This weeks report - 21st May

Sheep sales reports

Finished Sheep - 3828 Sold - Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A good entry of over 1000 new season lambs met a cracking trade to average around 252p per kg with 38kg Down crosses topping the standard weights at £101.80 (275.13p) from M J Ashworth and 41kg Texel crosses topping the medium weights at £110.50 (269.51p) from M A Piper & Son Farms. Best lambs grossed in excess of £110 from C Moss and Son, L Andreozzi, S Curran and K Lukehurst with heavy 48kg lambs topping at £122 from T Masters. All buyers keen for well fleshed lambs with lean sorts heavily discounted.

Another large entry of hoggets sold exceptionally well to average in excess of 200p with many of the best fleshed hoggets selling readily from 210p - 230p, while leaner bad weighing sorts often made between 180p and 200p. A large run of over 400 mainly heavy weight hoggets from Fincham Farms, Norfolk sold very well with 38kg hoggets topping the standard weights at £91.50 (240.78p). 43kg pure Texels topped the market at £108 (251.16p) from M D & T Healy. Heavyweights again grossed exceptionally well with top prices including £123 from R G Gibson & Son, £120 from A B Jones & Partners, £119 from J Hewittt, £116.50 from A J Bray, £115.50 from H F & J H Glover, £115 from Fincham Farms and £112.50 from a large run of 500 Romneys consigned by Ian Hobden.

Please keep in touch regarding expected trade and help us achieve orderly marketing - contact Elwyn Davies 07710 803 901 at any time. For best results vendors must present well fleshed dry and clean hoggets. A dagging service is now available every Monday afternoon at Ashford Market at a cost of 65p (plus VAT) per head.

New Season Lamb prices

Kgs - Top Price - Ave Price - Top Vendor - P per kg

35 - 93.00 - 92.14 - S W Mount & Sons Ltd - 266.0
36 - 95.00 - 90.56 - S Curran & C Somerset - 264.0
37 - 101.80 - 93.30 - M J Ashworth - 275.0
38 - 102.50 - 99.30 - M J Ashworth - 270.0
39 - 105.20 - 96.02 - M J Ashworth - 270.0
40 - 104.00 - 96.46 - J Howie - 260.0
41 - 110.50 - 105.96 - M A Piper & Son Farms - 270.0
42 - 111.00 - 107.76 - T Masters - 264.0
43 - 113.20 - 109.10 - K Lukehurst - 263.0
44 - 115.50 - 115.28 - M A Piper & Son Farms - 262.0

Old Season Lambs - pence per kg

Weight Range - Number - Top - Bottom - Average - National Averages
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs - 528 - 240.7 - 132.0 - 193.8 - 185.0
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs - 1113 - 251.1 - 83.0 - 205.4 - 204.8
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs - 648 - 244.6 - 61.0 - 202.0 - 201.8
Others 52.1 kgs plus - 185 - 226.4 - 117.0 - 201.6 -
2 Tooth Hoggets - 286 - £85.00 - £50.00 - £67.50 -

New Season Lambs - pence per kg

Weight Range - Number - Top - Bottom - Average - National Averages
Light under 32 kgs - 29 - 268.3 - 212.0 - 248.6 - 261.8
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs - 567 - 275.1 - 167.0 - 252.7 - 257.6
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs - 462 - 269.5 - 178.0 - 252.7 - 257.2
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs - 9 - 254.1 - 230.0 - 242.5 - 242.6

Cull Ewes and Rams - 488 Sold - Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: This week we saw a better trade throughout with 2nd class ewes being the most noticeably dearer than previous weeks and there seems to one or two more bidders for grazing types every week as the grass is finally starting to grow around the South East. Top end ewes are still in the £90-100 bracket.
Top prices on the day included Suffolk crosses to £90 from Pynn Contractors, continental crosses to £94 from W Merryweather, Mules to £74 from T Masters and Romneys to £70 from G R & A J Weller.

Cull Ewe and Ram averages - £ per head

Classification - No - Top - Bottom - Average
1st Quality Ewes - 55 - 94.00 - 75.00 - 82.16
2nd Quality Ewes - 259 - 74.50 - 57.00 - 65.21
3rd Quality Ewes - 160 - 55.50 - 5.00 - 44.70
Rams - 14 - 81.00 - 25.00 - 52.93

Store and Breeding Sheep - 131 Sold - Auctioneers: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901 and John Rossiter

Report on trade: Store hoggets A very small entry of late season store hoggets were penned today and made up to £69.50 from J H & A H Godden with only one pen below £55.
Breeding sheep. A very small selection of ewes and lambs were penned making £30 to £46 per life

Sock Lambs - 7 Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: This season carries on, even with only a small entry. Everything sold above £10 to a maximum for £18. Averages £15 to £10, av’ £14.14
We will probably have a few next week but that will be the end of the season. 5 boer goat kids will be offered next week (28th May) in this section.

