Market reports

HOLSWORTHY

Kivells report on March 10 the highlight of the sale being the fantastic herd dispersal of 200 dairy cattle on behalf of Steve & Katherine Pomeroy of West Putford, which saw a tremendous trade topping at £2,415 and over 20 lots exceeding £2,000! An entry of 170 store cattle saw another very strong trade top at £1,450 for a Limousin steer in from BD & DG Andrew of Shebbear, with British Blues to £1,430 for MW Jenkin of Bray Shop. The 270 calves on offer topped at £490 for two British Blues from Knapman Farms, with others from John Elliott at £470. An entry of 15 stirks saw a top call of £525 for a six-month British Blue for the Dilling family. In the sheep section, an entry of 917 hoggs met a strong trade topping at £143.50 for Tim Dennis of Bude and the Allin family of Hartland. The 271 draft ewes topped at £140 for a Texel from Mr Bucknell of Holsworthy, with five other vendors at £135. An entry of 58 couples saw numerous doubles at £240 to a top of £285 for Danny Norman of Dolton, who also topped the singles at £180.

NEWTON ABBOT

Rendells report on March 3 an increased entry of stock forward for the March sale of cattle which met a flying trade. All classes in strong demand but younger cattle looking well sold. The store cattle sold to a top price for steers of £1170 for a pair of 23m Hereford’s for PJ Caunter & Son, followed at £1145 for a bunch of five South Devon steers for Mr P Vooght. Messrs RJ & J Tully sold a pair of Aberdeen Angus steers to £1080. The heifer section topped at £1095 for a bunch of five Hereford’s from PJ Caunter & Son. A good entry of British Blue and Aberdeen Angus heifers from Messrs EK & ME Burnell and Son were well received, selling to £925 for Aberdeen Angus. Leading prices: South Devon steers to £1145 for P Vooght, Luton. Heifers to £790 for P Vooght, Luton. Aberdeen Angus steers to £1155 for PJ Caunter & Son, Harbertonford. Heifers to £925 for EK & ME Burnell & Sons, Kingswear. British

Blue steers to £880 for EK & ME Burnell & Sons, Kingswear. Heifers to £935 for EK & ME Burnell & Sons, Kingswear. Hereford steers to £1170 for PJ Caunter & Son, Harbertonford. Heifers to £1095 for PJ Caunter & Son, Harbertonford. Bulls to £655 for AJ & JA Talbot, Spreyton. Prime cattle sold to 174ppk and £1104.90 for FC Janes & Sons, with mature cattle selling to 171ppk and £1162.80 for Messrs AJ & JA Talbot. In the sheep pens, a fast trade was seen for the hoggs, with a mixed entry of quality selling to a top per kilo of 280ppk for 46kgs from Mr RD Coysh, Sigford. Mr M Isted, Newton Abbot was close behind, selling 48kg hoggs to 277ppk and £133 per head. Hot on the heels on the headage front was RD Coysh selling to £129 and £125, with MJ & JM Evans selling pens to £114 for 44.60kg hoggs. Many lighter weight, unfinished hoggs forward with the best selling around the 240 to 260ppk, impacting the overall SQQ. Cull ewes sold to £165 for Mr R Quantick, Teigngrace.

