Market reports

NEWTON ABBOT

Rendells report on November 18 a good entry of lambs forward meeting a fast paced trade, with a top per kilo of 207p for Mr RD Coysh, Sigford selling his pen of 44.60kg lambs. Not far behind at 206ppk were 38.80kg lambs from MJ & JM Evans, Dunsford with Mr S Butcher, Ponsworthy selling 41.60kg lambs to 200ppk. Top per head was £97 for 49kg lambs and £92.50 for 44.60kg lambs both from Mr RD Coysh. Messrs K & D Tucker, Kingsbridge sold pens of lambs to £91 and £90 per head. A short entry of cull ewes sold to £62 for MJ & JM Evans.

HOLSWORTHY

Kivells report on November 18 a busy day with the pick of the dairy cattle reaching £2,200 on behalf of Messrs Kempthorne of St Tudy, Cornwall with an overall average of £1,534. An entry of 216 baby calves saw a top call of £400 on behalf of Steve Urquhart of Dunstaple, with Messrs Nancekivell close up at £375 and six vendors up and over £370. The 175 store cattle saw the trade continue to hold up well with the best steers to £1,150 for Messrs Timms of Northlew and heifers up to £1,140 for Jason Quance of Shebbear. In the sheep pens, an entry of 778 prime sheep topped at £101 for A Barriball of Clawton, with premium set at £118 for Ken Hill of Bideford. The 278 draft ewes saw the best at £101 for Alan Tucker of Stibb Cross and £91.50 on behalf of K&S Heywood of Bude.

CUTCOMBE

Exmoor Farmers report on November 18 another good entry of 1330 sheep forward for sale, with some strong prices across the board and lambs seeing a much-improved trade up on the previous week. Leading prime lamb prices of the day saw a pen from R B & J E Stephens at £129 for some well finished 76kg lambs, followed by pens from C Raffe to £121.50. D W & J Jones saw pens to £116.80 (58.kgs) and the same weight to £113.80 with further pens to £111.50 (57.5kgs) and £106.80 (55kgs). D & M Elliott and G L Steer managed to split the run with the first selling a pen of 56kg lambs to £112 and G L Steer’s 56kgs to £110.80, who followed up with a further pen at £106.50 (54kgs). A pen of 54kg lambs from M R Scott & Son hit £105.80 and 14 super shape lambs from R & M F Rottenbury & Son made £101.80 (52kgs). D L & E L Wallace also broke the £100 mark with a pen of seven 52.5kgs to £101.80. The dearest pence per kilo was seen for smaller lighter weight lambs again this week with a pen from D Takle topping 219 pence per kilo for his bunch of 39kg lambs at £85.50; others from R J & C E J Milton saw 38kg at £82.50. 44kg lambs from E T, J A & S Kennen sold to £92 with others from E J W Land who saw their pen of 26 44kg lambs to £91.20. 44.5kgs from D W & J Jones hit £90.50 and S Norman saw his pen of 44kgs to £90 also. With plenty of demand for these lighter sorts, making well over the 200ppk, again others from C Govier at 42.kg to £89 looked well sold. I Palmer & Son saw his lambs to 214ppk also with R & M F Rottenbury’s to 207ppk. The overall average across the board stood at 199.61ppk and the SQQ average at 204.57ppk. An entry of 358 store lambs forward for the special sale were met with the continued demand seen for the lighter weight lambs in the fat. A top for a pen from J Brown at £82 and followed up with a bunch of nine to £79.80 for pens of Suffolks. J Toze saw her pen of 11 to £81.20 and I Mabbutt’s pen of seven to £81. Pens from J Elliott at £79.50 and a pen of 49 lambs from D Wood hit £79.20 and the second biggest bunch of the day, a bunch of 46 from S Morgan hit

