Market reports

TRURO

Lodge & Thomas report on November 23 a lighter prime cattle entry of 14-head consisting largely of premium types. A top price of 249p/kg achieved by Messrs W T Bryant & Sons of St Martin, Helston, for their superb 670kg Limousin steer, purchased by Peter Morris Butchers of St Columb. Messrs Bryant sold further steers to 247p/kg and 239p/kg, the former of which saw a £1902 hammer total, whilst also topping the heifer section at 226p/kg for a neat 554kg Limousin, purchased J V Richards Ltd of Perranwell Station. Mr J M Hinkley of Truro, sold a super 21m Aberdeen Angus cross heifer to 215p/ kg. Steers: Limousin cross to 249p (670kg) for Messrs W T Bryant & Sons of St Martin, Helston. Heifers: Limousin cross to 226p (554kg) for Messrs W T Bryant & Sons of St Martin, Helston. Wednesday’s South West regional market averages: Steers: 215.5p/kg. Heifers: 199.85p/kg. Truro steers: Premium to 249.0p/kg av. 245.1p/kg. Prime to 203.0p/kg. All steers av. 224.89p/kg. Truro heifers: Premium to 226.0p/kg av. 220.5p/kg. Prime to 205.0p/kg. All heifers av. 211.76p/kg. A super trade throughout for the 42 cull cows which saw beef types peak at 199p/kg for a smart Limousin cow from Messrs W T Bryant & Sons of St Martin, Helston, bought by Dawn West Devon of Hatherleigh. Mr H G Dark of Helston, sold a great Swedish red and white at 185p/kg, whilst South Devon’s topped at 167p/kg for a grand 818kg cow from Messrs S & C Taffinder of Portscatho, Truro. Dairy types to 173p/ kg for a Friesian from Mr K Bottrell of Newbridge, Penzance, with B L Hearn & Partners of Whitecross, Wadebridge and Messrs A D & J A Bray of St Martin, Helston both selling smart Friesians on a strong trade. Beef cows: Limousin cross to 199p (781kg) for Messrs W T Bryant & Sons of St Martin, Helston. Dairy cows: Friesian to 173p (748kg) for Mr K Bottrell of Newbridge, Penzance, Cull bulls: Limousin to 134p (1092kg) for Messrs T F & D J Crapp of Helston. Store cattle numbers tighter on the week at 105-head with younger types making up the majority of the entry. A big bunch of six well grown 19m Hereford cross steers from Mr D P Udy of St Austell, took the top honours at £1170, with Mr R D White of Truro also surpassing the £1000 mark with his 19m Limousin cross achieving £1060. Mr White sold a slightly younger pair at £885, whilst Messrs A M & V R Pascoe of Helston, and Mr A Roberts of Coverack, Helston, both released £870 for strong 18m steers. Heifers topped at £1100 for a stand out 19m Charolais from Mr J Gregory of Chacewater, Truro, whilst Mr Udy marketed a pair of 22m British Blue at £900 and a pair of Aberdeen Angus of the same age at £805. Mr Williams of St Just, Penzance, marketed a tremendous run suckler cows and calves, with Limousin to £1440, Charolais to £1410, British Blue and South Devon to £1400 and Aberdeen Angus to £1290. Steers: 2yr: Hereford cross to £900 for Mr A Roberts of Coverack, Helston. 1½yr: Hereford cross £1170 for Mr D P Udy of St Austell. 1yr: Limousin cross to £635 for Messrs B K & E L Piper of Sithney, Helston. Heifers: 2yr: British Blue cross to £900 for Mr D P Udy of St Austell. 1½yr: Charolais cross to £1100 for Mr J Gregory of Chacewater, Truro. 