HALLWORTHY

Kivells report on March 11 a slightly smaller entry of

160 stores with another hot trade, especially for the younger running cattle. Top spot going to DG & VJ Osborne of Roche with a super run of continental cattle, their first Simmental steer with a tremendous frame to £1300, next a strong horned Simmental steer with attitude to £1250. R T Crabb of Marshgate ran close with a powerful pen of three Aberdeen Angus to £1185. D H Dawe of Saltash saw his super pen of Hereford steers realised £1180 for five. F C Champion of Liskeard with a great run of fleshy cattle was rewarded with a pen of six Aberdeen Angus steers to £1180 and a blocky single to £1060. Mrs Fitzgerald of North Hill saw her pure Aberdeen Angus steers with great conformation to a top of £1135. Back in again was R T Crabb with a British Blue steer to £1120, and a pair of stretchy Limousin cross steers at £1110. Best of the dairy cross Herefords to DG & VJ Osborne at £1080. The Cobbledick Family of South Petherwin saw their best Charolais cross steer to £1085 and Hereford steer with a great carcase to £1070. Mr & Mrs E Quinn of Marshgate topped their cattle with a 16m pure Montbeliarde to £1070. Mr Higman of Liskeard saw his best Hereford steers to £1000, and A Penrose of Breage, Helston also hit the £1000 for an Aberdeen Angus steer. DG & VJ Osborne topped the heifer section with a pair of Aberdeen Angus crosses with plenty of power to £1080, two Herefords at £1055, and a fleshy well rounded British Blue to £1015. A single stretchy Aberdeen Angus away at £1000. The Cobbledick Family saw their younger flashy Limousin cross to £945, and A Walter of North Hill saw his best Hereford to £940. Younger cattle saw a real rise and plenty of men after the quality. The Trudgian Family of Bugle saw the top trio of 12m Charolais cross steers to £1020, and a real pen of sappy grey Charolais cross steers to £970. A Penrose saw his top a pair of 8m Limousin cross steers to £950, and D Bosley of Camelford saw his 8m British Blue crosses to £930. D Bosley topped the heifer section with a real sweet 11m Charolais cross to £950, and T J Wills of Davidstow saw their last bunch of 9m heifers to £840. A run of strong cows from the Champion Family saw a top of £960 and £950 for a Limousin cross and £850 for Herefords, with the best British Blue crosses to £1035 all as grazing cows from the Blanchard Family. An entry of 70 stirks topped at a whopping £715 for four smart 5m Hereford steers for Bert Littlejohns of Hartland, with his heifers at £600 only 5m again. David Bosley had a very smart 10m British Blue steer reach £685, closely followed by Cambel Hills’10m Hereford Steers racing away to £660, with other steers at £600, and five 8m Hereford heifers at £515. Edwin Quinn’s 4m Montbeliard steers made £555 three times and £465 five times, with his 4m Aberdeen Angus at £500. Other 7m British Blues reached £565 for Darren Hooper of Tideford, with his 6m Aberdeen Angus at £465 and 7m British Blue heifers to £400. Aaron Barriball had a run of Herefords making £365 twice, £345 five times and £310. A reduced entry of 15 rearing calves, with another hot trade, topped at £300 for a Montbeliard bull for the Quinn Family up from Camelford, with their other Montbeliard bulls at £270. Michael Braunton of Bodmin had a run of very young calves, topped at £270 for a 30-day-old British Blue, with younger British Blue heifers at £202, £200 and £198, all around 10-15 days old. His Aberdeen Angus’made £215 for a 25-day-old bull. Herefords topped at £245 for a 25-day-old bull from Russel Nute, with his heifers at £200. Raymond Quinn of Port Issac made £218 for his British Blue heifers and young 20-day-old Limousin heifers to £150. More needed. In the sheep pens, a similar entry of 224 draft ewes but a stronger trade, with 21 pens over £110 to a top of £153 for Texel’s from Anytime Anywhere of Boyton, with three other vendors realizing £148. Mules to £112 and hill bred ewes to £82. A larger entry of 450 fat hoggs saw all very much sought after. Overall average of 283.2. The well fleshed 40 to 46kgs realizing 295 to a top of 300p for three pens of 40kgs from Chris Kent of Christa Court, Liskeard. Followed by Tim Harris of Blisland who realized 299p for a pen of 40kgs. Top per head was £137 from two vendors, C Davey of Stoke Barton, Hartland and James Stephens of Tregays, Lostwithiel. An entry of 72 store hoggs and while the quality is starting to drop back, the trade is still hot, topping at £112 from three vendors. A smaller entry of couples (58 ewes and 88 lambs) met a very fast trade with several doubles over £230, to a top of £245 from Messrs Sandercock of Trevilly. The singles sold to a top of £180 for a Suffolk cross FM from Messrs Taylor and Trudgian of St Wenn.