£79. The pen from T Yandle sold at £75.50 and an extra two sold for the DSSH at £77. A strong demand again for these store lambs which look extremely well sold against the fat with several buyers in attendance and many more could have been sold to best advantage. An entry of 230 grazing ewes and rams forward this week. A shorter number forward this week but not a problem to sell. Leading prices saw Suffolks from D W & J Jones which hit £101 and a second pen at £99 50. R F Rawle saw his Bluefaced Leicesters to £94 and Whiteface ewes from Polly Curling hit £94 also. Suffolks for Mr J Brown hit £92.80 and F E Rawle & Son saw their Whiteface ewes to £87.80. R F Rawle followed up with further BFLs to £87.50. Other noted Whiteface ewes from D Takle to £84.50 at E T, J A & S Kennen at £80. Blackface ewes from L Williams saw a pen of 20 hit £79.80 and F E Rawle & Son followed up their second pen at £78. North Country Mules from J Brown sold to £72 and the best of the Exmoor Horns sold to £70 for Mr D Butt. Closewools from M R Scott & Son at £69.50, Closewool rams sold to a top of £104.50 for D L & E L Wallace and Exmoor Horns from M R Scott & Son hit £94.50. Very few best ewes on offer with a limited supply of ewes across the board and even the poorest of the grazing ewes were £30 plus and certainly strongly contested. The better types of grazing ewes would cost you well over the £50 mark with several heading over the £60 mark for those better sorts that still needed feeding to finish. We again encourage those who have not yet outed their cull ewes to have another look as trade and demand continues on the right foot and to take best advantage at this time.

HALLWORTHY

Kivells report on November 19 a medium entry of 152 store cattle and yet again another very strong trade. No real forward sorts entered but topped today at £1060 for two British Blue Steers at 24m for the Philp Family of Wadebride. Running closely behind was Mr Rogers up from Sydenham Damerel with two lovely long Simmental heifers at 20m fetched £1045. Mr Clark of St Wenn had a lovely run of cattle and hit £1010 for his four Aberdeen Angus steers at only 16m. Younger cattle in massive demand making £820 for Harry Tambly of Morval for his 13m Hereford steers, with others at £790. Friesians topped today at £920 twice and £800 four times for the Hambly Family of Pengover, with younger sorts at £620 from Harry Tamblyn of Morval. We had a decent run of organic cattle in from good supporters D Telfer-Smollet of Broadbury, who topped at a massive £930 for some 19m Devon steers, others hits £840 three times and some slightly younger ones at £760 and £750. A small entry of cows and calves topping at £1040 for a South Devon cross and very young calf, and other outfits to £1000 and £960. An entry of 160 suckled calves forward for our fourth sale here at Hallworthy, a seriously fast trade for all types entered as numbers start to dry up. Steers topped today at £870 for Mr G Smith of Truro for his 8m Limousin steers with others at the same age to £855. Running up behind was the Whiting Family of Horningtops with their 8m South Devon steers making £760 twice, and their British Blues at £750 at 8m. Five Saler steers from Mrs Austin fetched £715 at only 7m, and others at £690. Younger sorts were the trade of the day with 6m Charolais steers for Ron Cornelius of St Breward reaching £675. Heifers topped out at a massive £740 for Mr G Smith again with his other Limousin heifers making £720 twice and £680 six times all around 8m. The Whiting Family back in again with some beautiful shapey

