Good quality ewes and lambs still in demand

Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctioneers reported a good entry of quality ewes and lambs at the sale last week at Cutcombe Market. 570 sheep went through the ring with demand strong.

Lambs met with a rising trade reaching a peak over £2/kg for light lambs with the best of these from Marshall Farms selling a pen for 208p/kg, medium lambs up to 45.5kgs also sold with similar haste reaching a peak of 195p/kg for the same vendor. Heavier lambs reached a peak for Messrs MA and M Collins at 182p/kg and in the over 52kgs lambs a lamb donated by Mr R Webber, Dunkery View to the Devon and Somerset Staghounds reached the best price/head of the day at £98.50.

Store lambs (105) sold to average £60.25 with a top for 6 lambs from Mrs Clements achieving £74.20.

Grazing ewes (356) made for an excellent trade with the average up by £3.15 on the last sale. Top price of the day was £105 for 30 Suffolk ewes from Messrs Jones, Higher North Radworthy Farm who made £99 for his second pen of 20 ewes. Other notable prices include Mr RJ Nancekivell selling to £104 and Mr M G Vellacottselling a pair for £102.50. Many others sold in excess of £90 with well fleshed hill breeds making upwards of £75. A small number of Rams sold well with an average of £87 and peaked for Messrs D & M Ridd & Son at £108.