Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 29th April 2025

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Hoggets –1,917 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 400p kg – P Gorringe, West Sussex.
Top price per head – £188.00 – T Crick, Suffolk.

A more mixed entry of hoggets today with just under 2,000 penned and something of every shape, size, and breed on offer. The best quality continental hoggets sold to 400p kg from Mr Peter Gorringe with several others from O’Neill Smith Ltd, Henfield with a bit more weight sold from 360-380p kg. Some finished hoggets in the entry, possibly, going for breeding this week topping at £188 head from Mr Tim Crick, Suffolk. The trade has a bit of a flat feeling to it currently with a lot of heavy sheep still on offer, which are harder to sell in the wholesale market. Handy weights are still the best to sell, hence the high prices for the smart continentals, but these will soon be replaced by new season lamb so do not delay if you have got these to sell.

31 – £90.00 (290p kg) – M Izzi
33 – £90.00 (273p kg) – J & K Walther
35 – £90.00 (257p kg) – E Chantler & Sons
38 – £110.00 (289p kg) – P Ibbott
39 – £120.00 (308p kg) – Ross Douglas
40 – £160.00 (400p kg) – P Gorringe
41 – £145.00 (354p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
42 – £156.00 (371p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
43 – £124.00 (288p kg) – D J Miles
44 – £147.00 (334p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
45 – £164.00 (364p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
46 – £155.50 (338p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
47 – £155.00 (330p kg) – P Gorringe
48 – £170.00 (354p kg) – T Crick
49 – £173.00 (353p kg) – T Crick
50 – £171.00 (342p kg) – T Crick
51 – £151.00 (296p kg) – R L Pack
52 – £178.00 (342p kg) – T Crick
53 – £179.00 (338p kg) – T Crick
54 – £184.00 (341p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
55 – £183.00 (333p kg) – T Crick
56 – £188.00 (336p kg) – T Crick
57 – £186.00 (326p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
58 – £163.00 (281p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
59 – £180.00 (305p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 12 – Top 289, Average 283.1
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 317 – Top 400, Average 307.1
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 672 – Top 354, Average 301.7
Other 52.1+ kgs – 861 – Top 342, Average 290.0

New Season Lambs – 126 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

A little harder trade for these this week, despite some better quality on offer. Lambs after Easter and prior to the main changeover, from hogget to new season lamb, are sometimes a bit tricky to sell as light weight hoggets remain preferred. Top on the day were some crossbred lambs from G L Porter & Son at 397p kg and £168 per head from D Clarke Farms. Prices of these are likely to firm as processors make the transition to these new season offerings.

30 – £119.00 (397p kg) – G L Porter & Son
35 – £70.00 (200p kg) – G L Porter & Son
36 – £110.00 (306p kg) – D Stephens
37 – £124.00 (335p kg) – G L Porter & Son
38 – £130.00 (342p kg) – C Moss & Sons
42 – £134.00 (319p kg) – G L Porter & Son
44 – £154.00 (350p kg) – David Clark (Farms) Ltd
45 – £137.00 (304p kg) – G L Porter & Son
46 – £158.00 (343p kg) – David Clark (Farms) Ltd
50 – £168.00 (336p kg) – David Clark (Farms) Ltd

Store Hoggets – 360 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Less on offer but still a good trade for what was there and the overall average of £110 was one of the highest averages we have seen for this time of the year. Numbers will surely tighten in the coming weeks in this section. We will not be too long before we start to think about Friday store sales!!

Cull Sheep – 396 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewe: £200.00 – P Loveland – Ave. £144.79

An improved show of ewes in the pens. Less interest from buyers as a succession of short weeks hinders the abattoir sector. All grades of ewes remain a firm trade. The best ewes regularly £150 – £180 and to a top price of £200 from P Loveland for smart Texel ewes. Medium sorts £110 – £140 on most occasions with leaner grazing types scare and £70 – £100 with only a very small few sold below these figures. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if you have any large consignments of ewes to sell in the coming weeks with all grades of ewes wanted.

Top prices included:

Texels to £200 – P Loveland, Texel cross to £198 – P N & C Burden, Suffolk cross to £198 – S T Phillips, Mules to £182 – S C Gammon, Romneys to £180 – G Homewood, Lleyn cross to £178 – Roos Farm Partners.

Sock Lambs 31 sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

A few more lambs this week with the best to £39 from P N & C Burden, and majority of the strongest £20 – £30. The small types £10 – £15 with only very few sold under these figures. We will offer sock lambs every week at 10am so please arrive no later than 9.30am to allow for pre-sale preparation.

Ear Tags in Sheep
Please be aware of your responsibilities with regard to the tagging of sheep of all ages , and in all sections of the market.

