SOUTH MOLTON LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT

THURSDAY 16TH APRIL 2020

1830 STOCK SOLD

277 PRIME LAMBS, 1022 PRIME HOGGS & 531 CULL EWES & RAMS

STAGS REPORT

A super show of sheep in

all sections with lambs up

near 280ppk and ewes to

£146. Trade still shining

bright during this dull,

unknown time. We thank

all vendors for their co

operation during this time

277 PRIME LAMBS

The biggest entry of new season lambs for this year so far met

an expected dearer trade than last week with the full

compliment of buyers present and all wanting to secure

lambs. Best trade for the 38-43kg lambs which saw prices

climb to near 280ppk and £117. The overriding fact which is

the same at this time every year is the lambs are best sold in

that weight range rather than getting them heavier as they

come to less money. Very limited demand for heavy lambs

(over 48kg) as most lambs are being exported. Top of the day

at £117 to 45.5kg Pure Charollais from Mr D Smith of

Chulmleigh closely followed at £116.80 to 41.8kg Suffolk

crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge whose

second 42.1kg Texel cross pen rose to £116.50. £114.50 to

42.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of Croyde

with £113 to 42.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs K & C Morish

of Exeter. £112.50 to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GC

Thomas of Burrington with £112 twice; the first to 43.1kg

Suffolk crosses from Mr WI Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and

the second to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ

Millman of Chulmleigh. £111.80 to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses

from Messrs Warwick Farm Partnership of Barnstaple with

£111.50 twice; the first to Messrs Morish’s second 41.7kg

Texel cross pen and the second to 41.8kg Charollais crosses

again from the Mills Family.

Best pens to 279ppk to 41.8kg Suffolk crosses from Mr G

Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge with 277ppk to the same

vendor but for their 42.1kg Texel crosses. 272ppk twice; the

first to 42.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr RH Dymond & Son of

Croyde and the second to 40.1kg Suffolk crosses from Mr EW

Kingdom of Calverleigh. 271ppk to 39.7kg Texel crosses from

Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh with 269ppk twice; the first

to 41.2kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Palfrey & Son of

Stoodleigh and the second to Mr P Coles of Hockworthy.

268ppk to 42.2kg Texel crosses from Messrs K & C Morish of

Exeter whose second 41.7kg Texel crosses followed at

267ppk, same value at 41.8kg Charollais crosses from the

Mills Family again. 263ppk to 42.5kg Suffolk crosses from

Messrs Warwick Farm Partnership of Barnstaple with 262ppk

to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Mr GC Thomas of Burrington.

260ppk twice; both to 43kg Suffolk crosses from Mr WI

Thorne & Son of Ashreigney and Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of

Chulmleigh.

1022 PRIME HOGGS

A much larger entry of hoggs this week and a variable quality

entry with many “tail end” hoggs on offer and a larger

number of smaller lots. Trade still staying generally strong for

the 40-46kg types but the heavier hoggs, again like the

lambs, seeing a lesser trade. There is currently little demand

for the heavy hoggs and plenty about nationally resulting in

them selling for less than the lighter weight hoggs. Topping

the day at £108.50 to 70kg Charollais crosses from Mrs S King

of Croyde with similar weight Charollais’ from Mr D Smith at

£106. 64.3kg Texel crosses from Mr DJ Woollacott of South

Molton with 66kg Texel crosses from Mr PJ Berry of

Eastacombe at £104.50. £100.50 to 57kg Texel crosses from

Mr MJ King & Son of Iddesleigh closely followed at £100

twice; the first to 63kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin &

Sons of Mariansleigh and the second to 45.2kg Charollais

crosses from Mr GR McLeod of Swimbridge.

Best pens peaked at 230ppk to 38kg Charollais crosses from

Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton with 222ppk to 39kg

Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of Nomansland. 221ppk

three times; the first to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart &

Sons of Molland; the second to 43.6kg Charollais crosses from

Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock and the third to 45.2kg Charollais

crosses from Mr GR McLeod of Swimbridge. 220ppk three

times; the first to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr EJ Westaway of

Newton Tracey; the second to 43.7kg Charollais crosses from

Messrs WJ & MA Stoneman of Chulmleigh and the third to

40kg Charollais crosses from Mr EF Thorne of Tawstock.

219ppk to 44.6kg Suffolk crosses from Mr KB Reed of

Nomansland.

