Exeter ewe trade sharper on the year

Despite a general shortage of grass across the country and reports of limited forage stocks for the winter months, Tuesday’s sale of breeding sheep at Exeter saw an entry up by 1564 on the year increase the sale average by £2/head.

In the shearling ewes on offer trade peaked at £135 for Suffolk x Mules from Messrs A and L Gillard, Tedburn St Mary, with the 4356 penned levelling the day at £109.05 on a 92% clearance.

Top in the Scotch halfbreds on offer was a £130 bid, while Mules were led at £118 and Texel x Mules hit a peak of £121.

Older ewes were also in demand with Suffolk x Mule one lamb ewes selling to £130 for G McLeod. Ewe lambs sold to a top of £81 for Poll Dorsets from John Laramy.

In the rams on offer trade was lead at £500 by a Suffolk shearling from David Hampson. Other Suffolks from R L Toop made £490 and £470.

Charollais sold to £460 from S J and P J Parrish, while Poll Dorsets hit the same price for one from David Rossiter.