1yr: South Devon to £705 for Mr G Symons of Bohortha, St Anthony in Roseland. An entry of 94 rearing calves passing through the ring this week, and as reported in previous weeks trade would be steady on the better calves with second quality or crossbred calves remaining hard to place. All young calves entered this week with the top price bull achieving £235 for a British Blue cross for Messrs R M & C D Rundle from Mevagissey, St Austell, who also went on to sell British Blue cross heifers at £190 and £165. Messrs J A & L S M Tripconey from St Keverne, Helston, sold a smart Limousin cross bull for £225 being beaten with a same aged heifer flying away to £250. Sixty Acres from Zelah, Truro, sold their best Limousin cross bull for £215 and their best British Blue cross bulls to £180. The pick of the Hereford cross bulls sold to £212 for Mr W H A Hicks from Maenporth, Falmouth, and J O Nightingale from Wadebridge saw their best British Blue cross bulls to £210, and super young Simmental cross calves from Messrs N J & L Goldsworthy from Tregony saw the best bull at £195 and heifers to £155. Bulls: British Blue cross to £225 for Messrs R M & C D Rundle of Mevagissey, St Austell. Heifers: Limousin cross to £250 for Messrs J A & L S M Tripconey of St Keverne, Helston. In the sheep pens, a total of 316-head this week with a mixed entry of prime lambs but generally strong averages and particularly for the good conformation lambs. Topping at £128.50 for heavy weight Texels from Messrs T B & M B Osborne of St Eval, Wadebridge, purchased by Trevarthens Ltd of Roskrow. Setting the premium to 278p/kg were a smart pen of 41.5kg Beltex cross lambs from Mr R Coad of Cubert, Newquay bought by J V Richards of Perranwell Station. Leading averages: £128.50 for 51.80kg lambs from Messrs T B & M B Osborne of St Eval, Wadebridge. Averages: Medium (39.1kg-45.5kg) to 273.0p/kg av. 246.6p/kg. Heavy (45.6kg-52kg) to 251.0p/kg av. 224.0p/ kg. Overweight (52.1kg+) to 220.0p/kg av. 212.0p/kg. SQQ lamb average: 246.6p/kg. A larger entry of cull ewes this week that included a dispersal of ewes from Messrs A T & A Dunn of Newham, Helston. Top call in the cull section was for a fleshy single from Messrs C R Elliott & Partners of Portloe, Truro which sold for £121. The trend continues of a good cull ewe trade particularly for the larger fleshier ewes, but in recent weeks the trade for the medium ewes has improved also. Buyers are very keen to stress the importance of booking entries, so please notify all entries (no matter how big or small) to the auctioneers to inform buyers, and to qualify for entry to our weekly £10 prize draw. Fewer stores this week, with a fast trade across the board and forward types in great demand. A top call of £110 for a very strong single lamb from Messrs B N & C Hoskins of Truro, who sold a further trio at £100 each. Other strong prices were seen by Mrs S Olds of Penzance and Messrs J & S Rowe of Bodmin. Many selling over £80.

EXETER

Kivells report on November 28 prime cattle reaching £1551 (720kg x 216ppk) for a South Devon steer from Phillip Haydon of Cheriton Bishop with others off the same farm to £1433 given for a 622kg Charolais bullock which saw top per kilo at 231 pence. Heavy British Blue steers ran to £1517 (742kg x 205ppk) for David Slade of Chagford and £1461 (666kg x 220ppk) for RJ Macbean and Sons of Plymstock whilst Aberdeen Angus heavyweight steers reached 227ppk and £1493 for Keith and Hilary Harvey of Bovey Tracey. Charolais prime heifers from Rosie Fishleigh of Sourton Cross returned £1437 (632kg x 228ppk) and £1395 (608kg