SOUTH MOLTON

Stags report on March 11 an entry of 846 prime hoggs and lambs forward for sale. Just a handful of new season lambs sold to a very strong trade for all weights present. More a wanted in the coming weeks especially 39-45kg. Top today at £139 to 50kg Charollais crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey with £136.50 to 43.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs D & JA Galloway of Chawleigh. £134 to 43.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs K&C Morish of Cheriton Bishop closely followed at £133.50 to 42kg Charollais crosses from Messrs J&H Searle of Ash Mill. A near double entry of hoggs this week compared to last and over a lower quality entry than we have seen for a while. Despite the lower quality on offer trade yet again was dearer with the SQQ nearing the 300ppk mark. These are very strnage times with the ring still full of buyers and all keen to give these super high prices for the hoggs. Best trade yet again for the 38-46kg fleshed hoggs although it must be said that all types and weights of hoggs are wanted. More heavy hoggs on offer this week but again plenty of buyers keen to secure them. Best pens rose to 314ppk to 38.2kg Suffolk crosses from Mr JC Isaac of Rackenford with 313ppk to 36.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs D& J Baker of Yarnscombe. 312ppk twice; the first to 38kg Texel crosses from Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton and the second to 45.5kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland. 311ppk to 43.2kg Texel crosses from Mr B Elston of Rose Ash with 308ppk to 39kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs GR & RJ Ward of Iddesleigh. 307ppk to 38.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs IJ & CR Vigus of Oakford with 306ppk twice; the first to 38.5kg Texel crosses from Mr NP Vaux of Knowstone and the second to 38.4kg Texel crosses from Messrs K & C Pickard of Atherington. 305ppk also achieved twice; the first to 45.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs WJ & MA Stoneman of Chulmleigh and the second to 44kg Texel crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill. 304ppk to 45.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs TJ & JC Pincombe of Chulmleigh with 303ppk to 45.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs James of Chawleigh. Another 10 pens between 300-302ppk. Topping the day at £158 to 64kg Charollais crosses from Messrs WJ & MA Stoneman of Chulmleigh with £157 to 57kg Texel crosses from Mr EO Ayre of South Molton. £156 to 64.2kg Texel crosses from Mr AE Chudley & Son of Romansleigh whilst £155 was achieved for 61.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh. £150.50 to 58kg Charollais crosses again for the Stoneman family closely followed at £150 to 78kg Pure Charollais from Mr SC Webber of Umberleigh. £149 to 56kg

Hampshire Down crosses from Mr MTD Pile of Dunkeswell with £148.50 to 66kg Suffolk crosses from Mr LW Reed of Nomansland. £148.20 and £148 to

54kg Suffolk and 53.6kg Texel cross pens both from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey. £147 to 57kg Texel crosses from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington with £145 to 64kg Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland. £144.50 to 56kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs BR & IB May of Burrington closely followed at £144.20 to 54.4kg Suffolk crosses from Mr AC Westaway of Newton Tracey. £144 to 55kg Charollais crosses again from Messrs Chudley with £143.80 to 52kg Charollais crosses from Messrs IFC & JC Harris of Beaworthy. A short show of 45 store hoggs than a fortnight ago as they begin to shorten in numbers. Trade as ever exceptionally strong to a top of £120.50 for Texel crosses from Mr J Elworthy of Barnstaple with £119 to Charollais crosses from Mr CJ Hagar of Ashreigney. Average £112.25. An entry of 260 cull ewes and rams with a few more ewes forward this week, but it must be said we would expect more at this time of year. Overall a very good show of ewes with some runs of strong ewes forward. Trade again solid from start to finish and all classes of ewes were wanted. Hard to say what the best was for as all the ewes were very dear! Best Suffolk mules all over the £120 mark and best Mules over the £100 mark. Topping the ewes at £152.50 to a shapely Texel from Mr D Fergie of Ash Mill with another two pens of Texels at £148 from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington and Mr S Avery of Yarnscombe. £142 to a Charollais from Messrs D & J Baker also of Yarnscombe with £139.50 to a Pure Suffolk from Mr G Mill & Partners Ltd of Witheridge. £137.50 to a Charollais from Messrs K & C Morish of Cheriton Bishop closely followed at £137 to Suffolk Mules from Mr LW Reed of Nomansland. Other Charollais’from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh at £135 with £134 three times; the first to Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of Newton Tracey; the second to Charollais crosses from Bonner Farm of Burrington and the third to Texel crosses from Mr FR Chave & Son of Cruwys Morchard. Dorsets to £132.50 again from Mr LW Reed with £130 twice; the first to Charollais’again from Mr Sing and the second to a super pen of fifteen Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ, GM & AJ Tucker of Umberleigh. £129.50 to Suffolk Mules from Messrs JC & ME Barnes & Son of North Buckland with £129 four times; the first to Suffolk Mules again from Mr EJ Westaway; the second to Texel crosses from Mr A Richards of Kentisbury; the third to Suffolk Mules from Messrs RJ & AR Snell of Burrington and the fourth to Texel crosses again from the Mills Family. Best rams peaked to £137 for a Charollais from Mr WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton with a Welsh from Mr AE Chudley & Son of Romansleigh at £122.50 whilst Mrs J Blake of North Molton saw her Poll Dorset peak to £120.

