Market reports

HOLSWORTHY

Kivells report on March 30 an entry of over 1200 sheep to a top call on the prime hoggs of £150, sold to help the Ukraine appeal and donated by both Henry Banbury & Messrs Sluggett. Premium on the day was set at 292ppkg for Messrs Baily of Germansweek, with plenty of hoggs up and over £125. The 210 cull ewes topped at £184 for smart Charollias ewes from Tom Nancekivell of Kilkhampton, with a market average of £118. In the store cattle ring, an entry of 286-head topped at £1550 for a smart Charolais heifer from Edward Gay of Riddlecombe, with steers to £1485 from Messrs North. The 263 calves saw a wonderful trade to a top of £520 for the best in from Rodney Dymond & Family of Shebbear, with heifers from Messrs Petherick & Son of Kilkhampton. One load of wheat straw reached £18 per bale on behalf of Ray Ford of Harracott.

HALLWORTHY

Kivells report on March 31 a grand day with a sneaky easterly wind didn’t detract from a fierce trade. Top spot going to the Stongman Family of Laddock with both heifers and steers, their top pair of 26m Charolais cross steers with length and depth away to £1565. Next a trio of 22m to £1450, with another trio to £1300. J Vincent of Pillaton next with a pair of 20m Hereford cross steers, great frames and well fleshed to £1370, and a pair of Pure South Devon steers to £1305. Heard Bros of St Issey next with three solid strong Beef Shorthorn cross steers to £1270 and three Simmental crosses to £1180, with a single British Blue cross to £1195. H H Lyne of Mannacan next with a stunning pair of three-quarter Limousin to £1215. Younger 10m steers from the Skinner Family of Canworthy Water saw their best four to £970. Again the Strongman Family topped the heifer section with their trio of flashy Charolais crosses to £1490, and a second pen of four to £1360. Heard Bros next with a trio of Shorthorn crosses to £1210 and Simmental crosses to £1130. G Bridgman next with a single 18m Simmental cross to £1205. Younger heifers saw the Skinner Family top out at £860 for five black, stretchy 10m Limousin crosses. H H Lyne seeing their pen of four 10m Limousin crosses to £820. One cow and calf from Mrs Martin, a Hereford cross with British Blue heifer, sold to £1080. Not so many stirks forward today but still some decent sorts penned, which met a pleasing trade. Jimmy Paul topped the day with three nice Blue steers (7-8m) at £595, with heifers from Jimmy flying away to £590 (7-8m), and the best of his Hereford steers to £525 at the same age. A T Bayly had a single Limousin steer to £480 (8m), with Lower Newman Partnership making £400 of their Hereford heifers. James Mallaber made the long journey up from Redruth and made £340 of his Beef Shorthorn steers. Over in the sheep pens, an entry of 320 draft ewes on offer and what a trade. A new record price for Hallworthy Market, with the overall average being £122.84 and eight pens over £180 to a top of £255 for Messrs M & K Coumbe of Housey Farm, Liskeard. Suffolk cross ewes to £157 from James Eustice of St Ervan. Mules up to £144 from Mr Burden of Tredundle. Dorsets to £138 from Messrs W T Jasper & Son of Higher Ford. Hill ewes to £112. A smaller entry of 318 fat hoggs but a good run of well fleshed hoggs across the board. A faster trade was met for all weights, selling to a top of 281p for a pen of 41.6kgs £117 from Martin Powlesland, Foxlands, Hallworthy, followed by George Williams of St Kew who realised 279p for his pen of 42.6kgs £119. Top per head on the day was £140 for a heavy Texel from Messrs M & K Coumbe of Housey Farm, Liskeard. An entry of 71 store hoggs with smallframed hoggs again in keen demand, topping at £80 from three vendors. A larger entry of couples (70 ewes and 99 lambs) and a stronger trade, Doubles up to £275 for a pen of 6T from Mr T H Fenn of Bodmin. Several singles over £160 and to a top of £172 from Rick Cobbledick of Trelash.