x 230ppk) followed by Rob Summers of Sidmouth with a Hereford heifer grossing £1192 (672kg x 178ppk) and Aberdeen Angus females at £1072 (500kg x 215ppk) for Keith and Hilary Harvey. Barren cows rose to a top of £1396 (778kg x 180ppk) for a Blonde from Martin and Karen Curtis of Elburton with a South Devon from Eric Palmer of Thurlestone close at £1375 (836kg x 165ppk). Charolais cows reached £1112 (720kg x 155ppk) and £1101 (678kg x 163ppk) for Martin Daw, Ugborough and David Heath of Kingsbridge respectively followed by Devon cows at £1105 (656kg x 169ppk) for Barton Farm of South Zeal. Red Limousin barreners drew to £1018 (700kg x 146ppk) for Rob and Sue Greep of Cornwood. Just a couple of cull bulls on offer this week with a Blonde from Martin and Karen Curtis reaching £1350 (922kg x 147ppk) and a Devon at £1335 (944kg x 142ppk) for Steve and Jacqui Mitchell of Pennymoor. Just over 900 lambs and a dearer trade all round, especially for the heavier sorts with four pens over £140 to a top of £150 for a 61kg lamb from Dave Chapple of Cadeleigh who had other 59kg lambs at £144.50, Ian Braund of Holsworthy sold 57kg lambs well at £147 as well as 54kgs at £137.50 and 53kgs at £135.50 and Seward Folland of Puddington had 58kg Suffolk and Texel crosses at £144.50. Overweights averaged £137.59 or 250ppk. 52kg lambs sold to £130.50 for Ray & Sylvia Toms of Cheriton Bishop who also had 50kgs at £127.50 and Rich Berry of Kenn saw 51kgs make £128. Both 48 and 49kg lambs selling at £126.50 (48kgs claiming 264ppk) for Dave Fox of Cheriton Fitzpaine as well as 47kg lambs from the same home at £123. A super run of shorn lambs off roots from Tripp Bros of Dunsford saw them top every weight section from 45kg down to 42kg with the heaviest reaching £118, 44kgs making £116, 43kgs at £112.50 and sweet 42kgs attaining £110.50 (262, 264, 262 and 263ppk). Other smart 45kgs at £117.50 for Graham Curtis of Yeoford and smart 42kgs at £109.50 for Will Glover of Yeovil. 39kg lambs climbed to £100.50 for Mike Smith of Cheriton Fitzpaine as 38kgs rose to £97 for Phillip Kelland of Chevithorne and a sweet pen of 36kg lambs from LA Luxmore of Crediton soared to £97.50 or a sale topping 271ppk. SQQ up 9p to 251ppk and all lambs averaged £114.88. A smaller than anticipated entry of 509 cull sheep were another decent trade, although maybe not just the fire of last week’s bonanza. Crossbred ewes the best on the day with Ray & Sylvia Toms claiming £134 of Suffolk Mules as well as Texel Mules at £123, other Suffolk crosses at £130 and £129 for Collier Bros of Uplyme, John Cowell of Black Dog with a Dorset at £127 ahead of John Reddaway and sons of Cossick Cross at £124 and Robert & Christine Steer at £120. Plenty of crossbred ewes trading in the £105 to £118 bracket with again the best of the Mules touching £100 and hill ewes a strong trade too, as remarked on by travelling representatives. Rams remain serious, despite their working season coming to an end, four buyers firing on these today flying to a top of £157 for TP & KJ Welch of Awliscombe as Colin Parker & Family of Ashburton reached £139 followed closely by a pair from Peter Baber of Christow at £137 and further pen of seven at £130 and Kings Nympton’s Robin Irwin also at £130 to leave the 17 rams levelling at £121. Overall ewe average was back £3, due partly to quality and to trade, but only by a pound or two at £78.86.