TRURO

Lodge & Thomas report on March 10 a tight in number but super entry of 21 UTM prime cattle met with a trade rising yet further with buyers unable to fulfil their orders. Truro’s averages surpassing those from other centres by a noticeable margin. Top price was a super shaped and fleshed 651kg Limousin cross heifer from RE Richards, St Keverne selling at 240p/kg and £1,562 to RJ Trevarthen Ltd, Roskrow; with the same buyer snapping up Mr Richards’premium Limousin cross steer at 235p/kg. A heavier 698kg steer from this farm stood overall top value at £1,612, also bought by RJ Trevarthen Ltd. A big heifer price of £1,573 for a heavy 814kg Blonde d’Aquitaine cross for DL & AE Grigg, Goonhavern purchased by JV Richards Ltd, Perranwell Station. Premium steers to 235p/kg (233p). Prime steers to 200p/kg. All steers average 222p/kg. Premium heifers to 240p/kg (235.3p). Prime heifers to 216p/kg (205.85p). All heifers average 211.2p/kg. A single OTM being a Charolais cross heifer from Penhallow Farm

Ltd, Ruan High Lanes was knocked down at 181p/kg to David King, Exeter. Less numbers in the cull cow section at 20-head, despite an absolutely storming trade with no let up whatsoever in demand for all on offer including plainer cows for further fattening selling for well in excess of equivalent deadweight values. Top cow at 160p/kg and £1,344 was a tremendous 840kg South Devon cross from for TG Hawke, Colan purchased by David King; also buying the best Friesian at 142p/kg and £1,108 from AD & JA Bray, St Martin. A huge 1139kg Simmental bull for RM & CD Rundle, Mevagissey sold well at 135p/kg and £1,538 to David Ellis, Lelant. Beef cows to 160p/kg (127.24p). Dairy cows to 142p/kg (101.28p). With similar numbers of stores (168-head) to last week and containing a high proportion of younger cattle, the increasing finished cattle values igniting store prices with many buyers travelling long distances but heading home empty-handed. With grass growing and the weather improving greater numbers are required. Top price of the day went to a 24m steer from a grand run of 17 South Devons on behalf of Trevaskis Farm Livestock, Gwinear, with their same age heifer pair £1,045. Younger South Devon steers to £1,175 for TF & DJ Crapp, Helston who sold a bunch of four Limousin and South Devons dearer at £1,195. Younger cattle were an exceptional trade with a 13m South Devon steer from Trevaskis £1,135 and 14 super 13/14m cattle from JM Curnow, Troon seeing continental steers to £1,110 and £1,105, and a British Blue heifer £1,050. An entry of 15 pure single-suckled yearlings from Trevedra Farm Partnership, Sennen saw steers to £1,090 for a bunch of four Limousin crosses and trios of British Blue cross heifers to £1,010. Overall top on the heifer side were a Limousin and Simmental cross trio selling for SJ & RM Truscott, Redmoor at £1,090. SD strs £1,300, hfrs £1,045, Lim strs £1,195, hfrs £1,090, Sim hfrs £1,090, BB strs £1,000, hfrs £915, Hfd strs £945, hfrs £965, AA strs £930, hfrs £1,045. Yearlings – SD strs £1,135, hfrs £900, Char strs £1,110, hfrs £800, Sim strs £1,105, Lim strs £1,090, BB strs £1,055, hfrs £1,050, Hfd strs £910, Dev strs £810. A successful special spring sale of stirks saw steers to £700 for 7m British Blue crosses from a grand run of 30 from DJ Heller, Blackwater with many vendors selling in the £600’s. An entry of 55 calves, the volume is short and the demand is great, resulting in a wonderful trade from start to finish. A run of good calves around a month old for RM & CD Rundle, Mevagissey saw Simmental cross bulls top at £345 and £320, and heifer £232. Overall top heifer at £238 was a British Blue cross from Cox & Floyd, Tregony. Sim bulls £345 (£257), hfrs £232 (£179), Hfd bulls £265 (£168), hfrs £220 (£199), Lim bulls £260, BB bulls £255 (£220), hfrs £238 (£164), AA bulls £210 (£191), Fries bulls £75 (£54), bobby calves £28 (£24). A fine selection of 33 lambs as numbers increase week by week. A fiery trade which saw a premium average of a whopping 342p/kg for a smart pen of Charollais cross 41.2kg lambs from GC & VD Mitchell, Duloe purchased by RJ Trevarthen Ltd. Three pens forward for DJ Lobb, Little Polgooth seeing the best pair sell to £142 to K & D McFadden Butchers, St Just. Medium to 342p/kg (218p). Heavy to 307p/kg (301p). SQQ average 328p. An entry of 223 hogs and prices accelerated again on the week, as the finished sheep trade prevails at an all-time high. Peaking at £144 for two pens, firstly a smart pair of butchers’ quality hogs from NF Dalgarno, Tregony purchased by JV Richards Ltd, Perranwell Station; also achieving top price were a pen of 56.3kg Dorset cross ewe hogs from GW & HE Hawkey, St Wenn. Topping the hog averages at a remarkable 319p/kg were handyweight Beltex hogs for Rewan Coad, Cubert, with heavierweight hogs to 303p/kg from a run for Bob Coad, both also bought by JV Richards Ltd. Standard to 312p/kg

