Strong ram trade at the NSA South West sale at Exeter

Topping the sale at 2,600gns was the pre-sale champion in the Charollais ring, the shearling ram Preistleigh Achilles from Tom Newth, Castle Cary. By Cavick What About That and out of a dam by Boyo Untouchable, it sold to the judge, Geoff Probert for the Mortimers flock, Worcester.

Taking the first of two 1,500gns calls was a Texel shearling ram, Sidborough Fivestar from Michael Lear, Tiverton. The Knap Earl son out of a dam by Cambwell Cobalt was the pick of N. Rottenbury, South Molton.

The other ram to make this money was a Suffolk shearling from E. W. Quick and Son and Nicky Hartwright's pen, Crediton, with this one selling to join D. W. Ridd, Barnstaple.

A Texel from Louise Atkins, Beaworthy, then made 1,200gns, with this being Milnbank Falcon. Bought from Robbie Wilson as a ram lamb and by Samsar Extreme out of a dam by Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid, it sold to Celtic House Farm, St Dennis, Cornwall.

Best of the other breeds saw Messrs Quick sell a pair of crossbred rams at 920gns, with both going to M. J. Turpin and Son, Plymouth.

A Border Leicester by Summerfields Rockstar from Sue Martyn's Hornacott flock, Launceston, sold for 800gns to S. W. Poad, Saltash.

Beltex topped at 700gns for Tracey Cobbledick, Bude, with a shearling ram which was the pick of W. R. Wrixon and Son, Wimborne.

Averages - 89 Texel shearling rams £626; 4 Texel aged rams £511; 3 Texel ram lambs £472; 8 Texel shearling ewes, £525; 2 Texel ewe lambs, £268; 56 Suffolk shearling rams, £653; 3 Suffolk ram lambs, £490; 19 crossbred shearling rams, £628; 1 Rouge shearling ram, £472; 3 Poll Dorset shearling rams, £402; 1 Lleyn shearling ram, £420; 3 Hampshire Down shearling rams, £486; 3 Dutch Spotted shearling rams, £472; 5 Dutch Spotted ram lambs, £298; 37 Charollais shearling rams, £640; 20 Charollais ram lambs, £387; 4 Charollais ewe lambs, £310; 12 Charollais shearling ewes, £338; 4 Charollais aged ewes, £330; 5 Border Leicester shearling rams, £567; 4 Border Leicester shearling ewes, £420; 1 Blue Texel shearling ram, £420; 1 Blue Texel ram lamb, £315; 5 Bluefaced Leicester shearling rams, £419; 5 Bluefaced Leicester shearling ewes, £220; 3 Berrichon shearling rams, £437; 2 Berrichon ram lambs, £367; 3 Berrichon ewe lambs, £308; 2 Berrichon shearling ewes, £446; 4 non-MV Berrichon shearling rams, £559; 7 Beltex shearling rams, £435; 1 Beltex aged ram, £399; 1 Beltex ram lamb, £420; 7 Beltex shearling ewes, £330; 2 Beltex ewe lambs, £341.

 Auctioneers: Kivells.