Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 19th August 2025

Sheep Sales Reports

New Season Lambs – 1,566 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 373p – C A Worley (Farming) Ltd, Kent.
Top price per head – £185.00 – Beslee Farms, Kent.

More were penned today than expected, with a few more farmers now finished with harvest and finding time to return to sheep jobs. Unfortunately, the trade nationally has taken a bit of a tumble since last Tuesday and things were a little more difficult. The heavy weight and best fleshed lambs were still on a similar level as less of them come forward. The overall average dropped by about 30p on the week and, due to unforeseen circumstances, buying support had a different look to it this week. Things should be back to normal next week both in Ashford and around the country. Some super Texel lambs from “The Beslee Boys” topped the day at £185 head with Joey Burden close behind at £182 and C & J Georgetti & Sons at £177.

34 – £114.00 (335p kg) – S Bourne
35 – £112.00 (320p kg) – C A Worley (Farming) Ltd
36 – £116.00 (322p kg) – G L Harris
37 – £116.00 (314p kg) – M C Contracting
38 – £130.00 (342p kg) – J R Lilley
39 – £129.50 (332p kg) – Mrs Carol Wimble
40 – £149.00 (373p kg) – C A Worley (Farming) Ltd
41 – £143.00 (349p kg) – Jamie Watt
42 – £141.00 (336p kg) – Michael Keeley (Agri Services) Ltd
43 – £145.00 (337p kg) – Jamie Watt
44 – £154.00 (350p kg) – Jamie Watt
45 – £149.00 (331p kg) – W & P New T/A Moorhouse Farm
46 – £156.00 (339p kg) – Barleybrook Farm
47 – £166.00 (353p kg) – C & J Georgetti & Sons
48 – £170.00 (354p kg) – P N & C Burden
49 – £174.00 (355p kg) – P N & C Burden
50 – £174.00 (348p kg) – C & J Georgetti & Sons
51 – £185.00 (363p kg) – Beslee Farms
52 – £165.00 (317p kg) – H V Link Partnership
53 – £173.00 (326p kg) – P N & C Burden
54 – £182.00 (337p kg) – Master Joey Burden
55 – £177.00 (322p kg) – C & J Georgetti & Sons

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 199 – Top 342, Ave. 307.0
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 838 – Top 373, Ave. 307.2
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 451 – Top 363, Ave. 329.8
Others 52.1 + – 67 – Top 337, Ave. 317.8

Cull Sheep – 678 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewe: £220.00 – G W & B Bridges, West Sussex. – Ave. £111.92

Another cracking trade for all grades with those best fleshed ewes remaining short, and large numbers of grazing types forward. The best ewes regularly £150 – £180 and to a top price of £220 for Texel crosses from G W & B Bridges. Medium sorts generally £110 – £140 with these looking well sold as a result of the best fleshed ewes being so short. Large numbers of these medium types are going to the abattoirs rather than being farmed.  Leaner grazing types plentiful but wanted with majority £70 – £120 and only very few sold below these figures. Please keep these ewes coming forward with buyers present every week for all grades.

Top prices included:

Texel cross to £220 – G W & B Bridges, Suffolk cross to £210 – A J Down, Crossbred to £194 – P Tassell, Beltex cross to £180 – C A Worley (Farming) Ltd, Romneys to £169 – Woolly Dog Farm, Mules to £142 – E J Clough.

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 –  49 Sold
Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Decent numbers for the time of year but a slightly different look to the entry with more leaner grass fed cattle amongst the entry. The dynamics of the trade just altering a little, and rates would be a shade easier as holidays come to an end, the return to work/school routine is yet to re-establish and the French with the current strikes and proposals for more General Strike in September puts a concern in both the beef and lamb export trades.
All that said the industry is still in a very good place with supply still the critical factor and continuing to be so for a long time yet.
Smart Parthenais heifers from Nick Cooper, for the Snowfields Academy, topping the day at 401p and 390p with a well fleshed run from A J Thompson & Sons seeing their Limousin x steers to 393p. Good Limousin x heifers from the same home 385p, 379p, £2403, £2214. Other well-bred Blonde x types from W S Furnival to 374p, 373p, £2328, £2241.
Much more variation in the dairy bred entry. Alan Down`s Friesian bred Limousin x cattle still 360-370p, £2254 but Angus x Holstein types more variable depending on feeding regime and shape, and generally 300p-350p. Some decent Black & Whites still to 319p (2) £2150 from the Goodsell Family.
More Angus amongst the natives and carrying good flesh. Strong Angus steers from A C Hulme & Sons to 370p (2) £2476, £2402 whilst Angus heifers from A J Thompson & Sons to £380p, 370p, 368p, £2163, £2106, £2040. A tidy Hereford heifer from John Berryman 363p, £2084 whilst Sussex heifers sold to 357p, £1996 Dan Mackelden.