531 CULL EWES & RAMS

Like all other sections another larger entry of cull sheep this

week with 530 ewes sold in over 200 lots! Not such a strong

quality entry as previous weeks and trade certainly easier than

last weeks “flyer”. The most affected were the bigger thicker

ewes with buyers definitely being told not to buy to much

flesh! Leaner ewes actually very similar trade to last week and

wanted by all buyers. Best Suffolk Mules more in the £95 -

£105 price range this week and best Mules more in the £68 -

£78 price range this week. Ramadan begins next week which

could affect the trade, but there does not appear to be a

natural over supply of ewes which should keep prices fairly

level. Topping the ewes at £146 for a shapely Charollais from

Mr P Coles of Hockworthy with similar bred ewes from Mr J

Edwards of Yarnscombe at £133. £128 to Texels from Messrs

HJ & MR Moore of Knowstone with £120 to Suffolk Mules

from Mr RD Middleton & Son of Ashreigney. £118 to Texels

this time from Mr Edwardw whilst Messrs Moore had similar

types at £114.50. £113 to Texel crosses from Mr R Lawrence

of Iddesleigh with blackfaces from Mr W Smale of North

Molton at £112. £111 twice; the first to Charollais crosses

from Messrs RT & HD Kingdon of Barnstaple and the second

to Suffolk Mules from Messrs MJ & DM Lake of South Molton.

£110 also hit twice; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs

AW & SA Meikle of Meshaw and the second to Texels from

Mr RP Williams of Winsford. £108.50 to Texel crosses from Mr

G Webster of Umberleigh closely followed at £108 to further

Texel crosses from Mrs BH Lane of Honiton. £107.50 to

Suffolk Mules from Messrs K & C Morish of Exeter. Best rams

to £118 twice; the first to a Suffolk from Mr PJ Berry of

Eastacombe and the second to Charollais from Mr W Milton

of Chapelton. HOGGS SOLD AVE TOP AVE TOP

Pence Per kg £ per head

STANDARD

32.1-39 14 196.27 230.00 £73.59 £87.50

MEDIUM

39.1-45.5 408 207.66 221.00 £90.73 £100.00

HEAVY

45.6-52 360 193.10 214.00 £94.02 £98.20

HEAVY +

52+ 229 170.52 180.00 £93.96 £108.50

SQQ 422 Between 32 and 45.5kg 207.34

CULL SHEEP SOLD AVE TOP

ALL CULL & DRAFT EWES 511 £77.70 £146.00

MEAT EWES 179 £96.10 £146.00

MULE EWES 136 £74.35 £81.00

GRAZING TYPES 196 £65.37 £76.00

CULL RAMS 12 £91.46 £118.00

SCALED HOGGS 19 £73.96 £88.00

IN LAMB CULL EWES

There are still a number of

in lamb ewes are

being presented in the

market lately. Please be

extra vigilant when

selecting cull sheep for

market.

Many thanks.

FOR UP TO DATE

PRICES, TRADE OR TO

BOOK YOUR STOCK IN

CONTACT:

Chris Clapham

07968 122198

Harvey Pile

07738 116669

Jess Maynard

07772 573835

BACS PAYMENTS

We are aware of

the difficult

situation we are all

faced with

currently and want

to help you in any

way we can.

If you would like to

be paid via BACS

please contact Jess

Maynard about

setting this up on

your account.

CATTLE

COLLECTIONS LAST

WEEK

32 Prime Cattle to

£1392.27

16 Cull Cows to

£965.75

(255ppk for R3, R4L

DW, 240ppk O-3 O-

4L at 280kg+)

Tuesday 5th May May Cattle & Sheep Fair

Tuesday 2nd June June Cattle & Sheep Fair

ALL OF OUR FORTHCOMING ON SITE SALES HAVE BEEN

POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

KEEP AN EYE ON OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES

TAVISTOCK LIVESTOCK CENTRE

Office Tel: 01822 610080 or 01769 572042 Email: auctions@stags.co.uk

Chris Clapham 07968 122198 Harvey Pile 07738 116669 Jess Maynard 07772 573835

FORTHCOMING ON SITE SALES

Office Tel: 01769 572042 Email: auctions@stags.co.uk

Chris Clapham 07968 122198 Harvey Pile 07738 116669 Jess Maynard 07772 573835

FARM AGENCY

CONTACTS

Andrew Dodds

South Molton

01769 572263

George Alder

Exeter

01392 680059

or Tavistock

01822 612458

Andrew

Ranson

Launceston

01566 774999

or Tavistock

01822 612458

Take a look at

the Monthly

Farm Agency

article with

local land for

sale overleaf

SOUTH MOLTON MARKET SPECIAL SALES

Office Tel: 01769 572042 Email: auctions@stags.co.uk

Harvey Pile 07738 116669 Jess Maynard 07772 573835

Catalogues/Brochures for sales are available on the Stags website or by post upon request