TRURO

Lodge & Thomas report on March 30 a similar entry of 22 prime cattle to last week which met a stand on trade, with premium bullocks once again over the 250p/kg mark and all types looking well sold. A top call of 251p/kg for Mr R E Richards of St Keverne, Helston for his sensational 599kg Limousin cross heifer, bought by R J Trevarthen Ltd of Roskrow. Steers selling a touch below at 249p/kg twice for Mr Richards. Firstly, a 694kg British Blue cross which also achieved the top price of £1728, followed by a 662kg Limousin cross, both purchased by R J Trevarthen Ltd. Wednesday’s South West regional market averages: Steers: 221.04p/kg. Heifers: 219.04p/kg. Truro steers: Premium to 249p/kg av. 235.2p/kg. Prime to 218p/kg av. 216.9p/kg. Other to 199p/kg av. 197.4p/kg. All steers av. 224.34p. Truro heifers: Premium to 251p/kg av. 233.4p/kg. All heifers av. 234.90p. Trade as strong as ever for the 31 cull cows, though an entry of limited quality reflected in the slightly easier averages. No shortage of demand around the ring. Beef cows to 194p/kg for a smart 732kg Hereford cross from Messrs R J Gabriel & Son of Launceston, purchased by David Ellis of Lelant. Dairy types to 184p/kg for a Friesian cross steer from Mr N Withers of Kea, Truro, with cows topping at 167p/kg for Messrs A D & J A Bray of St Martin, Helston. Beef cows: Hereford cross to 194p (732kg) for Messrs R J Gabriel & Son of Launceston. Dairy cows: Friesian steer to 184p (603kg) for Mr N Withers of Kea, Truro. Dairy cows to 184.0p/kg av. 119.76p/kg. Beef cows to 194.0p/kg av. 165.29p/kg. An entry of 250 store cattle this week and a mixed trade to report, as everincreasing feed, fertiliser and fuel prices begin to affect the younger stores needing two winters’ keep. Forward stores standing on with a grand bunch of five two-year-old British Blue cross steers from R M Farming & Co of Sticker, St Austell topping the market at £1565. Heifers to £1445 for a single two-year-old Limousin cross from Messrs D Trewern & Son of Porthcurno, Penzance. A single two-year-old British Blue cross steer from Mr D Rounsevell sold at £1400, with a further three British Blue cross steers from R M Farming & Co achieving £1330. Younger cattle saw an easier trade, with the best of the yearlings selling to £1085 for three Limousin cross steers from Messrs Trewern, followed by a Limousin cross at £1005 for Messrs M S Manuell & Son of Burngullow, St Austell, and two Aberdeen Angus crosses from Mr P J Field of St Dennis, St Austell at the same money. Steers: 2yr: British Blue cross to £1565 for R M Farming & Co of Sticker, St Austell. 1½yr: Charolais cross to £1295 for Messrs J & S Trembath of Zennor, St Ives. 1yr: Limousin to £1085 for Messrs D Trewern & Son of Porthcurno, Penzance. Heifers: 2yr: Limousin to £1445 for Messrs D Trewern & Son of Porthcurno, Penzance. 1½yr: Limousin cross to £1095 for Neil Rowe Farming Ltd of The Lizard, Helston. 