British Blue heifers which made £650, £615 and £610 all around 6-8m. Ron Cornelius topped the Charolais heifers with his younger types, which made £565 nine times, £560 nine times and £555 ten times at only 5m of age. The next suckled calf sale will be on Thursday, December 3, to include the Christmas Show and Sale. Entries for cataloguing close on Thursday, November 26 at 12 noon. A reasonable entry of stirks forward and a tremendous trade for all types. The top call was for a smart 11m British Blue steer making £635 for the Philp Family of Wadebridge, who also had younger Hereford steers at £615 and smaller Britsh Blues hit £530 and £520. Up next was Cambel Hill of Downderry fetching £615 for an 11m Aberdeen Angus steer looking a real trade. Ian Vanstone had three steers in hitting £605 for two, a Limousin and a Hereford at only 6m, and his Devon made £405 at only 4m. Mark Button had a tidy Charolais Steer, only 3m old top at £530. More stirks needed to meet this continuing strong trade. The next stirk sale is on Thursday, November 26. In the sheep pens, a smaller entry of 132 draft ewes met a much faster trade for all on offer, overall average of £70.30. Top was £105 for a Charollais from M Tamblyn of Landrake. Followed by David Key of St Breock who realised £102 for a Texel cross. Suffolk cross ewes topped at £97 from Messrs A & P Gynn of Landinner. Mules to £76 and hill bred ewes to £67. More ewes needed please. An entry of 184 fat lambs met a flying trade for all weights, with an overall average of 209.2, some of the highest prices seen for many months. Top per kilo on the day was 243p for a pen of Charollais crosses 44kgs £107 from Mervin Gimblett of Churchtown, Treneglos, who also realised 242p £106.50 for his other pen of 44kgs. Followed by Miss M H Goodenough of Higher Tremail who realised 222p for her pen of 45kgs £100. Eleven pens realised £100 and over to a top of £110 for a pen of heavies from Messrs W T Key & Son of St Breock. An entry of 223 store lambs and they are going dearer every week. Our overall average on the day was £72.87, with several pens over £80 and a top of £88 for two pens from George Williams of San Mark, St Kew, followed by Miss L Penhorwood of Lestitha whose pen realised £86.

SOUTH MOLTON

Stags report on November 19 an excellent number of lambs forward this week when other markets have struggled for numbers. Overall the quality was very mixed with a lot of thicker and heavier lambs forward. Trade was predicted to be dearer and probably was considering the quality but not as much as was expected. Buyers are reporting a slump in sales and that the shorter numbers nationally are keeping the lambs as dear as they are. Again this makes predictions for next week very difficult but it does seem that buyers are being told not to buy the over thick sorts. Not many lighter or very lean (store) lambs forward this week but very keen demand for those forward. Best trade for the 41-46kg lambs which were all generally above the 200ppk mark. The best heavier lambs 47-50kgs were over 200ppk also but a lot between 190-200ppk. There was definitely more trade this week for the real heavy 51kg plus lambs than there was last week. Best pens today at 219ppk for a super pen of 40 45.2kg Texel crosses from new vendors Messrs Haddiport Farm of Beaworthy with 215ppk to 38.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr LA Luxmoore of Crediton. 212ppk to 43.4kg Texel crosses from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton with 210ppk to 44.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs TH & PM Bolt of Huntsham. Two pens at 209ppk; the first to 42.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh and the second to 44.5kg Texel crosses again from the Bolt Family. 208ppk twice; both to two pens of 44.2kg Texel and Suffolk crosses from Mr MGN West of Combe Martin. Six pens at 207ppk; the first to 42kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe; the second to 44kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs GE & EJ Nicholls of West Anstey; the third to 44.4kg Texel crosses from Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton; the fourth to 45kg Texel crosses again from the Tapp Family; the fifth to 42.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr RP Williams of Winsford and the sixth to 44.1kg Texel crosses from Messrs HJ & RH Mildon of Brayford. Five pens at 206ppk; the first to 39.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs PM & ME Smale of Burrington; the second to 43.3kg Texel crosses from Mr PJF Chisholm of Hatherleigh; the third to 40kg Texel crosses from

