Lleyns draw the buyers at Exeter

The seventh official West Country Sale of Lleyn sheep on behalf of the Lleyn Sheep Society, held at Exeter Livestock Centre by Exeter Market Auctioneers on Friday 12 October 2007 drew a somewhat reduced entry due mainly to the movement restrictions in some parts of the country.

Despite all the doom and gloom in the sheep industry at the moment the auctioneers are pleased to report a 100% clearance on the shearling ewes with the top price of £97 being obtained twice by Mrs S Childs of Tipton St John for two pens of seven ewes. The trade, generally, was selective and firm, but vendors were very sensible and met the demand and requirements of the purchasers. The shearlings averaged £70.31 which is better than other regional sales this summer.

Ewe lambs topped at £80 for a strong pen of five from D W and C F Morris of St Clears. Overall purchasers were very choosey in their bids for ewe lambs with a 73% clearance of the lambs forward and with an overall average of £43.14 the majority of the vendors were pleased.

The demand for the rams and ram lambs was very strong with all but two forward sold. A 2006 ARR/ARR ram from Messrs J Twose and Sons of Whitland saw spirited bidding before being knocked down at 800 gns. With five rams over 500 gns the overall average obtained was £407.25.
Averages
Top price Average Difference on
2006 price
Yearling Ewes to £97.00 £70.31 – £20.89
Ewe Lambs to £80.00 £43.14 – £19.53
Senior Rams to £241.59 £241.50 – £110.25
Shearling Rams to £840.00 £480.13 – £39.52
Ram Lambs to £178.50 £178.50 – £220.50

Top Prices

Ewe Lambs

£80.00 Messrs DW & CF Morris, St Clears, Carms.
£49.00 Messrs J & R Twose & Sons, Whitland, Dyfed
£47.00 Mr T R B Turner, Crediton, Devon
£45.00 Mrs S E Hughes & Son, Garndolbenmaen, Gwynedd
£44.00 Messrs J & R Twose & Sons, Whitland, Dyfed
£43.50 Messrs CM & AS Crudge, Morebath, Devon
£42.00 Mr T Coward, Blackwater, Isle of Wight
£42.00 Messrs D & A Kelly, Broadway, Worcs.

Shearlings
£97.00 Mr & Mrs S Childs, Tipton St John, Devon
£97.00 Mr & Mrs S Childs, Tipton St John, Devon
£94.00 Mr & Mrs S Childs, Tipton St John, Devon
£94.00 Mrs S P Sayers, Holbeton, Devon
£86.00 Messrs G & P Martin, West Putford, Devon
£86.00 Mr H Vernon Jones, Caeathro, Gwnedd
£85.00 Mr A G Selway, Stalbridge, Dorset
£82.00 Mrs S P Sayers, Holbeton, Devon
£80.00 Mr A G Selway, Stalbridge, Dorset
£80.00 Mr H Vernon Jones, Caeathro, Gwnedd

Shearling Rams
£840.00 Messrs J & R Twose & Sons, Whitland, Dyfed
£661.50 Messrs DW & CF Morris, St Clears, Carms
£651.00 Messrs E & D Jones, Machynlleth, Powys
£609.00 Mrs H Llwyd, South Tawton, Devon
£567.00 Messrs J & R Twose & Sons, Whitland, Dyfed