1yr: Simmental cross to £905 for Mr L Vague of Baldhu, Truro. A larger entry of 69 rearing calves, selling on a similar trade. British Blue cross bulls topped at £295 on behalf of Messrs L C & P Pengilly from St Keverne, Helston, with another at £285 for Messrs M F & J M Bass from St Teath, Bodmin. Aberdeen Angus crosses saw a top call of £262 for Messrs H I Angwin & Son from Nanstallon, Bodmin, and Limousin cross bulls to £250 for Sixty Acres Ltd from Zelah, Truro, and the best pair of Friesian bulls sold for £118 each again for Messrs Angwin. Heifer calves saw the best Charolais cross fly away to £245 on behalf of Messrs H L T & C Lyne from St Clement, Truro, with another Charolais cross at £215 for Messrs J & R J Nankervis from Zennor, St Ives, and the best of the British Blue crosses selling to £202 for Messrs L C & P Pengilly & Son. Some stronger Friesian steers at eight weeks old sold well at £195 each for Messrs H I Angwin & Son of Nanstallon, Bodmin. Bulls: British Blue cross to £295 for Messrs L C & P Pengilly & Son of St Keverne, Helston. Heifers: Charolias cross to £245 for Messrs H L, T & C Lyne of St Clement, Truro. In the sheep pens, 473-head in total and a good entry of new season lambs, with numbers building by the week. A fine pen of Suffolk lambs from Mr B A Parkin of Whitemoor, St Austell, sold to £137, purchased by McFadden’s Butchers of St Just. Joint highest were a pen of Charollais cross lambs from Messrs A M & V R Pascoe of Godolphin, Helston also achieving £137. Setting the premium to 319p/kg were the best pick of two pens of Charollais cross Dorset lambs from Messrs G C & V D Mitchell & Son of Duloe, Liskeard, sold to Trevarthen Ltd of Roskrow. Leading averages: 319p/kg for 42.50kg lambs from Messrs G C & V D Mitchell & Sons of Duloe, Liskeard. Top price lambs: £137 for 42.40kg lambs from Mr B A Parkin of Whitemoor, St Austell. SQQ lamb average: 297.0p/kg. Every shape and size of finished hoggs forward which saw a broad variation in price. Trade generally easier on the week, however firm for the better end. Topping at £131.50 were a pen of enormous 76kg Texel hoggs from Messrs J E Nicholls & Partners of Kea, Truro, sold to J V Richards Ltd of Roskrow. Leading averages: 287p/kg for 43.60kg hogs from Messrs G M & J A Olver of Lanivet, Bodmin. Top price hoggs: £131 (76.00kg) from Messrs J E & Nicholls & Partners of Kea, Truro. Averages: Medium (39.1kg-45.5kg) to 287.0p/kg av. 251.0p/kg. Heavy (45.6kg-52kg) to 268.0p/kg av. 228.0p/ kg. Overweight (52.1kg+) to 212.0p/kg av. 186.0p/kg. A tremendous cull ewe trade, with prices peaking at a staggering £165.50 for Messrs R E Gilbert & Son of Ruan Minor, Helston, for a grand trio of Suffolks. A super consignment from Messrs P T R & P E Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay, saw their best pen sell to £158.50. An overall average of £122! Leading prices: £165.50 for ewes from Messrs R E Gilbert & Son of Ruan Minor, Helston. £154 for rams from Messrs R E Gilbert & Son of Ruan Minor, Helston. Averages: First quality to £165.50 av. £134. Second quality to £99 av. £89. A mixed entry of store sheep this week seeing an easier trade in line with the finished hogg prices, yet the leading prices still remain very respectful. Top price of £89.50 for a pen of close to finish stores from Mr J A Morphew of Wadebridge. Two consignments of couples topping at £90/life from Mr I Hoskin & Sons of Sancreed, Penzance. Leading prices: £89.50 for stores from Mr J A Morphew of Wadebridge. Single couples to £180 from Mr I Hoskin & Sons of Sancreed, Penzance. Double couples to £184 from Mr I Hoskin & Sons of Sancreed, Penzance. Averages: Large store lambs to £89.50 av. £85.30. Medium to £78.50 av. £73.90. Small to £55. Single couples to £180 av. £152. Double couples £184.