(309p). Medium to 319p/kg (294.9p). Heavy to 303p/ kg (275.4p). Overweight to 274p/kg. SQQ average 296p. A flying trade from start to finish for the 55 cull ewes, with over half the entry £100+ and topping at £125 for a trio from RH Eddy, Tehidy. First quality to £125 (£105). Second quality to £85 (£74). Cull rams to £117 (£112.40). Sheep to £110. A tremendous trade for the 60-head of store sheep and some of the dearest prices reported in Truro. A pair of big-frame close-to-finish types from R Gregor & Son, St Mawgan hit £120! Best to £120 (£104). Medium to £96 (£92). Another consignment of single ewe hog couples for J McFadden, St Just sold to £181 and £180.

EXETER

Kivells report on March 15 prime cattle selling to a top price of 237ppk given for a 508kg home produced suckler bred British Blue heifer from Phillip and Dan Dennis of North Tawton, with similar others off the same farm to 220ppk and £1237. Rosie Fishleigh of Sourton Cross reached a very decent 234ppk with 542kg Limousin heifer which realised £1253 followed by another Limousin heifer at 556kg from Rosie which drew 226ppk and £1253. South Devon steers from

Basil and Steve Cane up from Spriddlestone, Plymouth eased to 223ppk for one at 658kg which saw a market topping £1464 whilst Peter Macbean of Plymstock sold Blue heifers for £1225 (582kg x 211ppk) and Limousin’s for £1230 (596kg x 207ppk). More prime saw 210ppk and £1353 for a 646kg Montbeliarde steer from Keith and Hilary Harvey of Bovey Tracey with a Hereford steer off the same farm reaching £1313 (636kg x 207ppk). Adrian Bowden, Drewsteignton sold a 584kg Limousin heifer for 209ppk with his British

Blue steer reaching 208ppk, these were followed by further Blue steers from Mike Tooze of Broadsands at 209ppk and £1317 and 208ppk and £1394 for Dan Tooze. Best of the over thirty month prime came from John Carden of Payhembury with Devon steers (33m) rising to 189ppk and £1296. A few more Barren cows forward on Monday with a young 582kg Aberdeen Angus cow from Peter Hendy of Staddiscombe, Plymouth topping this section at 195ppk with another one off the same farm at 804kg coming back at 148ppk and £1185. Richard Barter and Family of Bovey Tracey saw their 554kg Angus cow reach 187ppk and £1033 whilst Blonde barreners ran to 166ppk (£1019) for Michael Scott of Drewsteignton and 146ppk and £1158 for Adrian Bowden of the same Parish. Limousin’s saw 160ppk and £1039 for Keith Stone of Thorndon Cross followed by Hereford’s at 143ppk and £1071 for one at 752kg for Stephen Slade of Aylesbeare. South Devon types from John Reddaway and Sons of Cossick Cross fetched 142ppk with the best of the cull bulls reaching £1255 (1042kg x