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  47 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Three short weeks in the last four have not made it easy for the logistics within the meat processing sector and wholesalers are just catching breath and tidying up orders, fridges and a back log which has just put a little downward pressure on all meat types. As with last week rates a little easier overall with fewer very best cattle on offer and several bigger bodies on offer at this end of winter yarding.
Best end beef bred cattle still close to 400p with Limousin x heifers from Colin Leggat to 398p, £2365, just in front of the Sinden family with their British Blue x at 395p, £2051. Tidy Limousin x steers from R F & E A Simmons to 386p, £2274 with two good heavyweights from Dan Mackelden to £2834 and £2712.
Alan Down`s Limousin x Friesian steers to 378p, £2260; pure Friesians to 355p, £2038. Hereford x Friesian steers from the Pickering family 369p, £2137, their Hereford x heifers to £2090. Again, weight no problem with Graham Tomsett`s Angus x Friesian to £2609.
Plenty of flesh on the natives this week with Sussex steers from Dan Mackelden to 274p, £2110 whilst Sussex x heifers from High Chimney Farm sold to 373p, £2179 and 370p, £2346.

Leading steer prices

Top Steers

R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 386p (£2274)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 378p (£2039)
Dan Mackelden Ltd – Sussex – 374p (£2110)
Dan Mackelden Ltd – Limousin cross – 371p (£2834)
W S Furnival Ltd – Limousin cross – 371p (£2371)

Top Heifers

Leggat Farming Ltd – Limousin cross – 398p (£2365)
K & P M Sinden – British Blue cross – 395p (£2051)
G L Boulden & Sons – Blonde cross – 385p (£1884)
W S Furnival Ltd – Simmental cross – 384p (£2301)
Leggat Farming Ltd – British Blue cross – 384p (£2282)

Average prices

Steers 200 to 550 kg – 5 – Top 378p – Ave. 352p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 18 – Top 386p – Ave. 361p
Steers 651kg + – 6 – Top 371p – Ave. 358p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 3 – Top 385p – Ave. 360p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 9 – Top 395p – Ave. 358p
Heifers 591 kg + – 6 – Top 398p – Ave. 381p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 64 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Good numbers once again and trade holding at excellent rates for both meat and feeding cows, though the recurring short weeks putting some strains on the sector as abattoirs and boning plants juggle their processing.
Best cows, for slaughter or feeding still well over 300p kg with smart fleshed Limousin cows from Charrington Farms, Reigate to 352p, £2144 with their Lean Hereford x and Longhorn feeders to 306p, £1818 and 280p, £1565. More cows now out to grass so fewer heavyweights from the yards but grand South Devon’s from Gardners, Basildon to 300p, £2421.
Limousin x 352p, 302p, £2144, £1930 Charrington Farms, 304p, £1548 M Goodwin; Hereford x 306p, 286p, 280p, £1818, £1761 Charrington Farms, 264p, £1700 G C Kirby & Son; Angus x 304p, 283p, £2352, £1836 R C & J L Pickering, 273p, £1635 R F & E A Simmons, South Devon 300p, 282p, £2421, £2201 Gardners; British Blue x 300p A & H Edmonds, 277p, £2046 J Saunders, 272p, £2009 K I Lingham & Son; Simmental x 297p, 280p (2) £1733, £1704 M J Ashworth; Longhorn 280p, 272p, 266p, £1565, £1525 Charrington Farms; Sussex 264p, 253p, £1673, £1578 K & P M Sinden.
A few more dairy culls forward from the grass and quite a mixture. Best heavyweights up to 286p, £2341 J Warnock & Son with Channel Islands led by the Guernsey’s at 226p, £1353 from Richard Manford. Plain cows a little less as more come forward nationally after their initial flush of milk from grass but pro rata take more boning cost.
Holstein Friesian 286p, 249p, 242p, 237p, £2341, £2038, £1987 J Warnock & Son; 262p, 252p, £2040, £1861 J S & M D Antrum; 240p, £1665 W G & T A Manford; Guernsey 226p, £1353 W G & T A Manford; Jersey 170p, £814 Hickson Bros
Overage (6) Remaining very firm. OTM Sussex heifer 348p, £1859 Dam Mackelden; Angus 3+ heifer 322p, £1961 S G & G T Orpin; Holstein Friesian steers 3+ 311p, £2065; South Devon 3+ heifer 294p, £2407 Gardners.

