Breeding sheep in demand at July Fair at Exeter

 Messrs Milborne, Wick Farms, Sherborne, were awarded champion pen of shearlings for the third consecutive year, judged by Simon Swerling, Buckinghamshire, and his son Mikey Swerling,  South Molton. Simon Swerling bought the champion pen for the breed's top price of £370. 

Second prize  went to Angela Tarry-Smith and nephew, Tom Turnham, Brackley, whose pen sold at £352 to Mikey Swerling with others at £338, £335 to average £322 for 289 sold.

READ NOW: Heath hub open for business at Exmoor Farmers livestock market

Pure Suffolk ewes and shearlings sold to £440 and £330 for Gordon and Gill White, Crediton, who also had younger sorts at £350.  

Pure-bred continental shearlings peaked at £500 and £410 for Texels from Paul Quick and family, Crediton, who also had Charollais at £460 and £400. Other Charollais sold to £450 for David Churchill, Axminster.

Continental cross shearlings were dominated by a run of  Texel and CharTex cross Suffolk Mules from Russell Stevens, Crediton, which sold at £370, £360 and £355 twice.

Rob and Caroline Mole, Buckinghamshire, sold their annual consignment of 259 aged flock ewes to £332, £330 and £320 for the four-tooth Suffolk cross Mules. Their six-tooth aged ewes reached £308 with the consignment averaging within a few pence of £300. 

Hill Farm Partnership, Bideford, sold strong Suffolk cross Mule full-mouth ewes to £302. All 580 older ewes averaged £281. 

Texel cross Mule shearlings were a slightly less trade compared to their Suffolk counterparts. Top price was £302 for Ian Johnson and family, Bridport, who sold other pens at £292 and £295 to average £290 for 129 sold.  

Cheviot Mules peaked at £300 twice for Maurice Hockridge, Crediton.

Peace Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum sold the only pen of Scotch Half-bred shearlings for £320 and a pen of Dorsets at £340.

Dorset cross Mule shealrings peaked at £308 for Mark Johnson and family, Bridport, whose run of 152 averaged £291. Paul Taylor, Roache, sold Texel ewe lambs at £280 and Andrew Rodd and family, Lapford, sold October-born Dorset ewe lambs at £255/head.

Auctioneers: Kivells.

For more shows and sales go to our Shows and Sales Hub