Cattle sales reports

Finished Cattle - 101 Sold including 18 Young Bulls - Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: This trade was dear as we have ever seen! Record steer averages all the more impressive when considering that there were 34 black & whites in the entry! All grades were outstanding with native breeds particularly sharp. Numbers are tightening seasonally and with Ireland also suffering a late spring any sign of any significant lift in production is a long way off.
Another quality run from Beslee Farms topped at 241p (9 av 231.3p) with best cattle generally making 220-240p; commercials 200-220p and amongst the manufacturing grades the better Friesian types closing in on the 200p mark. Limousins from W Alexander made to 238p and £1567, from R F & E A Simmons 238p and £1522 whilst a British Blue from D R Maddocks took top gross honours at £1650. Holsteins grossed to £1336 and 196p from A & R Martin; Herefords to 226p for A & M Lyon and £1495 from A J Thompson & Sons; Sussex crosses to £1347 from J Leggat & Son and 214p from O & P Gower with Aberdeen Angus to 219p and £1320 from P Lingham & Ptrs. We were short of best heifers and more were wanted. Blondes from G L Boulden & Sons made 240p and 230p grossing to £1409, Limousin from A J Husk made 228p and Simmental from I Milstead 219p and £1366. Commercial heifers were very dear.
A good show of Sussex and Friesian bulls sold well with quality Sussex from C D & J Bishop making to 216p and £1239; Friesians made 180-190p and Holsteins to 169p and £1231 from D R Maddocks.

Finished Cattle averages - pence per Kg

Classification - No - Top - Bottom - Average
Premium steers (U & R) - 27 - 241.0 - 219.0 - 227.7
Average steers (O+) - 13 - 216.0 - 206.0 - 211.0
Other steers (-O & P) - 16 - 200.0 - 165.0 - 186.1
Premium heifers (U & R) - 4 - 240.0 - 219.0 - 228.8
Average heifers (O+) - 5 - 218.0 - 207.0 - 212.7
Other heifers (-O & P) - 8 - 200.0 - 166.0 - 183.4
Young bulls 2nd quality (O+) - 1 - 216.0 - 216.0 - 216.0
Young bulls 3rd quality (-O & P) - 17 - 195.0 - 134.0 - 173.5
30 to 48 mths Steers - 9 - 193.0 - 160.0 - 180.1
30 to 48 mths Heifers - 4 - 207.0 - 147.0 - 171.0

Leading Steer Prices

Vendor - Weight Kgs - Breed - Price per Kg
Beslee Farms - 555 - 24 mths Simmental - 241.0
W Alexander (Shoreham) - 660 - 27 mths Limousin - 238.0
Beslee Farms - 630 - 26 mths Limousin - 238.0
R F & E A Simmons - 540 - 26 mths Limousin - 238.0
Beslee Farms - 549 - 26 mths Bazadaise - 237.0

Leading Heifer Prices
G L Boulden & Son - 519 - 25 mths Blonde - 240.0
G L Boulden & Son - 614 - 25 mths Blonde - 230.0
A J Husk - 471 - 24 mths Limousin - 228.0
I Milsted - 625 - 21 mths Simmental - 219.0
I Milsted - 530 - 17 mths Simmental - 218.0

Cull Cows and Bulls - 72 Sold - Auctioneer: Richard Wood
Report on trade: Trade remains strong and cow numbers, not surprisingly, are beginning to tighten as we approach midsummer. Meat remains in short supply with again a high proportion of feeding cattle were in the entry. Buyers, from far and wide, were out in force looking for fed meat cows and the younger grazing or yarding cows in particular.
Competition for meat was as strong as ever with Limousins to 168p and £1405 from Gallagher Farms; Charolais 167p and £1307 from P N & C Burden; Sussex 166p and £1159 from Quex Park and Aberdeen Angus 165p from Seymour Stevens and gross £1459 from Gallagher Farms; Meat was generally 130-150p and feeders 120-175p.
We were very short of dairy culls and the meat made to 144p from PHR Farms, grossing to £1109 for A J Thompson & Sons.
There was outstanding quality amongst the cull bulls with a new record gross return for a Limousin at £1908 (178p) from M A Piper & Son Farms whilst a brace of Simmentals from R L Goodman & Sons sold at 174p grossing at £1900 and £1830.

Cull cow and bull averages - pence per Kg

Classification - - No - Top - Bottom - Average
Over 48 mths Beef cows - 59 - 173.5 - 89.5 - 145.1
Over 48 mths Dairy cows - 6 - 141.5 - 91.5 - 118.8
Under 48 mths Bulls - 3 - 173.5 - 130.5 - 159.2
Over 48 mths Bulls - 1 - 178.0 - 178.0 - 178.0

Breeding Cattle - 2 Bulls and 23 Females Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: This late season sale attracted a good entry with 3 farms supplying the main consignments. Gallagher Farms sold a British Blue cross (bn 2001) with a British Blue calf at £1380 and 4 other Limousin cross cows from £1000 to £1240; D Wade sold a younger (2005) British Blue cow and show potential calf for £1270 and others from his 6 made £1200 to £1320 while C & A Body’s smaller and older Aberdeen Angus x Sussex cows made £790 to £900.
Three summer calving cows made to £930 for a young Simmental while the 2 bulls offered made £1625 for the Aberdeen Angus and £1180 for a Sussex (both not registered).

Stop press - available ex farm in West Sussex. 2 Highland cows with young heifer calves.