SOUTH MOLTON

Stags report on November 24 a slightly bigger entry of prime lambs than last week as throughput numbers continue to grow. Overall a decent quality entry with a much larger proportion of leaner lambs forward especially those between 48-51kg. Trade very much as expected and very similar to last week. The export lambs of which there were fewer forward being 42-46kgs were well wanted! And sold to a premium with a lot of pens over the 250ppk mark. The real heavy lambs (55kg+) were again well wanted and appear to be shortening in supply! The lighter and leaner lambs were a touch easier on the day with not so many grazing lamb buyers around the ring this week. Hopefully the trade may harden again next week with abattoirs looking to kill for Christmas. Best pens today to 260ppk to 57kg Texel crosses from Mr CN Williams of Withypool with 255ppk to 42kg Charollais crosses from Mrs PA Stentiford of Whiddon. 253ppk three times; the first to 44.9kg Charollais crosses from Messrs GF & PJ Warne of Umberleigh; the second to 43.5kg Texel crosses from Messrs WH & JC Hayes of Twitchen and the third to 59kg Charollais crosses from Messrs IP & L Stagg of Newton Tracey. 42.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh met 252ppk with five pens at 251ppk; the first to 45.3kg Texel crosses from Mr T Elliott Ltd of Holsworthy; the second to 43.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr MJ Guard of Chittlehamholt; the third to 51kg Charollais crosses again from the Stagg Family; the fourth to 45.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Warne again and the fifth to 47.5kg Texel crosses from Mr RF Jones of Heasley Mill. Another five pens hit the 250ppk mark. Topping the day at £160 to 67kg Charollais crosses from Messrs IP & L Stagg of Newton Tracey with 66kg Lleyns from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton to £157.50. 62kg Charollais crosses from Mr LJ Ley & Partners of Goodleigh hit £154.50 with Messrs Stagg’s second 59kg pen at £149. Closely following at £148 was 57kg Texel crosses from Mr CN Williams of Withypool with £147.50 to 59.4kg Texel crosses from Messrs DW & J Jones of Heasley Mill who sold a superb run of 100 Texel and Suffolk cross pens. £147 to 59kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton with 66kg Texel crosses from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington to £140. 56.1kg Texel crosses again from the Jones Family met £139.50 with 57kg Suffolk crosses from Mr DJ Govier & Partners of Chulmleigh to £138.50. £138.20 to 58.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr WJ Woollacott & Sons of Bishops Nympton with £137 twice; the first to 56.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr RJ Laramy of Honiton and the second to 56kg Charollais crosses again from Mr DJ Govier & Partners. A near match on cull sheep numbers this week and overall a better show of ewes than premium weeks. A good turnout of buyers also with more grazing ewe buyers around the ring ensured a strong trade for all forward. Trade defiantly dearer for all ewes with the stronger leaner ewes up nearly £10 per head and the best heavy ewes up £15 per head. With plenty of people looking for ewes trade looks likely to stay at this level and numbers will be likely to remain tight in the run up to Christmas. Best Suffolk mules this week £125 plus and best mules this week £100 plus. Best ewes peaked to £151 to a Pure Texel from Messrs A & P Tapp of Heasley Mill with two other pens of Texels from Messrs MC & KD Yeo of Yarnscombe at £145. Dorset Mules from Messrs AJ & NG Latham of Kings Nympton hit £139 with a trio of Berrichons again from the Yeo Family at £137.50. Messrs Tapp’s second pen of Texels hit £135 with Texel Mules again from Messrs Latham to £131.50. Suffolk Mules from the Yeo Family to £128.50 with other blackfaces from Mrs CH Thorne of Tawstock at £127.50 with their Texel crosses at £126.50. Other whitefaces to £123 from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington with Suffolk crosses from Mr TL Dennis & Partners of Wembworthy at £121. Best rams to £139 for a Texel from Mr NA Cooke of Torrington with other similar Texels from Messrs A & D Bray of Twitchen at £134 and Messrs Ashley Game Farm Ltd of Wembworthy at £117.

