractionally better. Trade looks to be holding as we head towards the Qurbani festival and for at least the next two to three weeks buyers are seeking lambs that are over six months old with a signed declaration.

Top of the lambs to £118 to 56kg Suffolk crosses from Mr B Elston of Rose Ash with £113 to 50.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr JC Webber of Burrington. £112.50 to 50kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & LM Stephens of Oldways End closely followed at £112 twice; the first to 50kg Texel crosses from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Chulmleigh and the second to 54kg Charollais crosses from Mr WJ Ellicott of Morebath. £111 to 49.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr AJ Mather of Arlington with £110.20 to 49.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe. £110 twice; the first to 50kg Texel crosses from Mr RD Middleton & Son and the second to 60kg Charollais crosses again from Mr WJ Ellicott. £109.80 to 50kg Dorset crosses from Mr BEJ Hallett of Pennymoor with £109.50 to 50kg Suffolk crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton. £109 to 54kg Pure Suffolks from Mr R Lawrence of Iddesleigh closely followed at £108.80 to 48.2kg Charollais crosses again from Messrs Woollacott.

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Best pens to 227ppk 40.4kg Texel crosses from Messrs Tester & Edwards of Tiverton with 226ppk to 48.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe. 225ppk to 50kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & LM Stephens of Oldways End with 224ppk three times; the first to 50.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr JC Webber of Burrington; the second to 50kg Texel crosses from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Chulmleigh and the third to 49.5kg Texel crosses from Mr AJ Mather of Arlington. 223ppk four times; the first to 47kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs FG & LA Nott of Meshaw; the second to 43.5kg Charollais crosses from Mrs PA Stentiford of Whiddon; the third to 44.4kg Charollais crosses from Mr GC Thomas of Burrington and the fourth to 42.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr W Milton of Chapelton. 222ppk four times; the first to 44kg Charollais crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton; the second to 41kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh; the third to 49.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Woollacott again and the fourth to 36kg Texel crosses from Messrs MT & JA Folland of Roborough. Another cracking twelve pens at 221ppk and another fourteen at 220ppk.

A similar number of cull sheep entry to last week and again a generally strong entry from start to finish. Trade definitely sharper and generally all classes of ewes up £4-6 per head on last week. Best Suffolk Mules up near £100 mark and best Mules in the late £70’s. Plenty of buyers looking for the grazing and leaner ewes and definitely more buyers for the fatter/thicker ewes. Trade looks to be holding and moving up as we move towards the Qurbani festival at the end of July. Topping the cull sheep at £128 for a super Charollais ram from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham with other Charollais rams from Mr DEJ Nott of Kennerleigh at £104. Best ewes to £120 for a cracking Pure Texel from Mrs CA Smale of North Molton who has similar pens follow at £116. £107 to further Texels from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington with a Charollais from Messrs A & S Hoskin of Bishops Nympton at £100. Suffolk Mules from Mr SG Lethbridge of Eastleigh with Texel crosses from Messrs HJ & MR Moore of Knowstone at £97.50. £96.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr Cooke again with £96 twice; both to Suffolk cross pens from Messrs KJ & V Ley of Brayford and Messrs MT James of Chawleigh. £95 three times; all to blackface ewes from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe, Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh and Mr W Smale of North Molton. £94.50 to Suffolk crosses from Messrs HJ & RH Mildon of Brayford who also had Texel crosses to £94. £93.50 to Suffolks from Mr J Norman and similar ewes again from Mr Smale at £93.