Store Cattle - 263 Sold - Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A decent entry of stores for the time of year but clearly now very few first draw cattle and a higher proportion of younger secondary types. In general the recent strong trade was fully maintained but there is a degree of caution over the so far slow growing season, and with the young cattle an awareness of another expensive winter season ahead. The demand for strong cattle for yarding remains very firm as all pundits forecast low finished numbers this Summer.
A good show of quality bulls came up for sale first and were a good trade generally £600-£800 though to yearling Aberdeen Angus which made to £935 from B W C Brooks.
Quality of the younger cattle and some of the smaller cattle was more variable and producers, after one difficult year, must recognise that cattle must maintain growth for age in any season. Supplementary feed is a significant cost but is necessary in many cases to keep stock moving forward when grass and climate might be against you. Cattle are too valuable to do badly!
Best of the yearling steers made £750-£900, with good heifers were again particularly in demand. Aberdeen Angus and Sussex youngsters were a good trade but smaller, poorer types were penalised if lacking growth. Pedigree sires for Aberdeen Angus stock is a big advantage but all native breeds are reaping the benefit from the 'horsegate' debacle earlier in the year as many retailers focus on traditional bred cattle.
Good interest in the older cattle comes for feeding or for bulling. Suckler bred Aberdeen Angus steers, 15-18 mths from B W C Brooks made £1100, £1090 and £960; dairy bred Aberdeen Angus steers at 15-18 mths were to £855 from N & G Marshall and £820 P & G & J Carden with smart Sussex steers at 18mths £875 and £810 from R J Parsons. Good interest in potential bulling heifers continued with Limousin, Aberdeen Angus and Simmentals sought after. Sussex heifers at 24 mths made £860 & £800 from Wright Farm Ptrs; Aberdeen Angus and Limousin at 2 yrs old £880 from A J Thompson and Sons and other Aberdeen Angus £790 from N & G Marshall.
A few strong finishing cattle were offered with a Beef Shorthorn steer, 24 mths selling at £1275. More wanted of all types.

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Last weeks report - 14th May

Sheep sales reports

Finished Sheep - 3387 Sold - Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: This week we saw a similar strong trade for an increased entry of new season lambs with a favourable average around 255p per kg. Well fleshed lambs took the pick of the trade with 35kg topping the standard weights at £95.20 (272p) from J Farrant with 39kg grossing up to £102 from M J Ashworth. A good selection of medium weights sold particularly well grossing up to £114.20 from L Andreozzi and heavy weights up to £120 from D J Morphett.
The hoggets keep coming in large numbers with 2667 selling to average in excess of 200p per kg. We had an exceptional trade for the best well fleshed hoggets regardless of weight while leaner sorts were discounted. Highlights of the day include 40kg Beltex making to £109.50 (273.75p) from Mrs C Worley, 44kg Texel crosses to £113 (256.81p) from C R & G Daws and 46kg Texel crosses to £114.50 (248.91p) from H Hawkins. Heavy weights grossed well with the best up to £119.50 from Seymour Stevens Ltd, £115 from I Hobden and R G Gibson & Son, £114.50 from A G A Homewood and £112.50 from Jason Smith.
A very busy day! Many thanks to all hauliers, vendors and purchasers for their understanding and patience and a big thank you to all members of staff who worked diligently throughout the day.

Please keep in touch regarding expected trade and help us achieve orderly marketing - contact Elwyn Davies 07710 803 901 at any time. For best results vendors must present well fleshed dry and clean hoggets. A dagging service is now available every Monday afternoon at Ashford Market at a cost of 65p (plus VAT) per head.

New Season Lamb prices

Kgs - Top Price - Ave Price - Top Vendor - P per kg
34 - 85.00 - 79.92 - M J Ashworth - 250.0
35 - 95.20 - 90.30 - J Farrant - 272.0
36 - 96.50 - 92.60 - M J Ashworth - 268.0
37 - 96.80 - 93.43 - A J Down - 262.0
38 - 100.50 - 99.28 - A J Down (thrice) - 264.0
39 - 102.00 - 100.72 - M J Ashworth - 262.0
40 - 105.00 - 101.86 - C Moss & Sons - 262.0
41 - 107.00 - 103.79 - M J Ashworth & A E Daw & Sons - 261.0
42 - 108.20 - 105.29 - A J Down - 258.0
43 - 113.00 - 112.31 - L Andreozzi & C Moss & Sons - 263.0
44 - 114.20 - 103.22 - L Andreozzi - 260.0

Old Season Lambs - pence per kg

Weight Range - Number - Top - Bottom - Average - National Averages
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs - 195 - 227.6 - 131.0 - 195.26 - 188.92
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs - 1211 - 273.7 - 112.0 - 203.62 - 206.10
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs - 767 - 248.9 - 128.0 - 205.76 - 201.70
Others 52.1 kgs plus - 286 - 218.2 - 123.0 - 203.22 -
2 Tooth Hoggets - 208 - £91.00 - £52.00 - £76.00 -

New Season Lambs - pence per kg

Weight Range - Number - Top - Bottom - Average - National Averages
Light under 32 kgs - 15 - 256.8 - 256.8 - 256.8 -
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs - 318 - 272.0 - 171.0 - 255.00 - 259.05
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs - 294 - 262.8 - 224.4 - 255.32 - 261.38
Cull Ewes and Rams - 572 Sold - Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: Another good entry of ewes were forward which sold to a similar trade to recent weeks. There were some better sorts in the entry which has improved the averages this week. Nice to see that one or two of the reliable grazing men have begun to show interest in the leaner sorts with good Suffolk cross grazers selling past £50 and Romney grazing types £40-£45. A sign that the grass is growing!
Top prices on the day included Suffolk crosses to £78.50 from P & C Burden, Charollais ewes to £92 from D J Morphett, Mules to £66.20 from N A Husk and Romneys to £64.50 from N A Balcomb & Son

Cull Ewe and Ram averages - £ per head

Classification - No - Top - Bottom - Average
1st Quality Ewes - 69 - 92.00 - 75.00 - 78.73
2nd Quality Ewes - 243 - 74.00 - 57.50 - 64.24
3rd Quality Ewes - 247 - 56.00 - 1.00 - 43.48
Rams - 13 - 80.00 - 40.00 - 58.31

Store and Breeding Sheep - 333 Sold - Auctioneers: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901 and John Rossiter

Report on trade: Store hoggets A small entry of late season store hoggets were penned today and sold up to £64 from T Crick. Only the very small sorts made below £50.
Breeding sheep. A few pens were available today with Romney couples selling up to £51 a life and the majority trading between £40 and £50 per life.