HALLWORTHY

Kivells report on November 24 just shy of 200 stores met by another strong trade with plenty of well fleshed cattle on offer. Top spot going to M Gimblett of Treneglos with a very smart pen of well fleshed and long Limousin cross steers at 22m to £1325. Close behind F & D Jenkin of Falmouth with probably the tallest Friesian steer of the year at 26m topped out at £1265. M Gimblett in again with a second pen of four at £1180. MK & CM Barrett of St Tudy with a super fleshy and balanced pair of British Blue cross steers to £1165. M Greenaway of Liskeard next with a single Blonde cross steer at 17m to £1155. A & M Keast of Taphouse next with a strong pair of 23m Hereford cross steers to £1150. Mr A Kempthorne of St Teath saw the best of his British Blue cross steers to £1150 a single well defined steer. Treveglos Farms ran in with 25 super Limousin cross steers at 19-21m, with their pen of four long steers to £1115. Mr Moyers of Bude had the trade with an outstanding 12m Aberdeen Angus steer, a super looker at £1050. Mr Desborough of Wadebridge topped the heifer section with a single Charolais cross at 20m to £1200. Close behind was Mr K Bird of Crackington Haven with a single Bazadaise cross at 16m to £1190 and three Aberdeen Angus crosses at the same age to £1095. M Greenaway saw his best Blonde cross away at £1100. PD Mitchell of Bude saw the best of his run of heifers top out at £995 for a pen of three Charolais crosses. M Greenaway with a small dispersal of cows and calves saw his British Blue cross cow with Blonde cross steer calf away to £1510, and a second outfit to £1300. His best cow sold running with bull to £1230. Best fat cows today from P Ovens of Camelford to 138ppk. A pleasing entry of around 50 stirks penned and a sharp trade was met. Mr J Kramer of St Neot topped the section at £775 for a neat British Blue cross heifer, Hereford steers made £630 (10,) and £645 for their Simmental steer (9m). Jack Noy made the long journey up from Helston and made £590 for his British Blue steers, £550 for his Simmental steer, £500 (8m) for his Limousin steer and Angus to £500 (8m). British Blue cross heifers sold to £520 from the same farm, Limousin heifers to £560 for J Kramer again. More Limousin heifers sold to £490 and £455 for CP Button Ltd of St Tudy. Younger Charolais steers reached £540 for N Taylor of St Wenn. More British Blue steers to £540 for A Kempthorne of Helston. More stirks required. In the sheep pens, a much larger entry of 419 draft ewes met a faster trade for all weights and grades, with the biggest majority on offer being hill and plain ewes as we have seen for several weeks. Polled Dorset ewes from Andrew Hawkey, Penpont, Wadebridge topped the day at £141 followed by Gareth and Sue Martyn, Hornacott Barton who realised £138. A pen of Texel cross ewes from Mr & Mrs C Burrow of Tredown realised £131. Suffolk cross ewes from Glen Marquand of Callington sold to £125. Mules topped at £117 from Peter Uglow, Treluddick. Hill bred ewes to £89. Another much larger entry of 460 fat lambs saw all weights very much sought after and were a lot dearer, with the overall average at £251.5 being the highest seen in the South West this week. Top per kilo being 286p for a pen of Texels from Mr & Mrs C Burrow, Tredown, Welcombe. Followed by 272p for a pen of Texel 44kgs from Phil Collett, Trevalga, Boscastle £119.50. Followed by 267p for 42kgs £112 from Mr & Mrs C Burrow. Andy and James Melville realised 264p for two pens of 42kgs £110 followed by Rundle Weldhen, Trekenning, St Columb who realised 260p for six pens of 41kgs £106.50. Top per head on the day was £160 for a pen of heavies from Mr & Mrs C Burrow, Tredown who also realised £121 for another pen. Messrs Quinn & Sons, Otterham had a smart run of lambs which topped at £120 for a pen of 49.4kgs, followed by two local sheep producers who both realised £119.50 50kgs. Tim Martin, biggest sheep farmer and sheep consultant from St Teath and Rundle Weldhen of St Columb for his 50kgs. A smaller entry of 259 store lambs, being all small and averaged sized lambs, topped at £83 for Richard Cole of Chaddlehanger, Tavistock.