Messrs MJ & AL Elston of Romansleigh; the fourth to 48kg Texel crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill and the fifth to 45.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs RH & GA Morrish Ltd of Torrington. Topping the day at £110 to a pair of 61kg Texel crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton with £107 to 60kg Suffolk crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton. £106 to 55kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe with £105 twice; both pens to 54.8kg and 55.9kg Charollais crosses from Messrs MH, CB & PM Ayre of Black Dog. £104 twice also; the first to 55kg Texel crosses from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh and the second to 55.3kg Charollais crosses again from Messrs Woollacott. £102 to two pens of 56kg & 57kg Dorset and Suffolk crosses from Mr BEJ Hallett of Pennymoor with his 55kg Texel cross pen following at £100. £99.20 to 54.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs Cook Partners of Georgeham with £99 four times; the first to 58kg Suffolk crosses from Mr M Bray of Knowstone; the second to 56kg Texel crosses from Mr & Mrs CTJ Ford of Chulmleigh; the third to 45.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs Haddiport Farm of Beaworthy and the fourth to 48kg Texel crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill. A super number of cull sheep this week and as with the lambs quite a varied quality entry. Trade very similar to the previous two weeks and again as with the lambs, buyers being told not to buy too many thick ewes. Good number of buyers in attendance and it was a fairly level trade from start to finish. Best trade for the ¾ meat continental and Suffolk cross ewes, with also some very lean ewes with breeding to them looking a very strong price. Numbers nationally have been short this week and trade looks set to remain buoyant in the coming weeks just don’t get too thick! Best Suffolk Mules generally £85-£95 and best Mules £75-£80. Topping the day at £129 for a super shapely pen of eight Pure Texel ewes from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey with £109.50 to Texel crosses from Messrs Holland Partnership of Warkleigh. £95 to Suffolk crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton with similar bred ewes from Messrs J & F Hookway of Ilfracombe at £90.50. Followed closely at £90 twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and the second to further Texel crosses from the Holland Family. £89.50 twice also; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs GE & EJ Nicholls of West Anstey and the second to Blue Faced Leicesters from Messrs RL, RT & DE Hill of Bideford. £88.50 three times; the first to Texels again from Messrs Tarr and the second and third pens to Zwartbles crosses and Suffolk Mules from Messrs Cook Partners again. £88 twice; the first to Dorsets again from the Cook Family and the second to Suffolk Mules from Mrs Tapp again. Best rams to £126 for a Suffolk from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton with other Suffolks to £117 for Mr GJ Hookway of Ilfracombe. Blue Faced Leicester’s from Messrs AJ & MJ Tarr & Son of West Anstey at £110, the same money at further Suffolks from Mr Hookway.

TAVISTOCK

Stags report on November 17 a smaller entry of cattle for the annual show and sale of suckled calves. As with previous years, the show was decided by top prices and our thanks go to all the day’s sponsors. Trade was very similar to the first seasons’sale two weeks ago, with plenty of potential purchasers around the ring. Topping the day’s prices and walking away with two cups and some decent prizes was Westcott Farms, Brentor; with two pens of 6m and 7m Charolais cross steers realising £800. Both pens were bought by Mr L J H Barons, Diptford who received the £100 prize money for the purchaser of the highest price suckled calf from the‘Devonshire Straw Man’, Mr Michael Pidsley. The top price steers from Westcott Farms, Brentor won the £50 feed vouchers from Tamar Milling as well as the first prize from the Charolais Cattle Society of £50 and a jacket and a hat. Westcott Farms also topped the heifer prices at £690 for a pen of three 6m Charolais crosses and again winning a £50 feed voucher from Tamar Milling and a £50 prize from the Charolais Cattle Society along with another hat and jacket. The best demand was for the younger suckled calf steers with prices including £765 for three 6m Maine Anjou steers from Messrs W A Cole & Sons, Sampford Spiney; £750 for 8m South Devon steers from Messrs C D, D M & S K Alford, South Zeal; £705 for three 6m Charolais cross seers from Mr M H Northmore, Yelverton; £705 for four 6m from Mr N Harrison, Bere Alston; £700 for 7m Charolais crosses from Messrs J & G Nankivell, Tavistock; £700 for 8m South Devons from Messrs D & A Hutchins, Tavistock and £695 for a bunch of six 7m Charolais crosses from Mr A P Legassick, Tavistock. The third seasons’catalogued sale of suckled calves is again in two weeks’time at Tavistock Livestock Centre, which will include the monthly sale of store cattle and sheep as well as a part herd dispersal of 35 Charolais cross and Hereford cross cows on behalf of Taviton Farms Limited, Tavistock.