121ppk) for a Simmental from Andrew and George Palk of Paignton. The super entry of 2882 sheep were another tremendous trade across all three sections despite the increase in numbers. Almost 1100 prime spring lambs were a very similar trade with three pens selling in excess of £150 to a top of £152.50 for David Mingo of Fenny Bridges as Ben & Amelia Watts of Ashburton claimed £151.50 and George Haskell of Wareham claimed £150.50. 41kgs rose to £148 for A Burrow of Payhembury as the top per kilo went to Richard Pratt of Gittisham with 37kgs at 372ppk or £137.50 closely followed at 370ppk by Rob Thorn of Chagford with the same weight at £137. SQQ on the springers of 328.5ppk is down 3.5p or average per head of £135.50 is back £2. More hoggs forward at 786 head and trade no different from last week on the whole. No superstars for a big price but plenty of pens over £140 to a top of £145.50 for Ken Chapple of Oakford, £144.50 for Pauline Hopkins of Offwell, £143 for Russell & John Stevens of Crediton and £141 and £140 for Geoff Tripp of East Prawle. Eric Palmer of Thurlestone took top price per kilo with his 43kgs at 309ppk (£133) as well as 44kgs at 308, 307 and 306ppk (£135.50, £135.20 and £134.50) as Martin & Russell Gillbard of Morchard Bishop sold 39kgs at 305ppk and £119. Averages of 289ppk (is back 30) and £130.90 per head is better on the week. A super number of just over 1000 cull sheep were a stand on trade with tops of £174 for Texel’s from Paul Quick and Family of Zeal Monachorum who also had a Charollais at £163, Andy & Wendy Reed of Blackborough sold Beltex’s at £170 and Suffolk’s at £168 as Steve Locke of Jacobstowe had a Texel at £167 and MA May & Son of Copplestone sold a pair of crossbred ewes at £160. Rams to £169 for a pair from Rob Thorne as Adrian & Julie Rich of Halwell sold theirs at £156 and all in the cull sheep averaged £101, which was back £5 but due entirely to quality.

SEDGEMOOR

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report on March 15 a slightly reduced entry of 105 prime cattle (93 UTM and 12 OTM) and another exceptional trade. Top was 227ppk for a very shapely Limousin steer from J & J Meaker & Son, Langport, who also sold a quality black Blue steer at 222.5, a black Limousin steer at 213.5 and a red Limousin at 213ppk. Gold Limousin steer at 223.5ppk from J & S Vinnicombe & Son, Ottery St Mary. Very shapely red Limousin steers at 223 and 220.5ppk from KJ Brewer, Taunton. Smart Blonde steers at 215 and 213.5ppk from MJ Tuckett & Partners, Exeter. Well bred Charolais steers at 214 and 213.5ppk from MJ & GM Summers, Exbridge. More good Charolais steers at 213ppk from BA Richards, Williton and 213ppk again from HWC & JM Butler, Bristol. Well fleshed suckler bred Simmental steers at 213 again and 211ppk from EJ Collins & Son, Chard. Dairy bred Blue steer at 210ppk from SER Hunt, Kilve. Dairy bred Limousin at 209.5ppk from FG Payne & Sons, Wellington. Native steers to 217.5ppk for a superb Hereford from RW Darby & Sons, Bridgwater. Steers sold to £1,589.74 for a 787kg, 32m Simmental steer from EJ Collins & Son, who sold a younger Simmental steer (23m and 742kg) at £1,565.62. Angus steer at £1,542.45 from Habberfield Bros, North Newton, who also sold a Blue at £1,474.96. Simmental steer at £1,502.45 from MW Hoskins, Kingston Magna, who also sold a Montbeliarde at £1,450.96. Continental steers £1,496.64 (Limousin) £1,426.23 (Blue) and £1,423.29 (Limousin) from J & J Meaker & Son. South Devon at £1,447.95 from R & G Speed, Axminster. Charolais at £1,399.41, HWC & JM Butler, Bristol. Heifers peaked at 224.5ppk for a smart red Limousin from J & DJ Cotterill, who sold another at 214.5ppk. Exceptional shape gold Limousin heifer at 219.5ppk from J & S Vinnicombe & Son, Exeter.