SEDGEMOOR

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report on November 28 a good entry of 70 finished cattle met another very strong trade. Top was 248.5ppk for a very shapely red Limousin heifer from RF, SR & RG Rawle, Parracombe, who sold a shapely, sandy Limousin heifer at 246ppk and a red very lean heifer at 239.5ppk. Further very shapely, red Limousin heifer at 245ppk from T & RT Gazard, Lower Morton, who sold another at 240ppk and a thick red heifer at 232ppk. Extreme shape black Limousin heifer at 243ppk and barley Blue heifers 243 and 236ppk from SER Hunt, Kilve. Shapely black Limousin heifer at 236ppk from SJB Adams & Son, Rhode, who sold a dairy Blue heifer at 227ppk. Further good dairy Blue heifer at 229.5ppk from DJ Cossins, Blagdon Hill, who sold others at 225.5, 224.5 and 223.5ppk (x2). Very lean feeding Simmental heifer at 226ppk from TE Harris, Kingston Seymour. Steers rose to 239ppk for a very shapely Limousin cross Charolais from R & G Speed, Axminster, who also sold a shapely red Limousin steer at 229ppk. Barley Blue steer at 227ppk from SER Hunt again. Shapely red Limousin at 226.5ppk from AJV Welch & Sons, Ashill. Angus steers at 225 and 224ppk from PRS & EB Scott, Axbridge and 222.5ppk (x2) from Messrs Habberfield Bros, North Newton. Steers sold to £1,700.40 for a 780kg OTM Blue from JM Cload & Partners, Westport, who sold more OTM Blue steers at £1,676.40 (762kg) £1,675.98 (785kg) and £1,624.73 (747kg). UTM steers rose to £1,653 for a 760kg Limousin at £1,607.58 and 668kg Limousin at £1,596.52 both from R & G Speed. 735kg Angus at £1,587.60 from JE Edwards, Drimpton. Heifers sold to £1,594.08 for a 648kg Limousin from RF, SR & RG Rawle, who wants another at £1,582.95 (637kg). Further best Limousin heifers at £1,572.90 (642kg) and £1,466.40 (611kg) from T & RT Gazard and £1,526.04 (628kg) SER Hunt. 675kg Blue heifer at £1,532.25, SJB Adams & Son. 658kg Hereford heifer at £1,447.60 from SJ & EH Coles, Edingworth. 650kg Angus heifer at £1,407.25 from JE Edwards. Next week brings our Christmas Show when we anticipate another strong trade. A larger sized entry of 83 cull cows and bulls met a good trade for the time of year. Fleshed assured cows are keenly sought, or those with excellent shape meet great demand. Top was 222.5ppk for a top drawer red Limousin cow (NA) from CA Retallack, Dulverton, who sold more similar at 221.5 and 202.5ppk. Further non assured shapely Limousin cow at 184.5ppk from NR Huxter, Bridport. Good non assured Charolais at 183.5ppk from HR & BM White & Sons, Watchet, who sold a shapely Simmental at 171.5ppk. Native cows rose to 185.5ppk for a well fleshed Angus from FP Hill & Son, Clayhanger, who sold a plain Angus at 168.5ppk and well fleshed Herefords at 181.5 and 177.5ppk. Further well fleshed Angus cows at 176.5 and 175.5ppk from CJ & JLM Hutchings & Son, Kings Brompton. Good meat non assured Devon at 167.5ppk from G & D Purchase, Bridgwater. Sucklers sold to an excellent £1,869 for an 840kg Limousin (NA) from CA Retallack, who sold others at £1,630.24 (736kg) and £1,539 (760kg). 773kg Charolais at £1,418.46 from HR & BM White & Sons. Native cows to £1,415.70 for a 780kg Hereford from FP Hill & Son, who sold another at £1,301.08 (733kg). Angus (792kg) at £1,397.88 from CJ & JLM Hutchings & Sons. Hereford cows at £1,370.29 (833kg) and £1,292.03 (805kg) from JC Burdge, East Harptree and £1,317.81 (806kg) HR & BM White again. Dairy breeds generally very plain and lacking flesh. Many straight out the parlour. Steaking Holstien at 163.5ppk from SJ & EH Coles, Edingworth. Further steaking Holstien, this time non UK at 152.5ppk from SJ Perry, East Worlington. Otherwise plain cows to 138.5ppk from MB & CJN Ayre, Bishops Nympton. Dairy breeds sold to £1,215.43 from SJ Perry for a 797kg non UK Holstien. 