SOUTH MOLTON

Stags report on March 31 a really decent entry of 1347 prime hoggs this week, up on the previous two weeks. Overall, a better quality entry also with some bigger runs of hoggs forward. As expected, trade for the handy weight hoggs was stronger and up on previous weeks; and the trade for heavier hoggs was very similar to the last few weeks. Again, a large amount of heavy hoggs (over 49kg) on offer, with a lot of those heavier hoggs being quite lean. Generally a lot of hoggs were sold between £120-£125. Top call of £144 for a 63kg Charollais hogg from LF & JM Heywood, Loxbeare, with five 56.8kg pure Texel hoggs from MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe closely following at £142.50. 55.7kg Charollais from B & T Baker of Alverdiscott reached £140, and a whopping 82kg mule from CHS Enterprises of Dowland achieved £138.50. Also at £138.50 was a 57kg Black Face from EJ Westaway, Newton Tracey. 61.5kg Cheviots from MTD Pile of Dunkeswell achieved £138. 60.6kg Suffolks from WJ Woolacott & Sons of South Molton were met with £137.80, whilst 66kg Texels from Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh achieved £137.20. Also from MTD Pile were 54kg Charollais at £135.50. A 71kg Suffolk from JK May, Eastleigh sold for £135. Also to £135 was a 69kg Texel cross from MF Bellew of Bideford. Two pens to £133.80, firstly for 58kg Charollais from SH & UM Parker of Umberleigh, and then for 60kg Suffolk from Cleave Farm Partnership of Weare Gifford. A 69kg Charollais from IP & L Stagg of Barnstaple made £133.50. A rewarding top ppk of 286ppk for 42.6kg Charollais from DW Phillips of Berrynarbor, with 15 Texels at 43.3kg to 282ppk from MTD Pile of Dunkeswell. 42.2kg Texels from IFJ & JC Harris, Beaworthy to a pleasing 281ppk. Two pens to 280ppk, firstly for 40kg Texels from M Stevens, Dunkeswell, and then for 44kg Charollais from GM Veysey, Rackenford. At 278ppk, a pen of Charollais weighing 43kg from G Dart & Sons, Molland, and also 38kg Charollais from JC Isaac, Rackenford. Two pens of Suffolks to 276ppk, firstly 40.3kg from GR & RJ Ward, Iddesleigh, then 42.7kg from MH Jones, Twitchen. Three pens at 275ppk; 43.6kg Suffolks from A & C Rowland, Bampton; 43.6kg Texels from GF & PJ Warne, Umberleigh; and finally 43.3kg Texels from RJ Shapland, Stoke Rivers. A pen of 20 Suffolks from RD Middleton & Son, Riddlecombe weighed 42.2kg and made 274ppk. Three pens to 273ppk; firstly for 40kg Charollais from AE Chudley & Son, Romansleigh; 44kg Cheviots from G & P Kivell, Ashreigney; and then for 40kg Suffolks from RAP Grant, Cruwys Morchard. Only a small number of 20 spring lambs which consisted of mostly older or indoor lambs. There is no doubt that the lambs are wanted as we will soon see bigger numbers. Top price of £122.80 or 289ppk for 42.5kg Charollais from A & S Hoskin, Bishops Nympton. A short entry of 33 store hoggs as we come to the end of the season, with a handful of hoggs who just need another few weeks. Top call of £111.20 for Charollais crosses from JC Isaac, Rackenford, and then £90.50 from the same home. A bigger entry of 437 cull ewes and rams this week with some good runs of ewes forward. Overall, a mixed quality entry but no doubt a number of big ewes on offer. Trade yet again dearer, especially for those best bigger ewes which buyers seem to want. The grazing ewes were all but dried up anyway and would be no dearer. Buyers till not worrying too much about the fat ewes, although some of the medium leaner ewes look the dearest sold. Differing opinion as to how long this trade can last but it appears unlikely to stop too soon. Best Suffolk Mules this week all around or over £150 and best Mules again all over £125. Ewes peaked at £228 for a cracking Blue Texel cross ewe from MR & VA Smith & Miss J Maynard, Thelbridge, with other Blue Texels from the same home to £200. Suffolk ewes from R Irwin, Kings Nympton to £190. Three well fleshed Texel ewes from GR & MA Cox, Witheridge were rewarded with £177. Texel crosses from CN Williams, Withypool made £167, with Texels from RAP Grant, Cruwys Morchard to the same price. Also from RAP Grant were three Texel crosses to £156.50. Six Suffolk ewes from DJ & RA Woollacott, Yarnscombe were fiercely competed for, selling to £155.50. Three Suffolks from WJ Woollacott & Sons, South Molton to £154, with Suffolks from J & H Searle of Ash Mill to £153.50. A Suffolk ewe from EF Thorne, Tawstock reached £152.50, with another Blue Texel from MR & VA Smith & Miss J Maynard to £152. Suffolks from AD & SM Bray, Knowstone to £148.50, with Black faces from BR & KE Summers of Exebridge to the same price. Two pens to £148, firstly for Texels from FC Reed, North Molton, and secondly for Blue Texels again from MR & VA Smith & Miss J Maynard. Cull rams topped at £180 for a Texel from AJ & JM Cottle, Bratton Fleming with a Berrichon from the same home reaching £174.