TRURO

Lodge & Thomas report on November 18 a really short entry of UTM prime cattle this week disappointing the usual and extra buyers in attendance resulting in strong demand for those on offer. More prime cattle are required in the lead up to Christmas. A super 568kg Limousin cross heifer for 2C Farming of Carnhell Green standing top selling at 227p/kg and £1,289 to David Wilton of Peter Morris Butchers, St Columb. Top steer at 198p/kg and £1,333 was a 673kg British Blue cross from RJ & EJ Hemmings, Lanlivery bought by RJ Trevarthen Ltd, Roskrow. Premium steers to 198p/kg (194.33p). Others to 177p/kg. All steers average 189.31p/kg. Premium heifers to 227p/kg. Others to 170p/kg. All heifers average 198.5p/kg. The largest entry of cull cows for many weeks at 80-head contained a considerable proportion of plain and light-weight sorts affecting the overall averages although buyers in attendance for the right framier types for further fattening. With larger numbers of cull cows coming to the market throughout the country the best trade is for the weightier fleshy sorts with least waste. Two Limousin cross cows equal top at 129p/kg, with heavier 841kg cow from TA & FA Jenkin, Newbridge also overall top value in the beef section realising £1,085 to David Ellis, Lelant. Friesians to 124p/ kg for CJ Osborne & Son, Fraddon bought by Dawn West Devon, Hatherleigh; with a grand run of big black and whites from Searle & on, Rosudgeon selling to 123p/kg for their heaviest 892kg cow totalling £1,097 to the same buyer. Beef cows to 129p/kg (92.46p). Dairy cows to 124p/kg (82.49p). A seasonal reduced entry of 77 store cattle, containing mainly younger cattle were very well sought after with no shortage of demand for all types. Two Aberdeen Angus cross steers from RL Northey, Greenbottom around two years old topped at £1,230 and £1,115. A nice pair of 20m Herefords from Olivia Edson, Pendeen made £1,025. South Devon crosses from WL House & Son, Quintrell Downs saw a 13m steer sell well in a pair at £800 and 16m heifer making £785. A nice entry of 10 young heifers from P & PA Williams, Ruan Minor saw Aberdeen Angus and South Devon crosses making £785 and a 13m Limousin cross heifer at £680. AA strs £1,230, hfrs £785, Hfd strs £1,025, hfrs £795, SD strs £800, hfrs £785, BB hfrs £745, Dev hfrs £665. Yearlings – Lim hfrs £680, Hfd strs £650, hfrs £535. A good entry of 96 rearing calves near to 100 head met with a slightly easier trade but also reflecting age and strength. Two British Blue cross bull calves both around six weeks old at £290 for both AD & JA Bray, St Martin and LT Harvey & Sons, Newbridge. British Blue crosses also topping the heifers at £215 for a five-week-old calf from R, NWG & PJ Worden, Gunwalloe. BB bulls £290 (£151), hfrs £215 (£93), Lim bulls £240 (£181), hfrs £142 (£105), Hfd bulls £172 (£146), hfrs £95 (£78), AA bulls £170 (£138), hfrs £88 (£80), Fries bobby calves £47 (£37). In the sheep section, a stand-on trade for the

241 lambs, with prices continuing to hold well. Comparing the averages to the equivalent week in 2019, we are currently 20p/kilo ahead on the year. Three pens exceeded the £100 barrier, and to a top price of £105 for TB & MB Osborne, St Eval, purchased by JV Richards Ltd, Perranwell Station. A good run of three pens for JA & LSM Tripconey, St Keverne saw their handyweights set the premium to 219p/kg bought by RJ Trevarthen Ltd. Super quality heavyweights hit 216p/kg for AG Collins & Son, St Newlyn East to JV Richards Ltd. Medium to 219p/kg (204.21p). Heavy to 216p/kg (197.45p). Overweight to 175p/kg. SQQ av 204.21p. An entry of 50 cull ewes with lively prices, particularly for the better types; peaking at £87 for a single big-bodied ewe from JA & LSM Tripconey. First quality to £87 (£82). Second quality to £68 (£59). Plenty of demand for all shapes and sizes of store sheep; and more needed. Topping at £75.50 were a smart pair of forward stores for AJ Gluyas-Morrish, Praze-an-Beeble. Best to £75.50 (£75). Medium to £60.50 (£56.50). The‘Orange’TB restricted market on Tuesday, October 17 saw two just over-age well-finished Limousin cross heifers from RA & LM Berry, Constantine selling to a top call of 183p/kg and £1,317 to David King, Exeter. A nice entry of Limousin cross store cattle on behalf of M & J Rowe, Ashton saw the top steer pair around two years old make £1,060.