Sock Lambs - 26 Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: A similar trade to last week with some strong lambs on offer all making £13 to £21. End of season here ? We might see a few next week but we doubt if it will be many. Averages £21 to £5, av’ £14.69
vCattle sales reports

Finished Cattle - 128 Sold including 16 Young Bulls - Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: Another good entry of finished cattle and quality overall was good with fewer black & white steers forward though more variation amongst the heifers. Trade was a shade easier overall as wholesalers report resistance from retailers to the continuing run of high prices.
The day nevertheless produced another record average for the steers at 209p per kg throughout. Blondes from G L Boulden & Sons topped the section at 240p with Limousin from J & M Lampshire a shade behind at 239p. A trio of quality Limousin steers from L E Humphreys & Son sold at 234p twice and 233p grossing to £1564. Young Limousins (14 mths) from S J M Evans made to 224p and £1328 whilst heavyweights from W G Watkins & Sons made to 224p and £1573 (exempt). Aberdeen Angus steers made to 209p (£1349) from A J Thompson & Sons; Sussex to 206p from Llewellyn Farms (exempt) and £1286 from O & P Gower; Herefords to 203p and £1164 from J S & M D Antrum & Son and Montbelliarde to 189p and £1205. Holstein steers made to 177p and £1178 from B J Goodsell & Ptnrs. There was much more variation in the heifers with too few of the very best and certainly more thicker commercial types. Outstanding British Blues from Birt Bros sold to 255p and £1588 (4 av 237.5p and £1472) with a tremendous run of continental heifers from Ian Maclean Livestock selling to 238p and £1413. Good quality continentals were making 200 to 220p but the natives were more generally 180p to 200p. Sussex heifers made to 204p and £1077 for E H Holdstock and Son with Holstein heifers making to 164p and £1143.
Bulls were similarly a shade easier with best Limousin to 225p from D W Ferguson; fleshed continentals generally top side of 200p to £1239 and 205p for M J Booth (exempt); Sussex to 190p from C D & J Bishop and Friesian to 180p from T Wenham.

Finished Cattle averages - pence per Kg

Classification - No - Top - Bottom - Average
Premium steers (U & R) - 12 - 240.0 - 219.0 - 226.6
Average steers (O+) - 29 - 218.0 - 202.0 - 208.7
Other steers (-O & P) - 12 - 200.0 - 172.0 - 192.2
Premium heifers (U & R) - 10 - 255.0 - 219.0 - 229.5
Average heifers (O+) - 17 - 217.0 - 204.0 - 208.3
Other heifers (-O & P) - 22 - 197.0 - 164.0 - 183.4
Young bulls 1st quality (U & R) - 1 - 225.0 - 225.0 - 225.0
Young bulls 2nd quality (O+) - 2 - 205.0 - 204.0 - 204.5
Young bulls 3rd quality (-O & P) - 16 - 200.0 - 144.0 - 178.4
30 to 48 mths Steers - 3 - 194.0 - 177.0 - 186.2
30 to 48 mths Heifers - 4 - 238.0 - 170.0 - 189.0

Leading Steer Prices
Vendor - Weight Kgs - Breed - Price per Kg
G L Boulden & Son - 575 - 25 mths Blonde - 240.0
J & M Lampshire - 585 - 23 mths Limousin - 239.0
L E Humphreys & Son - 594 - 25 mths Limousin - 234.0
L E Humphreys & Son - 670 - 26 mths Limousin - 234.0
L E Humphreys & Son - 595 - 24 mths Limousin - 233.0

Leading Heifer Prices

Birt Brothers - 624 - 25 mths British Blue - 255.0
Birt Brothers - 606 - 26 mths British Blue - 239.0
Ian Maclean Livestock - 530 - 31 mths Limousin - 238.0
Ian Maclean Livestock - 555 - 29 mths Limousin - 236.0
Birt Brothers - 640 - 26 mths British Blue - 228.0

Cull Cows and Bulls - 68 Sold - Auctioneer: Richard Wood

Report on trade: We were short of cows this week and very short of flesh. There was nothing wrong with the trade again though the real steam has gone from the grazing trade as time marches on and there is still no real show of grass. Meat cows remain very dear and will continue so!
There were no real heavyweights on offer but nice meat continentals made 150-180p per kg and all strongly competitive. Limousin to 178p and £1158 from W S Furnival Ltd, 166p and £1125 from A J Bray; Simmental 167p and £1099 from H Hawkins; Sussex 157p and £1158 for H Metcalfe and 156p from £1190 Garuara Estates; Hereford 166p again from H Metcalfe and £1143 E W & R E Hanks and Lincoln Red to 160p and £1156 from N Morgan. Grazing demand for all grades is still very strong with little below 120p.
A mixed show of dairy culls saw flesh very dear with good Friesian types to 156p from PHR Farms and the Holstein types to 155p and £1150 from Wood Farm Partnership. Steakers were strong but plain boners a little steadier with yield often so poor. Good Jerseys made to 120p and £704 from Hickson Bros.
Limousin bulls made to £1234 and 144p.

