Prime Lambs
A slightly bigger entry of prime lambs this week, despite the ideal harvesting weather. Overall a decent quality entry with less heavier lambs on offer this week and more lighter and leaner lambs forward. Trade was back on last week with those lighter (under 42kgs) and leaner lambs most affected. Again best trade for the real heavy well covered lambs although even those buyers were more cautious than last week.

Buyers are reporting that sales have dropped this week especially the export market with the continuing hot weather in Europe. It is a concern that the trade has eased this week when numbers nationally have been tight because of the good harvesting weather.

Topping the day at £160 twice; the first to 64kg Charollais crosses from Messrs RJ & AD Nicholls of West Anstey and the second to 66kg Suffolk crosses from Mr FC
Reed of North Molton. 60.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs IP & L Stagg of Newton Tracey realised £158.50 with four super pens of 56kg, 56.1kg, 57.8kg and 58.3kg Charollais crosses all from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe hitting £157, £156.50, £156 and £154.50 respectively. 58kg Texel crosses to £150 from Mr J Thorne of Barnstaple with £148.50 to 55.6kg Charollais crosses again from the Nicholls
family. £143.50 and £138.50 to 53.5kg and 53.3kg Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey with £136.20 to 53.1kg Texel crosses from Messrs A & D Bray of Twitchen.
Best pens peaked to 280ppk to 56.1kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe who also saw their 56kg pen ring the bell at 279ppk. 269ppk to 45.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr DJ Cole & Son of Bradninch with 268ppk hit three times; the first to 53.5kg Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of
Newton Tracey; the second to 58.3kg Charollais crosses again from the Woollacott family and the third to 44kg Dorset crosses from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton. Four pens met 267ppk; the first to 42.4kg Charollais crosses again from Mr DJ Cole & Son; the second to 42.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr RP Williams of Winsford; the third to 57.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott again and
the fourth to 55.6kg Charollais crosses from Messrs RJ & AD Nicholls of West Anstey. Another hat trick at 266ppk; the first to 44.7kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Eastman & Bolt of High Bickington; the second to 44.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs A & D Bray of Twitchen and the third to 41.3kg Charollais crosses from Mr GR McLeod of Swimbridge. 39.6kg Blue Texels from Mr JH Gregory of Luxborough realised 265ppk.
Cull Ewes and Rams
More cull sheep forward again this week and again a very mixed quality entry on offer. A lot of Mules and lighter ewes on offer but not too many bigger stronger ewes forward. Trade again slightly dearer this week with all buyers much keener to procure ewes. A better trade seen across the board especially for the grazing and leaner ewes with buyers looking to secure them. Ewe trade likely to remain firm for the foreseeable future as numbers appear to be tight.

Best Suffolk Mules £116 plus and best Mules £108 plus.
Best ewes today peaked to £129 for a pen of Texels from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington with £128 to a pair of Blue Faced Leicesters from Mr BC Dallyn of Killington. Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ & AD Nicholls of West Anstey rose to £127 with other blackfaces from Mr NA Cooke at £124 and another pen of Texels at £122 from the same home. £121 to Suffolk Mules from Mr KA Hill of Bideford following at £119 to similar
sorts from Mr ME Snell & Son of Knowstone. Blue Texels from Mr JH Gregory of Luxborough realised £118 with Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey at £116.50. Two pens of Suffolk crosses from Mr KA Hill again and Messrs Govier & Son of South Molton both hit £116. Best rams today peaked at £118 to a Dorset from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton with an Exmoor Horn from Mr ME Snell & Son of Knowstone at £107.