EXETER

Kivells report on April 1 store steers selling to £1380 for a red Limousin (24m) from Brian Vallance and Family of Bickington, followed by further Limousin bullocks of a similar age at £1610 for Peter and Jan Ward of Kingsteignton. Young (13m) Limousin steers from Jason and Cathy Crang of Cadeleigh came back at £1090. Aberdeen Angus steers (24m) from JW Davies and Son of Uplowman saw bunches to £1650 and £1610, with younger (17m) Angus reaching £1160 for Winston Thorne of Umberleigh with British Blue steers looking particularly dear with a pen of four (20m) rising to £1560 for Friend and Reeve of Sandford and a single (24m) drawing £1500 for EC Stanbury and Son of Inwardleigh. A pair of British Shorthorn steers (23m) from Ian Littlejohns of Okehampton drew £1650 followed by later born ones (20m) at £1120 for Steven Parish of Chawleigh, whilst further native breed steers ran to £1430 for a South Devon (20m) from Martin and Dave Sampson of Chudleigh and £1310 for a Hereford (27m) from Graham Tancock of Broadclyst. The latter also took home £1330 for his solitary Charolais bullock (25m) with other good sorts of that breed and gender (20m) realising £1285 for a bunch of six from Alan Hembrow of Lostwithiel. Best of the very young store steers saw a yearling Blonde from Martin Curtis of Elberton sell to £1335. Some glorious store heifers on offer again this week with Limousins taking the lead as a red one (23m) from Brian Vallance and Family racked up £1700 with others (24m) close for Peter and Jan Ward at £1680 and £1360 for Dave Lee of Farway. British Blue heifers saw altering sorts (24m) to £1345 for EC Stanbury and Son, whilst the better of several excellent South Devon heifers on offer (25m) topped at £1270 for Gareth Janes of Kingsbridge and £1105 for the Osborne Family of North Bovey. Charolais females saw a single from Jeff Harvey of Hennock (24m) rise to £1135 and a bunch of nine born around the same time receive £1070 apiece for Alan Hembrow whilst Martin Curtis matched his Blonde steer with a yearling heifer which was rewarded with £1085. Aberdeen Angus heifers (25m) saw £1070 for Alan Hembrow again with Simmentals of the same age sold to £1065 for John and Jill Redman of Chagford. A yarding of mainly all dairy bred stirks met another keen trade. New buyers present this week pushing the best to £800 for a neat pen of Blue cross steers (11m) from Baulch Partnership of North Tawton. Joe Maule across from Okehampton showed a cracking run of well farmed stirks topping at £780 for Simmental crosses (10m) with Limousin steers to £780, £760 and £705 (10m). Miles and Helen Partridge of Poundgate realised £705 for South Devon steers (11m). S J Pengelly of Totnes attained £690 for Limousin steers (12m) with younger Limousin steers from Jean Govier of Clayhidon hit £605 (6m). Younger Dairy types from Paul Brimicombe and family reached £495 for Angus steers (6m) with Blues of the same farm (4m) reaching £440. Heifers hit £650 for a pen of Blues from Baulch Partnership (11m), Paul Stoneman up from Newton Abbot realised £650 