Cull cow and bull averages - pence per Kg

Classification - - No - Top - Bottom - Average
Over 48 mths Beef cows - 45 - 177.5 - 85.5 - 140.5
Over 48 mths Dairy cows - 21 - 155.5 - 69.5 - 117.6
Over 48 mths Bulls - 1 - 144.0 - 144.0 - 144.0

Breeding Cattle - 1 Females Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: A Sussex cross cow and heifer calf born last August made £760.

Our next breeding day will be next Tuesday 21st May with consignments of bulls and females catalogued. See the front page of this report and the catalogue for details

Store Cattle - 394 Sold - Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A very busy store cattle section with around 400 cattle on offer attracted a large attendance of potential customers with all of our regulars present and again a few new faces around the ring keen for cattle to graze this summer. A total of 35 individual buyers were successful ensuring competitive returns for everything on offer which included a relatively large percentage of younger cattle and predominately native breeds.
Plenty of younger cattle were selling in the £500 to £700 bracket with 7mth Aberdeen Angus cross steers making to £640 from Garuara Estates and a run of open yarded 12 mth Limousin cross steers selling particularly well up to £745 from F W Hare & Son. Smart well grown single suckled continental cross yearlings again attracted lots of interest selling readily around the £1000 mark with Limousin cross steers up to £1100 from S J M Evans and £955 from Gallagher Farms. Simmental cross steers made to £1055 from R Coleman & Sons and Charolais cross heifers made to £990 from Dr R J Wratten.
Again older continentals were a marvellous trade with 19 mth Simmental x Friesian steers up to £1180 from Wood Farm Partnership, 24mth British Blue cross steers at £1050 from J Foster & Son and 18mth British Blue cross heifers to £1010 from L Colbourne.
The best of the native breeds sold exceptionally well too with 24 mth Sussex steers topping at £1120 from W Meyer, 12-14 mth Aberdeen Angus cross steers to £1100 from Gallagher Farms and 15 mth Sussex steers at £930 from H W Snape & Son while a pen of well grown 18 mth Friesian steers topped at £870 from J S & M D Antrum & Son.
There were several customers specifically looking for heifers suitable for breeding with Limousin crosses topping at £960 from Wood Farm Partnership, £840 from S J M Evans and £740 from R Coleman & Sons while British Blue cross heifers made to £748 from K E Budd.

Other stock sales reports

Calves - 68 Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: Really great to have a larger entry here but we could easily still sell many more to the trade seen today. Continental bulls to £420, a British Blue cross from J E Scutt and Sons and their heifer of the same breed £425; native breed bulls made to £330 for W S Furnivals South Devon cross and the same producer had a same bred heifer make £260 while black and white bulls made to £205 for an example of 13 weeks old from M Goddard with 31 sold averaging £100.60.
Looking at other crossbred beef calves a Simmental cross bull made £330 from R L W Parrett, an Aberdeen Angus cross bull (out of beef cow) £320 from S C Gammon while R L W Parrett also sold Dairy Shorthorn cross bulls to £280.
Please keep your entries of calves coming - our fortnightly sales will continue on 30th April and beyond. We expect to have plenty of enquiries for all shapes, sizes and ages of stock

Calf averages - £ per head

Description - No - Top - Bottom - Average
Continental Bulls - 9 - 420.00 - 200.00 - 322.22
Continental Heifers - 3 - 425.00 - 250.00 - 328.33
Native Bulls - 17 - 330.00 - 170.00 - 251.76
Native Heifers - 7 - 260.00 - 120.00 - 194.29
Friesian Bulls 1st quality - 11 - 205.00 - 120.00 - 168.00
Friesian Bulls 2nd quality - 11 - 118.00 - 60.00 - 85.54
Friesian Bulls 3rd quality - 9 - 59.00 - 30.00 - 45.22

Store and Finished Pigs - 137 Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: This was a very strong local trade right through from the strongest to the small stores with 17 sellers benefiting from the purchases of 12 individual buyers. We were short of pigs to satisfy demand from buyers.
Finished pigs saw the average for the best surging ahead again to an average of 148.9p per kg and gross £119.49. G Huntley 139p, Mrs P Banks 150p, W Tomsett 139p, P W Sim 158p and S J M Evans 159p while 55p to 110p covered the rest. We need more regular supplies of finished pigs to satisfy our regular buyers demand for good, young finished pigs. Cull sows and boars saw a fair call for the heaviest 'in spec' sows made to 68p while an exceptionally well muscled boar made 69p grossing £180.
A larger (but nearly large enough!) entry of store and breeding pigs were a very good trade with strong feeders from F A Brooks to £64.50 and smaller weaners £19 to £35.
Please keep your entries of pigs coming - our fortnightly sales will continue on April 19th and beyond. We expect to have plenty of enquiry for all shapes, sizes and ages of stock

Pig averages

Description - No - Top - Bottom - Average
1st Quality finished - p per kg - 27 - 159.0 - 139.0 - 148.9
- £ per head - - 144.56 - 107.30 - 119.49
2nd Quality finished - p per kg - 22 - 109.0 - 55.0 - 88.5
- £ per head - - 97.20 - 56.10 - 79.70
Cull sows - p per kg - 12 - 68.0 - 38.0 - 61.4
- £ per head - - 180.20 - 39.14 - 125.78
Cull boars - p per kg - 2 - 68.0 - 50.0 - 60.0
- £ per head - - 180.20 - 105.00 - 142.60
Strong stores - £ per head - 9 - 64.50 - 44.00 - 59.78
Small stores - £ per head - 64 - 47.00 - 17.00 - 33.06