EXETER

Kivells report on November 23 prime cattle topping at 216ppk given for a 580kg Charolais heifer from Rosie Fishleigh of Sourton Cross which realised £1249 this was followed by a heavier 652kg heifer of the same age and breed again from Rosie which saw 200ppk and grossed £1300. Phillip Haydon of Cheriton Bishop saw 215ppk for his 518kg South Devon steer followed by his 594kg Charolais bullock at 208ppk (£1232) and a 568kg Charolais heifer at 205ppk and £1161. Next in line were a couple of Blonde heifers from Keith and Hilary Harvey of Bovey Tracey which both hit 209ppk with the heavier at 676kg taking home £1409. Michael Ayre of Thorverton saw a 490kg lightweight Limousin heifer draw 204ppk whilst Limousin steers from Jason and Cathy Crang of Cadeleigh fetched to 198ppk and £1235 and South Devon steers from Basil and Steve Cane of Plymouth saw 189ppk and £1324. Barren cows saw a top of 132ppk given for a 536kg

Simmental cross from Tony Francis of Okehampton with best South Devon cows to 126ppk and £848 for Dave and Shirley Mudge of Hexworthy and 116ppk and £977 for Dave and Karen Smith of Littlehempston. A 618kg Blonde barrener from Mary Curtis of

Cadeleigh sold for 115ppk and Colleton Barton of Chulmleigh sold 726kg Devon for 113ppk and £816. Cull bulls saw a 1126kg South Devon from Grenville Hockridge making 119kg and £1334 and a lighter 926kg Simmental from David Slade of Chagford seeing 118ppk and £1088. Slightly more prime lambs forward but numbers still tight and no improvement in the heavy lambs, but handyweights were certainly dearer on the week leaving the SQQ up 6p to 209ppk. Best of the heavy lambs around the £100 mark with a top of £102.50 and £100.80 for Lee Properties of Totnes, £102 and £100 twice for Mark Palfrey of Yeoford, £100.20 for Tom Yandle of Mamhead and £100 also for three further vendors with lambs 49-57kgs. Best of the

47kgs to £99.50 for Mark Harvey of Slapton as 46kgs sold to £98.50 for both Dave Pollard and MS & JS Southwood, both from Black Dog. Smart 44kg lambs to £97 (220ppk) for Alan Weymouth of Salcombe whilst the top pence per kilo went to Martin & David Sampson of Chudleigh with 36kgs at 221ppk (£79.50). More cull ewes too with a stand on trade and some better sorts forward saw a lift of £5 in the average to level at £71.34. Best ewes to £114.50 for Roy Endacott of Spreyton, £107.50, £106 and £104 for Mark Harvey of Slapton, £107.50 for Phil Lee of

Tedburn St Mary and £100 for Tom Yandle of Mamhead. Rams in line with the ewes selling to a top of £110 for a trio of Suffolks from Tom Yandle as Ray Tucker sold his best at £105.

SEDGEMOOR

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report on November 23 a medium-sized entry of 90 prime cattle (77 UTM and 13 OTM) which met a much faster trade. A lot of very lean cattle on offer, which highlights how vendors are up with their cattle to catch the favourable trade. Numbers will remain tight for some while if today’s show is anything to go on because the cattle will just not be ready and that should keep the trade up. Top was 214.5ppk for a very lean pure bred Simmental steer from BA Sweet, Congresbury, who sold others similar at 210, 209, 207.5, 205.5 and 204.5ppk and an Angus steer also at 207.5ppk. A nicely finished dunn Limousin from R & G Speed, Axminster, met a call of 207.5ppk as well. Good type, leaner Limousin at 205.5ppk from S & C Fry, Wareham, who also sold smart, lean Simmentals at 204, 203.5 and 201ppk. Good leaner type Blue at 204.5ppk from RC Loveridge & Son, Axminster. Good, leaner South Devon at 201.5ppk from Hill & Johnstone, Culmhead. Heifers peaked at 212.5ppk for a shapely red Limousin from RW Darby & Sons. Further shapely, leaner Limousins at 211.5ppk from JF Walker & Partners, North Petherton; 209.5 and 203.5ppk AAB Rowe & Son, Chilton Trinity and 205 and 204.5ppk from HR & EM Hutchings, Chard. Nicely fleshed South Devon at 209.5ppk from G Sloman, Creech Heathfield and purchased by The Meat Men, Ilminster. Well covered Blue at 206ppk from Cole & Partners, Kingston Seymour. Shapely, fleshed Blue at 203.5ppk from RC Loveridge & Son, who sold another similar at 202.5 and a Limousin at 199.5ppk. Well fleshed Charolais at 201ppk from K & N Crang, Yeovil. Good Angus at 199.5ppk from Cole & Partners and smart Herefords at 199.5 and 198.5ppk from RW Darby & Sons again. Steers sold to an excellent