for Angus heifers (12m), whilst sweet Limousin heifers from SJ Pengelly attained £640. Young Blue heifers from Paul Brimicombe and family achieved £410 and £385 (5m). Another wonderful entry of 122 cull sows and boars with buyers competing well and pushing the best up to £200 for the best of a smart run of heavies in from Mervyn Uglow of Holsworthy with others off the same good farm at £199, £198 (x2), £183 (x2) and £181. The best of ten from Andrew Freemantle of Clyst St Mary hit £178 (x3) with Rob Smith of Launceston at £175 (x2). The best of a lorry load from Chris Down hit £167 with plenty flying past £150 for the same man. Foxworthy Estates saw their 240kg sow reach £172, Messrs Frampton of Holbeton reached £166 with Tim & Rupert Stockwell of Kingsbridge also topping at £166. Top boars today reached £108 for Foxworthy Estate with the top 20 sows averaging £177.20. Andrew Freemantle topped the prime and store pigs at £134. Rob Smith made the 85-mile round trip and was well rewarded at £121 (x3), £119 (x3) and £118 (x6). Messrs Angell travelled up from Holsworthy and saw the best of his run at £100 with Will Jennings of Beaford close up at £97. Trade of the day though was for a run of 86-75 kg Saddlebacks in from Messrs Flindell up from West Cornwall reaching £88 (x5), £82 (x5), and £72 (x5). All in all a really good day for our vendors and my thanks to our purchasers who made the day very special, with an overall average of every pig in the market being £108.63. An entry of 1107 sheep comprised of 63 orphans that were a straight trade, with strong lambs selling to a top of £45 for thirteen Milk sheep crosses from Tom Garland of Woodbury Salterton, Syles Farm of Loxbeare sold four younger sorts at £34 and Helen Havill of Trusham sold one at £32 and two at £30. Overall average of £24.95. The 548 store hoggs were met with great demand from an increased audience of buyers that were keen for medium to short keep sorts. Top money to John Goodman of South Brent with forward hoggs at £124.50, followed closely by all Ben Upchurch of Sidmouth, Twitchen Farm Partnership of Burrington and Harvey Bros of Roborough at £123.50 as Andrew Helmer of Chillington sold the best of his good run to £123 and £122.50. Smaller hoggs harder to place as the season draws on and there’s limited time to change them but an overall average of £98 was achieved. Only 55 grazers but no let up in trade, top money to a sizable ram at £150 as Martin Henton of Poughill sold Charollais type ewes well at £136 and two vendors claimed 3132 of their best. A larger entry of 175 ewes with 266 lambs were a similar trade with overall averages of £167 per outfit or £66 per life. Top money for twins to Josh Webber of Yarcombe with Suffolk crosses at £268, whilst Josh also sold singles at £205, Ross & Helen May of Netherexe sold doubles to £260 as well as a young Dorset ewe with strong single lamb at a tremendous £258 or £129 per life. Other doubles £75 to £85 and singles £80 to £100. Hill bred sorts and plain problem outfits out in force and trading from £28 to £58 per life.