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Report - 7th May

Sheep sales reports

Finished Sheep - 2931 Sold - Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: An increased number of milk lambs this week met a good trade, but as with the hoggets there is a big difference in the price between the well fleshed lambs and the lean under finished ones. Pure Charollais lambs from Mrs H Long reached £112 for 41kg and crossbred Charollais and Texels from L Andreozzi to £111 for 43kg (twice). 30kg lambs from A J Down made to £102 and lighter weights (35kg) from J Farrant made £93.
There is still a very strong demand for the best fleshed hoggets regardless of weight but averages are being hit by the amount of under finished sheep being drawn to avoid the dreaded ‘teeth up’ problem.

Please keep in touch regarding expected trade and help us achieve orderly marketing - contact Elwyn Davies 07710 803 901 at any time. For best results vendors must present well fleshed dry and clean hoggets. A dagging service is now available every Monday afternoon at Ashford Market at a cost of 65p (plus VAT) per head.

Old Season Lamb prices

Kgs - Top Price - Ave Price - Top Vendor - P per kg
38 - 78.80 - 73.01 - Fincham Farms - 207.0
39 - 80.50 - 74.25 - R J Adams - 206.0
40 - 90.00 - 82.26 - Fincham Farms - 225.0
41 - 86.50 - 80.56 - Fincham Farms - 211.0
42 - 92.20 - 79.72 - Fincham Farms - 220.0
43 - 95.00 - 85.82 - Tilley Farm Partnership - 221.0
44 - 100.00 - 85.39 - Fincham Farms - 227.0
45 - 97.50 - 90.61 - Tilley Farm Partnership - 217.0
46 - 104.00 - 93.88 - Fincham Farms - 226.0
47 - 100.00 - 94.61 - R F & E A Simmons - 213.0
48 - 102.00 - 96.63 - Tilley Farm Partnership - 212.0
49 - 101.00 - 95.27 - C R Ridley - 206.0
50 - 115.00 - 103.71 - P R Newbold - 230.0
51 - 105.0 - 104.02 - R H Smith - 206.0
52 - 113.0 - 111.11 - J A Cox & R G Gibson & Son - 217.0

Old Season Lambs - pence per kg

Weight Range - Number - Top - Bottom - Average - National Averages

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs - 295 - 209.0 - 59.00 - 186.92 - 191.36
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs - 1282 - 227.0 - 144.0 - 194.11 - 206.15
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs - 797 - 230.0 - 150.0 - 200.35 - 197.80
Others 52.1 kgs plus - 178 - 217.0 - 144.0 - 194.42 -
2 Tooth Hoggets - 137 - £94.50 - £36.00 - £62.75 -

New Season Lambs - pence per kg

Weight Range - Number - Top - Bottom - Average - National Averages
Light under 32 kgs - 31 - 252.0 - 131.0 - 210.06 - 240.27
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs - 192 - 269.0 - 157.0 - 250.65 - 256.23
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs - 145 - 273.0 - 224.0 - 252.59 - 251.27
Cull Ewes and Rams - 620 Sold - Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: Despite the returned averages being slightly down on last week, there was a slightly better trade through out the ewe section. Without with the quality ewes, which were really short in the entry, there was no boost the overall average price. Reports are still of a serious lack of demand in the wholesale market for the ewe meat and therefore we are unable to get the prices up to the levels we have been used to in the spring for the past few years, when, it must be said, we may have got used to prices that were just too high to become the 'norm'.
Top from prices on the day included Suffolk ewes to £84 from S Ovenden, continental ewes to £75 from A Denning, Mules to £59.50 from both M Woodroofe and T Carr and Romneys to £74 from R H Kingston

Cull Ewe and Ram averages - £ per head

Classification - No - Top - Bottom - Average
1st Quality Ewes - 126 - 84.00 - 65.00 - 70.98
2nd Quality Ewes - 246 - 64.00 - 50.00 - 57.72
3rd Quality Ewes - 235 - 49.50 - 5.00 - 37.14
Rams - 13 - 86.00 - 25.00 - 51.19

Store and Breeding Sheep - 784 Sold - Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901 and John Rossiter

Report on trade: Store hoggets are still wanted with the best Charollais, Texel and Suffolk crosses making around £70 and smaller long term sorts making in the £40 to £55 bracket. If you have stores to sell you would be well advised to sell sooner rather than later while prices remain favourable. Averages: 509 feeding store tegs sold £80 to £11, av’ £61.36
The breeding sheep entry comprised two pens of ewes and lambs being Romney ewes with Charollais lambs which made £93 (£42.78 per life) and Suffolk x Mules with Texel lambs to £114 (£47.50).
Ewe tegs penned were 3 pens of Suffolk x Mules making £80 to £86 and 5 pens of North Country mules £79 to £89. Averages: 218 ewes with 271 lambs sold. Per life £64 to £36.66, av’ £48.19. Per ewe £132 to £85, av’ £108.10. 176 Mule and Suffolk x Mule ewe tegs sold £89 to £79, av’ £84.05.