£1,415.42 for a Simmental from S & C Fry, Wareham, who sold others well at £1,395.87, £1,358.64,

£1,300.74, £1,271.88 and £1,256.86. Limousin at £1,392.33 from R & G Speed, Axminster. Blue steers at £1,324.68, CWM & GN Bolt, Huntsham; £1,323.08 and £1,322.45, Habberfield Bros and £1,298.43, RC Loveridge & Son. Heifers rose to £1,342.25 for an OTM Limousin cross from S & P Boyer. UTM heifers to £1,294.29 for a Hereford from Vale Farm Partnership, Taunton, who also sold a South Devon at

£1,229.77 and Angus at £1,222.02 and £1,222.83. Limousin heifers at £1,253.56 from AAB Rowe & Son, Chilton Trinity and £1,247.38 from RW Darby & Sons. Further Angus at £1,191.02 from Cole & Partners. Best type Herefords at £1,189.02, £1,185.05 and £1,183.04 from RW Darby & Sons. A medium entry of 66 barren cows and cull stock bulls met a slightly dearer trade. More flesh amongst the suckler cows helped black and whites in shorter supply. Top was 147.5ppk for a young Hereford cow from RJ Mead, Winford. A run of well fleshed pedigree Angus cows from MR & SK Westcott & Son met calls of 139.5, 125.5, 124.5 (3x) and 119.5ppk. Smart Charolais at 127.5ppk HL Stott & Sons, Westbury, who also sold an Angus and a Hereford, both at 117.5ppk. Pure Devon at 119.5ppk from J & P Prideaux, Timberscombe. Further Hereford at 117.5ppk from GI Ware, Skilgate. Sucklers sold to £1,102.88 for the 856kg Charolais from HL Stott & Sons. Angus at £1,098.13 (875kg) £1,020.90 (820kg) £989.78 (795kg) and £952.43 (765kg) all from MR & SK Westcott & Son. Black and whites peaked at 118.5ppk for a Holstein from FE Hill & Son, Coultings. Jersey cross at 114.5ppk from W Read Partnership, Taunton and further Holsteins also to 114.5ppk from MJ Frampton, Burstock. Black and whites sold to £948.27 for a 866kg Holstein from FE Hill & Son, who sold another 795kg at £942.08. Further Holsteins £881.79 (798kg) R & J Jones & Son, Stogursey; £870.20 (760kg) MJ Frampton &

Sons and £794.42 (753kg) RW Gilbert & Partners, Coombe St Nicholas. A very shapely Simmental bull from PT Bale & Sons, Chard, met a call of 119.5ppk and returned at £1,186.64. In the sheep section, another small entry of 658 finished lambs sold to a dearer trade for all presented. The best lighter weights sold to 234 and 224ppk from R Stevens & Co. Others 222ppk from CJM Shackleton; 220ppk from MJ & GM Summers; 218ppk from J Hartle; 216ppk from A Dagger; 215ppk from J Temperley, AE Toogood and B Davis and 214ppk from AR Henson and KJ Seymour. Heavier lambs sold to £115.50, £111, £110 (2x) and £109 (2x) from AR Henson. Others £111 from GB & MA Holloway; £110 from SJ Crossman and T Rogers; £107 from MJ & GM Summers and £105 from PJ Holloway. Overall average on the day was £93.98.