SEDGEMOOR

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report on April 4 an excellent entry of 119 finished cattle met another cracking trade, when a new Sedgemoor record was set. Heifers topped at 249ppk for a very smart red Limousin from MP & DM Hine, Chard, who sold more Limousin heifers at 240.5 (2x) and 234.5ppk, Simmentals at 239.5 and 236.5ppk and Blonde heifers at 238, 237.5 and 236.5. Super show. Very well finished heifers from J & J Meaker & Son, Langport, saw a Parthenais at 241ppk and Limousins at 237 and 234ppk. Suckler bred Charolais at 235.5ppk, BA Richards, Williton and 235 and 232.5ppk, PJ Hobbs, Minehead. Natives to 232ppk for a Hereford from SER Hunt, Kilve. Steers peaked at 243ppk for a very well finished Limousin from J & J Meaker & Son again, who also sold a Blue at 240ppk and another Limousin at 235.5ppk. Limousin steer at 235.5 and a South Devon at 231ppk from MP & DM Hine again. Feeding Blue steers at 234 and 229.5ppk from MW Hoskins, Kingston Magna. Suckler bred Charolais at 232 and 231.5ppk from BA Richards. Steers sold to a new Sedgemoor record of £1,848.96 for a 856kg Charolais from BA Richards. Sorry Ben, Nikki has beaten you by 32p. More farm assured Charolais £1,810.76, L & A Maddock & Co; £1,719.12 and £1,645.97, BA Richards again. Blue steers to £1,754.48, FG Payne & Sons, Wellington again. Others £1,598.40, J & J Meaker & Son. Limousin steers to £1,712.07, J & J Meaker & Son again, who sold another at £1,630.53. Heifers sold to a tremendous £1,652.04 for a Limousin from J & J Meaker & Son, who sold another at £1,585.53 and a Parthenais at £1,506.25. Limousin again at £1,578.85 from FG Payne & Sons. Charolais at £1,530.75 from BA Richards, who also sold a Blue at £1,428.45. Blue again at £1,419.80, MW Hoskins. Well done indeed all vendors! Another tight entry of 46 cull stock sold to an incredible trade. £1,521.20, £1,519.90, £1,510.22; 199.5, 193.5, 191.5 (2x) and 190.5ppk. Six months ago fat cattle were at these levels. Now its cows. Top was 199.5ppk for a feeding Blonde (non assured) from RJ Marks, Crowcombe, who sold more plain feeders at 189.5 and 179.5ppk. Feeding Charolais at 193.5ppk from ER Rosewell, Luppitt, who sold another at 182.5ppk and an Angus at 161.5ppk. Feeding Simmental at 191.5ppk from FA Kingcott & Son, Clevedon. Feeding Blue at 190.5ppk from RJ Edwards, Bridgwater. Well fleshed Devons at 189.5 and 167.5ppk from WN Phillips, Westleigh and 184.5ppk from ED Roper, Chard. Feeding Blue again at 181.5ppk from AJV Welch & Sons, Ilminster. Sucklers rose to £1,510.22 for a feeding Blonde from RJ Marks, who sold another at £1,415.57. Black and whites topped at 191.5ppk for a superb Holstein from JM & SN Faun, Holford, who sold another at 159.5ppk. Dairy breeds sold to a new Sedgemoor record of £1,521.20 for a 807kg Holstein from W Read Partnership. More cows desperately wanted! Bulls to 163.5ppk and £1,896.60 for a Simmental from BJ Stephens & Sons, Weston Super Mare. Now is an excellent time to sell the old bull and replace with a younger one. A huge entry of 1854 hoggs sold to a dearer trade for all presented. The best handyweights sold to 283ppk from SW Batten & Sons. Others 281ppk from FH & PJ Bailey; 276ppk from AJ Willcox; 275 and 274ppk from P Coombs Ltd; 275ppk from KJ Winter; 274 and 273ppk (2x) from RJ Whitcombe and 273ppk from J Simpson and R & K Dorpman. Heavier hoggs sold to £151 from D Carnell. Others £145 from CA Churchill; £140 (2x) and £137 from RB Cox; £138.50 from MP & DM Hine; £137 from P Coombs Ltd and £136.50 and £136 from TC & DS Bright. Overall average £124.22. More lambs for the Easter Show day. The championship was won by PG & K Smith, for the second year running, whose 40kgs sold at £165/head and 413ppk. Trade on the others was much stronger and sold to 363ppk from H Williams; 361, 353 and 350ppk from PG & K Smith; 360ppk from D Day; 353ppk from MP & DM Hine and 350ppk from DA Kidner & Son. Other top prices were £142 and £140 from HJ & HB Case Ltd; £140 from DA Kidner & Son and PG & K Smith and £138 from H Williams. Overall average £133.25.