Beef Cows – 34 Sold – Top 352, Average 273.1
Dairy Cows – 24 Sold – Top 286, Average 218.7

 

Store & Breeding Cattle – 300 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

The sun is shining, and the farmers are smiling with yet another great trade throughout for all shapes and sizes. To kick off the day we had a herd dispersal on behalf of I R Bramley, Mayfield whose Simmental cross cows with Simmental calves at foot topped at £3050 per outfit and averaging just short of £2850. Rough coated long term sorts looking well sold from B Poland, Flimwell topping at £690 for 8 mths Angus cross steers, followed by P H Hope, Cranbrook with slightly stronger 12 mth Angus cross steers to £910. Single sucked South Devon cross heifers 12 mths from I Tapsell to £1140 and Angus cross steers 12 mths from M J Ashworth to £1350. A smart run of Limousin crosses 12 mths from S W Marchant Agri saw their steers to £1760 and the heifers to £1370. Angus cross steers 12 mths from S Salbstein to £1220, and Stabiliser steers 13 mths from F Pearce & Sons to £1600. Simmental cross heifers 16 mths from E Chantler & Sons topped £1580 and Angus steers 13 mths from Pynn Contractors at £1800. Angus steers 13 mths from A K F Dod topped at £1510 with the heifers to £1440. Forward Hereford cross steers 17 mths from High Chimney Farms to £1680. Sussex steers 22 mths from Wright Farm Partnership to £1650 with the 12 mth steers from the same home to £1380, and Sussex cross steers 15 mths from S H Gribble to £1490. A strong run of well-done cattle from M E Wrout 16 mths saw Blue x Friesian steers to £1900. Quality from J S & M D Antrum saw Blue cross steers 19m top at £2280, with heifers £1850 from the same home. Blue x Friesian steers 20 mths from B Sutton to £1790 and heifers to £1800 while top call of the day went to Clive Langridge with a Charolais cross steer 25 mths which made £2480. Outwintered Beef Shorthorn steers from A Young & Sons, Thurrock to £2300
We will be offering store and breeding cattle every week going forward with larger numbers expected for Tuesday 13^th May.

Principal prices include:
Continental Breeds:

Charolais cross steer 25 mths – £2480 – C Langridge
British Blue cross steers 19 mths – £2280 – J S & M D Antrum & Son
Simmental cross steers 15 mths – £1810 – M E Wrout
Limousin cross steers 15 mths – £1760 – S W Marchant Agri
British Blue cross heifers 19 mths – £1850 – J S & M D Antrum & Son
British Blue cross heifers 19 mths – £1800 – B Sutton
Simmental cross heifers 16 mths – £1580 – E Chantler & Sons
Limousin cross heifers 14 mths – £1370 – S W Marchant Agri

 Native Breeds:

Shorthorn steers 26 mths – £2300 – A G Young & Sons
Aberdeen Angus cross steers 26 mths – £2240 – K Bugden
Aberdeen Angus cross steers 16 mths – £1880 – M E Wrout
Sussex steers 14 mths – £1700 – J Eastwood
Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 20 mths – £1590 – B Sutton
Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 12 mths – £1460 – S Salbstein
Sussex cross heifers 17 mths – £1400 – High Chimneys Farms
Hereford cross heifers 10 mths – £1380 – J Prior & Son

Calves – 63 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A good show of mostly fresh 3-8 week calves met another very positive trade with a strong customer attendance around the ring.
More of a mix of breeds this week which went down well with the range of customers forward, and heifer calves particularly firm as rearers recognise the opportunities for breeding or feeding.
Blue bulls generally £300-£400, heifers £250-£350; Angus bulls around £300, heifers £250- £400; Sussex bulls £250-£350; Limousin heifers £300-£350. Charolais bull £420, heifer £365. Holstein Friesian bulls £240, £235.
Weanlings (7) Well reared Angus x calves 6m from David Ward sold well at £810 steers, £790 heifers.

Bull Calves
British Blue cross – 11 – Ave £310.91 – Top £390.00 – W G & T A Manford
Charolais cross – 1 – Ave £420.00 – Top £420.00 – P J Forknall
Aberdeen Angus cross – 4 – Ave £288.75 – Top £325.00 – B J Goodsell & Son
Sussex cross – 9 – Ave £295.00 – Top £340.00 – W G & T A Manford
Holstein – 2 – Ave £237.50 – Top £240.00 – W G & T A Manford
Heifer Calves
British Blue cross – 13 – Ave £261.15 – Top £365.00 – J W Boyd & Sons Ltd
Charolais cross – 1 – Ave £365.00 – Top £365.00 – P J Forknall
Limousin cross – 4 – Ave £312.50 – Top £340.00 – B J Goodsell & Son
Aberdeen Angus cross – 8 – Ave £325.00 – Top £390.00 – Goddard & Son
Sussex – 1 – Ave £210.00 – Top £210.00 – W G & T A Manford
Steer Calves
Limousin cross – 1 – Ave £280.00 – Top £280.00 – J Prior & Son
Steer Weanling
Aberdeen Angus cross – 2 – Ave £810.00 – Top £810.00 – D Ward
Heifer Weanlings
Aberdeen Angus cross – 5 – Ave £790.00 – Top £790.00 – D Ward

Cattle Passports
We remind producers that on no occasion should the details on a cattle passport be changed other than by returning it to BCMS.
If details are incorrect return and advise BCMS or advise the auctioneers on market day without writing on the passport.

 

 

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Tuesday Livestock – 6th May 2025

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

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