Sock Lambs - 12 Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: End of season here (perhaps one more week but we are sure that will be it then). Prices were similar to last weeks levels. Averages £21 to £8, av’ £14.25

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Cattle sales reports

Finished Cattle - 129 Sold including 23 Young Bulls - Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: Good numbers were penned coming from far and wide to Ashford. Quality was more variable through the entry overall with the end of yarded cattle in sight in many cases. Best cattle were in short supply and commanded an outstanding premium though the wholesalers are, without doubt, finding these prices harder to pass on to caterers and retailers.
Trade was very similar to last weeks record levels with again the high proportion of black and whites preventing averages from moving higher. Slaughterers and feeders were in confidant form and there is no doubt that this pattern of trade is set to continue. Best cattle were in very short supply and more certainly wanted. Top price of the day went to a very smart muscled British Blue heifer from K A Goodwin at 248p per kg and grossing £1346, whilst the steers were led by an older British Blue steer from Dan Mackleden Ltd at 235p and £1442. Highest gross returns went to East Sussex with Limousin steers to £1600 for R W Kemp & Ptrs and Blonde heifers from H Allen to £1465 and 233p.
Quality types were all generally 220p-240p; commercial 200-220p and processing cattle 180-200p. Aberdeen Angus steers made to 217p for Seymour Stevens Ltd and grossing to £1397 from A J Thompson & Son; Aberdeen Angus heifers to 211p and £1324 for A R Dunlop (exempt); Sussex steers to 213p from Passmore Coombes; to £1256 from A H Hoad & Son; Sussex heifers to 199p and £1103; E H Holdstock and Son and Herefords to 206p and £1406 for H G Tompsett & Son.
Black and whites again a superb trade with 180p regularly achieved and topping at 184p for A & R Martin and grossing to £1243 from A J Thompson & Son.
A strong entry of bulls and good quality in all breeds. Smart suckler continentals made to 223p and £1269 from D W Ferguson; dairy bred Aberdeen Angus made to 217p from T Wenham; Sussex to 192p for C D & J Bishop; British Friesians to 192p from T Castle & Son; Holsteins to 178p and £1127 from A & R Martin and stronger Limousins to £1322 from R W Kemp & Ptrs.

Finished Cattle averages - pence per Kg

Classification - No - Top - Bottom - Average

Premium steers (U & R) - 7 - 234.0 - 226.0 - 227.4
Average steers (O+) - 26 - 222.0 - 205.0 - 212.3
Other steers (-O & P) - 22 - 203.0 - 176.0 - 191.6
Premium heifers (U & R) - 5 - 248.0 - 225.0 - 233.1
Average heifers (O+) - 15 - 223.0 - 206.0 - 212.3
Other heifers (-O & P) - 20 - 204.0 - 178.0 - 193.8
Young bulls 2nd quality (O+) - 5 - 223.0 - 207.0 - 214.0
Young bulls 3rd quality (-O & P) - 18 - 200.0 - 146.0 - 178.9
30 to 48 mths Steers - 5 - 235.0 - 176.0 - 199.1
30 to 48 mths Heifers - 9 - 200.0 - 164.0 - 182.2

Leading Steer Prices

Vendor - Weight Kgs - Breed - Price per Kg

Dan Mackelden Ltd - 615 - 34 mths British Blue - 235.0
Seymour Stevens Ltd - 510 - 23 mths Saler - 234.0
G J Smith - 590 - 25 mths British Blue - 229.0
K & P M Sinden & Son - 625 - 26 mths British Blue - 227.0
H Allen - 625 - 24 mths Blonde - 227.0

Leading Heifer Prices

K A Goodwin - 544 - 22 mths British Blue - 248.0
H G Allen & Son - 575 - 25 mths Blonde - 233.0
H Allen - 630 - 25 mths Blonde - 233.0
P A Mummery - 545 - 27 mths Limousin - 229.0
G L Boulden & Sons - 535 - 23 mths Blonde - 225.0

Cull Cows and Bulls - 104 Sold - Auctioneer: Richard Wood

Report on trade: Tremendous numbers penned this week, particularly after the Bank Holiday weekend! Another outstanding trade and it was the turn of the cow section to create new records. Flesh remains in short supply with not many fed cows, beef or dairy, now left in the yards. Feeding / grazing cows are meeting exceptional demand particularly for the younger beef cows.
Good fed meat cows made 160-200p per kg with a smart young Limousin cow from J Berryman to 198p per kg; heavier types from G Bates Ltd to 186p and £1300; Blondes to 186p from Jones & Garratt; British Blues to £1316 Dan Mackelden Ltd and other Limousins 167p and £1305 from Burden Bros and Newline Learning YFC 164p and £1283. A Simmental grossed £1273 from D E Hodges.
It was amongst the grazing cows that a new record was established in the cow section with the trade really on fire. A young Charolais from Mrs L M Howard sold to 228p and 224p with Limousin at 218p from Alastair Boyd & Co. Confidence is high and the grass is now growing which brought buyers out in force and all grades were wanted particularly if young and with shape. Plenty made 150-180p with out wintered Sussex cows selling to 170p from J C & C Lewis; Charolais to 174p; Simmentals selling to 170p and Hereford to 170p. Many plain older cows can soon make 120-140p to graze against a slaughter value of well below 100p. Keep your options open and sell alive.
A few more dairy culls were on offer today and the full spectrum were forward. Best fed Holstein Friesians made to 163p from W S Furnival Ltd while heavyweights grossed £1245 from A J Thompson & Sons and £1203 from M Goddard. Ayrshires made to 132p and Jerseys 128p and £757 for Hickson Bros. Lean steaker trade was strong but plain boners a shade less. Grazing men are looking for the younger drier types.
Stock bulls wanted are wanted with a Limousin selling to £1650 and 154p from Burden Bros and Sussex to 145p.