GRASS KEEP AVAILABLE

Office Tel: 01769 572042 Email: auctions@stags.co.uk

Chris Clapham 07968 122198 Harvey Pile 07738 116669

Tuesday 21st April—Spring Devon Connections Sale of Pedigree, Purebred & Crossbred Red Ruby Devon Cattle

(In conjunction with Andrew Lane) CANCELLED

Thursday 28th May—North Devon Young Farmers Group Annual Show & Sale of Couples

9.06 acres of grass keep in 1 lot located at:

Bickleigh Meadow, Bickleigh, Tiverton, EX16

Available from 1st April 2020 to 31st October 2020

Suitable from grazing sheep only and to be mown once

For more information contact Chris Clapham

ONLINE TIMED AUCTIONS

Office Tel: 01769 572042 Email: auctions@stags.co.uk

Harvey Pile 07738 116669 Chris Clapham 07968 122198 Jess Maynard 07772 573835

South West Collective Sale of Tractors, Vehicles, Agricultural, Horticultural & Building Related

Machinery, Implements & Equipment

OUR NEXT DATE HAS BEEN FIXED FOR:

THURSDAY 30TH APRIL UNTIL SUNDAY 10TH MAY 2020

58 acres of Organic Grass Keep in 1 lot located at:

Keypitts Farm, Ilfracombe

Available for Cattle to end of October, Sheep to end of December

One Cut Only. Well fenced and water available.

For more information contact Chris Clapham

UMBERLEIGH

An attractive rural small-holding with uninterrupted

views over the Taw Valley. Spacious house with 4

double bedrooms and 3 bath / shower rooms.

Modern timber barn and general purpose building.

8.26 acres of productive pasture land used for

grazing and hay production.

Guide price £465,000

ST GILES, TORRINGTON

15.91 acres of south and west facing grass land

with direct road access. Views over the River

Torridge Valley. Used for mowing and grazing. Part

previously used for growing cereal crops. For sale by

private treaty.

Guide price £120,000

FARMS & LAND UPDATE: APRIL 2020

Spring is a favourite season for many people involved in agriculture, it brings the first growth of grass, spring drilling and the

turning out of cattle after a long wet winter. Spring this year is very different from what we will have all expected, over the last

few weeks, our personal and business lives have seen dramatic changes to combat the Coronavirus crisis.

At Stags Farm Agency, George Alder Partner and head of Farm Agency comments “we have had to put a number of new

instructions on hold while we all comply with the Government measures to combat Coronavirus. This has not meant that we

have had to ‘shut up shop’, we have just had to find new ways of working including from home”.

Typically, the months of April and May are the Farm Agency’s busiest period either getting sale particulars ready for marketing

or undertaking farm inspections to provide marketing advice However, given the new social distancing measures we are unable

to undertake a physical inspection or host any viewings. So our advice to clients is to wait until the measures have been lifted

and we are back to normal.

For existing sales, we are working closely with vendors, buyers and their solicitors to find a way to make sales work. The

Government has urged everyone involved in a sale to work within and adapt to new restrictions around social distancing and

self-isolation. To-date we have not had to cancel any transactions and for land sales, it is business as usual. In one particular

case, working closely with the solicitors and the bank we have been able to exchange contracts and defer completion until the

‘stay at home’ measures have been lifted, but this did create difficulties for actual use of the land, so we had to think outside

of the box and grant a licence for the buyer to have the use of the land to put in new crops and undertake grassland

management. This has involved a huge amount of work, as it involved working with the bank to ensure the loan offers could

be extended and no issues were created with the legal title.

Not being able to undertake any physical inspections or viewings has allowed us time to pick up the phone and rebuild links

with buyers who will be looking for farms once the marketplace allows. This has been an interesting process and in many cases

people have been very pleased to receive a call and are keen to chat while they remain at home, adhering to social distancing

rules. The general feeling has been that people are keen to relocate to the South West drawn by good climate, nearby

moorland and coast as well as favourable farming outlook.

Across the firm, we remain busy and working hard, in particular our livestock team continue to run Honiton Collection centre,

South Molton and Tavistock livestock markets. While the ‘online timed auctions for farm machinery is drawing a lot of interest.

For any advice on farms and land in the South West, please feel free to call Stags Farm Agency on 01392 680059 to be put

through to one of team