741kg Holstien at £1,211.54 from SJ & EH Coles. Cull bulls sold to £1,606.50 for a 1020kg Hereford from M Wall, Highbridge, which met a call of 157.5ppk. A reduced entry of 553 lambs sold to an overall dearer trade for all presented. The best sold to 278ppk from AJB Farm Partnership; 273ppk from S Kearle; 272ppk from R Lyons; 269 and 264ppk from J Sprake & Partners; 265ppk from J Hall; 263ppk from JP Tolley, JE Quick, I Denley and JW Clarke and 262ppk from DEJ Rainey, AF & RD Tucker & Sons, MB & KN Crabb and Chop Chop Holding. Heavier lambs sold to £148, 142.50, 141.50, 139.50, 139 and 137 from J Sprake & Partners; £148 and 136 from FH & PJ Bailey; £142 and 136 from RJ & SA Rowe Farms Ltd; £141, 140, 136.50 and 136 from MB & KN Crabb; £140 from PB & LM Doble; £139 from AF & RD Tucker & Sons and DA & AP Gillbard; £138 and 136 from R Lyons and £136.50 from JE Quick. Overall average £120.64.

HOLSWORTHY

Kivells report on November 23 a smaller entry of 665 prime lambs, with the lambs looking very weatherbeaten but the trade remained very strong with an overall average of 241.5ppk. The good meat lambs very much in demand, top being 259ppk for x4 pens of 45.5kgs, selling at £118 from the Stephens family of Burscott, Holsworthy. Followed by Graham Heard of Lutsford, Hartland for x3 pens of 46kgs, 257ppk and selling at £118. The heavies saw several pens over £125 to a top of £145 for a pen of 58kgs from Mike Bellew of Gammaton Barton, Bideford. A flying trade for the 324 store lambs with all small and average framed lambs on offer, which topped at £89.50 for Henry Bambury of Iddlesleigh. A smaller entry of 171 draft ewes with the bad weather showing in the ewes on offer, it was all plain and half meat ewes and a very strong trade was met. The ewes were up around £6 - £8 a head with the top being £105 from Graham and Hazel Butt of Okehampton. More needed please. A slightly smaller entry of calves forward than we expected, however still strong numbers penned being 304 passing through the ring. Trade up on last week, however trade still remains steady, with only premium types selling well. More reared types present and sold to a high of £530 for a super pair of British Blue bulls (4m) in from the Petherick family of Kilkhampton, who sold other British Blues to £450 and £445. Month-old British Blue cross bulls sold to £330 for R & S Home of Putford, £330 for Charolais cross bulls for ND & PM Axford of Clawton and Limousin bulls to £290 for R & S Home again. Reared Friesians to £150 for H Dark of Helston and £105 for Wills Bros of Wadebridge. A pleasing entry of stirks penned today, selling to a top of £560 for a Limousin cross steer in from A Cann Contracting of St Giles who sold others to £390. Another good entry of 260 good weighing cattle saw another large crowd of buyers around the ring, £1185 was the top for x2 British Blue steers (24m) from Messrs AG Prouse & Partners of North Tamerton, other continentals from Messrs HF Chubb & Son of Tetcott to £1140 (23m) and other Limousins from Mr IH Barkwill of Milton Abbot to £1110. Another strong native trade to a top of £1150 for x2 Aberdeen Angus (19m) from Mr RJ Wade of Welcombe with Herefords topping at £1110 for x2 steers (25m) from Mr IH Barkwill of Milton Abbot. Best of the meat heifers topped at £1135 for a 24m Simmental from Mr IH Barkwill. Younger 19m single suckled British Blue heifers from Messrs DJ & ML Challacombe of Winkleigh to £1115. Best of the natives was £1100 for a 21m Aberdeen Angus from Mr D Hooper of Saltash. Few Holstein steers to £850 for Mr D Hooper of Saltash.