Another very shapely red Limousin at 218.5ppk from HWC & JM Butler, Bristol. Shapely black Limousin at 218.5ppk from J & J Meaker & Son again. Lightweight butchers’ Blonde heifer at 212.5ppk from MJ Tuckett & Partners. 31m, very smart Limousin at 210.5ppk from GDW Isaac & Son, Broadhembury. Very lean feeding Blonde at 210ppk from K Proctor, Dunkeswell. Dairy bred black Limousin at 209ppk from FG Payne & Sons again. Native heifers to 211.5ppk for a Hereford from K & N Crang, Yeovil. Further Hereford at 209.5ppk from D Barnes again. Heifers sold to an exceptional £1,422.44 for a 651kg Limousin from HWC & JM Butler. Further Limousin heifers at £1,376.55 (630kg) J & J Meaker & Son; £1,359.13 (31m and 655kg) and £1,338.78 (32m and 636kg) GDW Isaac & Son and £1,288.47 (587kg)

J & S Vinnicombe & Son. Native heifers to £1,326.38 for a 655kg Angus from SL & TA Bell, Otterhampton. More barren cows at 67-head and a flying trade! Top was 161.5ppk for a Blue cow (FA) from D Barnes, Yarcombe. Further better shape continentals at 160.5ppk, Limousin (FA) J & DJ Cotterill, Monksilver; 154.5ppk, Limousin (FA) BM Rogerson, Chilton Polden; 148.5ppk, Blue (FA) LD & GA Norman, Ash Priors and 144.5ppk, Simmental (FA) PT Bale & Sons, Lydmarsh. Native cows rose to 142.5ppk for a Devon (FA) from Hutton & Sons, Bristol. Others 141.5ppk for a Hereford (FA) from BM Rogerson again; 139.5ppk Angus (NA) M Davey & Son, Ashcott; 133.5ppk (FA) Sheppy Cider Ltd, Bradford on Tone; 133.5ppk again, Hereford (FA) Hutton & Sons again and 132.5ppk, Angus (FA) D Barnes again. Sucklers sold to £1,277.38 for a massive 884kg Simmental (FA) from PT Bale & Sons. 747kg Limousin (FA) at £1,198.94 from J & DJ Cotterill 731kg Blue (FA) at £1,180.57 from D Barnes (FA). 780kg Blue (FA) at £1,158.30 from LD & GA Norman. 705kg Limousin at £1,089.23 from BM Rogerson. Native cows to £1,167.38 for a 825kg Hereford (FA) from BM Rogerson again. Angus at £1,064.39 (763kg, NA) from M Davey & Son. Devons to £997.50 (700kg and FA) from Hutton &

Sons. Dairy breeds tremendous to 149.5ppk for a Holstein (709kg) from MM & EH Lucas, Ilminster, who sold other best meat cows at 145.5, 144.5 and 140.5ppk. Other better Holsteins 138,5 and 127.5ppk MD Pyle Ltd, Broadhembury; 137.5ppk, NW Doble & Son, Clapton; 135.5ppk, Greenacre Farming Ltd, Bradford on Tone; 133.5ppk, PT Bale & Sons again and 131.5ppk, CJ Mear & Son, Chard. Friesian cows rose to 137.5ppk from RJ & MA Curtis, Yeovil. Black and whites sold to the day’s top of £1,328.42 for a 913kg “boat” from MM & EH Lucas, who sold others at £1,240.62 (883kg) £1,221.03 (845kg) and £1,059.96 (709kg). Others £1,213.26 (876kg) MD Pyle Ltd and £1,002.38 (729kg) RJ & MA Curtis. More cows wanted whilst the iron is hot! In the sheep section, fewer hoggs forward at 936-head sold to a similar strong trade for the lighter weights, but much dearer for the heavies, rising to a record price for hoggs of £178 from House & Sons. Lighter weights sold to 310ppk from AJ Willcox; 307ppk from P Coombs Ltd and 306, 303 and 300ppk from J Hallett. Other heavies sold to £166 and £159 from RJ Willcox Ltd; £161 from RJ, HA & MR Popham; £160 and £158 from House & Sons; £160 from NA Norman and MB & KN Crabb; £159 from RJ Langford; £158 from P Coombs Ltd and £155 and £154 from JH & HJ Diment. Overall average £139.23. A similar entry of 131 lambs sold to an even dearer trade for all forward. The best lighter lambs sold to 370ppk from AW Kingston & Son. Others 367ppk from TJ Mitchell and 361, 358 and 356ppk from Williams PFA. Heavier lambs sold to £152 from P Coombs Ltd; £148 from AW Kingston & Son and £145.50 and £143.50 from Thornhill Farm (Dorset) Ltd. Overall average £140.95. Please note: If picking lambs over the weekend for Monday’s market please text Adam Hayes on 07889 064309 to advise of entries so buyers can be informed.