Top Steers

A J Thompson & Sons – Limousin cross – 393p (£2041)
A C Hulme & Sons – Aberdeen Angus cross – 370p (£2476)
A C Hulme & Sons – Aberdeen Angus cross – 370p (£2402)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 370p (£2254)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 370p (£2032)

Top Heifers

Snowfields Academy – Parthenais – 401p (£1502)
Snowfields Academy – Parthenais cross – 390p (£1480)
A J Thompson & Sons – Limousin cross – 385p (£2403)
A J Thompson & Sons – Aberdeen Angus cross – 380p (£2163)
A J Thompson & Sons – Limousin cross – 379p (£2214)

Average prices

Steers 200 to 550 kg – 6 – Top 393p – Ave. 358p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 15 – Top 370p – Ave. 345p
Steers 651 kg + – 3 – Top 370p – Ave. 339p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 2 – Top 401p – Ave. 395p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 14 – Top 380p – Ave. 360p
Heifers 591 kg + – 9 – Top 385p – Ave. 357p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 32 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

More of a dairy complexion on the cull section this week but trade and prices holding very positive for all grades.
Just a handful of beef cows this week, and more wanted. Good young Charolais feeders from Richard Parsons, Wadhurst to 287p with half meat cows still generally 240-260p.
As grazing shortens and precious hay and silage is wanted for later this is the time to have a tidy up of the appropriate candidates with feeding yards looking to get lean cows moving asap.
Very few good meat cows coming from the dairy sector with younger lean types to 264p from J W Boyd & Sons; stronger steaking cows from Appleton Farms to 249p, £2038; and some older British Friesians to 247p, £1637 from B J Goodsell & Son. Overall, the plain boning cows looking very well sold at 180-220p, often £1300-£1500.
Stock Bulls (3) The strong trade continues with a nice Hereford at 254p, £2256; lean older bulls well sold with Angus to 229p, Limousin 218p.
Overage (4) Some good flesh on offer and wanted. 3+ Limousin x heifer 333p, £2078, 3+Blonde x heifer 330p, £2026, 3+ Hereford x heifer 313p, £1766.

Beef Cows – 7 Sold – Top 287, Average 238.0
Dairy Cows – 18 Sold – Top 264, Average 210.9

Calves – 47 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

A few less calves forward this week despite more herds stepping up with their autumn calving.
A young entry of fresh calves, and overall, just a little less intensity in the trade with the heifers looking the stronger trade on the week.
A lot of interest in the weaned calves.
British Blue bulls generally £250- £350, heifers £250-£270; crossbred Blue bulls well sold at £170-£230, heifers £150-£200.
More customers for Angus but not the strongest of shows. Bulls to £320, heifers £200+.
A nice British Friesian type calf to £185
Well reared calves from Brian Goodsell and family saw Limousin x Friesian steers 5 mths to £590, heifers 4 mths to £440.

Bull Calves
British Blue cross – 12 – Ave. £245.00 – Top £340.00 – J W Boyd & Sons
Aberdeen Angus cross – 6 – Ave. £250.83 – Top £320.00 – J W Boyd & Sons
British Friesian – 2 – Ave. £142.50 – Top £185.00 – P J Forknall
Heifer Calves
British Blue cross – 8 – Ave. £221.25 – Top £265.00 – Appleton Farms Ltd.
Aberdeen Angus cross – 7 – Ave. £196.43 – Top £225.00 – Appleton Farms Ltd.
Holstein Friesian – 1 – Ave. £150.00 – Top £150.00 – J W Boyd & Sons
Bull Weanlings
Limousin cross – 3 – Ave. £513.33 – Top £590.00 – B J Goodsell & Son
Heifer Weanlings
Limousin cross – 6 – Ave. £440.00 – Top £440.00 – B J Goodsell & Son
Aberdeen Angus cross – 2 – Ave. £430.00 – Top £430.00 – B J Goodsell & Son

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.

 

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 26th August 2025

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here