Cull cow and bull averages - pence per Kg

Classification - - No - Top - Bottom - Average

Over 48 mths Beef cows - 61 - 217.5 - 59.5 - 145.8
Over 48 mths Dairy cows - 36 - 162.5 - 75.5 - 125.2
Under 48 mths Bulls - 2 - 145.0 - 132.0 - 138.5
Over 48 mths Bulls - 1 - 154.0 - 154.0 - 154.0

Breeding Cattle - 9 Bulls and 176 Females Sold - Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: This was a major section this week with both pedigree and good commercial stock penned in both the bull and females sections. Whether you are offering individual animals or large numbers the auction ring finds the customers for all and produces a fair price.
The bulls saw Limousins making £2900 (twice) and £2250 for Messrs Vaughan (Wales) and P Gottschalk while 2 Sussex bulls made £1240 and £1430 and a very nice young Blonde (8 mths) old made £900 for Mrs S M Becvar.
The female entry was led by the Pynn Contractors herd dispersal of 32 cows and spring born calves and 27 maiden heifers. 10 individual buyers made purchases from the herd and through the offering the cows and calves averaged £1208.59, bulling heifers £969 and yearlings £662. Top price cows were 2 at £1550 and a further 2 at £1500 from the younger end of the herd. C & A Body offered Aberdeen Angus x Sussex cows (10 years old) with spring calves which made to £950 and averaged £878 and C Somerset’s outwintered Aberdeen Angus cross cows with Sussex calves (spring born) made £1250 to £1325 for with the 15 offered averaging £1132.
The offering of strong, late spring calving Charolais cross cows (due to a Limousin) from P N & C Burden saw 13 cows average £1170 with 2 heavy cows making £1260.
A very successful days trading on behalf of 18 vendors showing the value of concentrating the sale on one day for both buyers and sellers.
Our next breeding day will be on Tuesday 21st May with 3 consignmnets of females already promised. For any large or small consignments of breeding cattle we can confirm there will be strong demand. As always please ring us if you have stock to sell.

Store Cattle - 215 Sold - Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A good day in the store section and although it was a late finish for all there was a good attendance of customers, several new faces around the ring, and a strong demand for cattle as the grass starts to grow and a little welcome rain sits on the forecast. Thank you to all for your patience on a very busy day.
Quality was a little more variable amongst the continentals but another good show of native breeds with Aberdeen Angus again well to the fore. A mixed show of bulls met a similar trade with hard yearling crossbred bulls destined for castration making to £282 from Hugh Alexander (Boxhill) Ltd and older Holstein bulls to £625 from I & S Lockwood.
There was plenty of demand for younger continentals from buyers, home and away, with the best Aberdeen Angus x British Blue steers to £1060 from Mrs S M Becvar; British Blue steers £780 for M Williams; Limousin £785 from B E & D M Ashbee and Blonde x Sussex to £720 from Jones & Garrett while hard outlying yearling Limousins made to £775 from F W Hare & Son.
We penned several good runs of yearling Aberdeen Angus and plenty of customers were looking for these and other native bred cattle. Yearling Aberdeen Angus steers made to £945 from J & A Lyon, £845 from Mrs S M Becvar with heifers to £680 from P Dacre, Hereford steers £970 and £875 from M J Burton and Sussex cross steers £745 from P H Hope.
Older continentals were a marvellous trade as the confidence from strong beef returns shines through. Limousin steers at 16mths made to £1090 and heifers £970 for Exors J F Goodsell; Aberdeen Angus steers at 18mths £1105 and heifers £980 from N & G Marshall and then at 24 mths £1130 from K Vincent. Dairy bred Britsh Blue cross steers made £815 from P R Lanham and Continental heifers, 24 mths £1170, £1090, £1060 and £960 for J Berryman.
Store demand remains positive and this will remain so with the beef trade so strong but with many graziers conscious of the season we would recommend vendors with stock still to sell this spring that time is of the essence!

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Hobbs Parker Auctioneers - The team and their responsibilities.
For all office enquiries on livestock and auction sales please ring 01233 502222.
Elwyn Davies (07710 803901) - Managing director, sheep auctioneer and machinery sales.
Peter Kingwill (07795 200357) - Director, cattle auctioneer and machinery sales.
- David Pearson - Director and accounts.
Mark Cleverdon (07748 202688) - Calf, pig, ram and breeding cattle auctioneer and livestock entries.
John Rossiter (07557 392903) - Sheep auctioneer
Simon Husk (07885 968077) - Livestock marketing and field services
Martin Crowhurst (07710 803903) - Livestock marketing and field services
- Graham Bridgland - Livestock administration and collective and machinery sale entries.
- Julie Coney - Livestock administration and horse sale entries.FABBL status of stock offered for sale here in Ashford Market.
We again remind all vendors that we require entry forms completed correctly in this regard. Dairy beef and residency periods are still causing problems for purchasers. Please check your status and make this clear on your entry form.
Your entry forms for stock to be sold here each week must have a current scheme label attached in order for the stock to be sold as farm assured. Please throw away ‘old style’ or out of date stickers.
Vehicle Parking on busy market days
Congestion in the bottom / livestock parking area
Please help us to help you. The upper car parks on the top side of the market buildings are available for ALL vehicles and Land Rovers with trailers.
Please avoid parking and leaving vehicles on the loading / unloading bays whenever possible. Park and empty vehicles often lead to frustration from others with stock arriving later in the day from further afield.