Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 26th May 2026

Sheep Sales Reports

New Season Lambs – 903 sold.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 494p – J Freeman, Headcorn.
Top price per head – £236.00 – M J Ashworth, Lydd.

A bigger entry of lambs this week as expected, we have now swung more in favour of the new seasons and away from the hoggets. Intensive fed lambs are now really starting to grow on as the lack of grass is forcing them onto the feed more so. Big weights were present in this section which is quite unusual as we are still in May, but these were in demand and sold at levels we have never really seen before. Lambs over £200 have now become commonplace but we must not expect this to be sustainable all through the season as numbers on offer will invariably rise. Super runs of lambs from M J Ashworth and Masters Farms which really rang the bells this week and both sold a good number over £200/hd and M J Ashworth topped at £236/hd. The overall average of 446p/kg was a touch down on last week, but this is more a representation of the weight on offer as we had a number of light weights last week and I would consider the trade to be on a similar level, despite nearly double the entry being penned.
New Season Lambs will be sold first as of next week.

31 – £152.00 (490p kg) – J Freeman
32 – £148.00 (463p kg) – J Freeman
33 – £155.00 (470p kg) – Messrs P H Hope
34 – £168.00 (494p kg) – J Freeman
35 – £159.00 (454p kg) – J Freeman
36 – £170.00 (472p kg) – S W Batch
37 – £170.00 (459p kg) – K Lukehurst
38 – £154.00 (405p kg) – S Wimble
39 – £181.00 (464p kg) – K Lukehurst
40 – £180.00 (450p kg) – M J Ashworth
41 – £180.00 (439p kg) – K Lukehurst
42 – £198.00 (471p kg) – M J Ashworth
43 – £200.00 (465p kg) – M J Ashworth
44 – £202.00 (459p kg) – M J Ashworth
45 – £212.00 (471p kg) – Masters Farms
46 – £213.00 (463p kg) – M J Ashworth
47 – £217.00 (462p kg) – M J Ashworth
48 – £214.00 (446p kg) – Masters Farms
49 – £216.00 (441p kg) – A J Down
50 – £210.00 (420p kg) – Masters Farms
51 – £206.00 (404p kg) – L Stevens & Sons

Averages (p/kg)

Light 32.1 to 39kgs – 185 – Top 494, Ave. 459.5
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 389 – Top 471, Ave. 439.7
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 252 – Top 471, Ave. 448.0
Over 52.1 kgs – 20 – Top 412, Ave. 406.9

Finished Hoggets – 277 sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903.

Top price per kilo – 456p – C D Lakey, Norfolk.
Top price per head – £232.00 – K Bond, Kent.

The end of the season seems to now be upon us, and numbers have fallen away to very few hoggets, with a nice entry coming from Norfolk once again making up the numbers of quality on offer. Top on the day went to Mr Chris Lakey at 456p/kg and £232/hd from Mr K Bond. A run of good heavy hoggets from Becky Dixon topped at £225/hd and averaged £220/hd making the early start worthwhile!

Averages (p/kg)

Light 32.1 to 39 kgs – 10 – Top 442, Ave. 424.7
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 96 – Top 456, Ave. 417.9
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 41 – Top 439, Ave. 411.0
Over 52.1 kgs + – 98 – Top 436, Ave. 368.0

Cull Sheep – 209 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewes: £210.00 – Kingswood Farmers, Kent. – Ave. £148.08

Trade on par with a very mixed show forward and very small numbers of well fleshed types in the pens.
Numbers have tightened this week which is no surprise for the time of year and with the Muslim festival, Eid al-Adha, already underway. The best regularly £160 – £190 and to a top price of £210 for Charollais from Kingswood Farmers Ltd. Medium sorts remain well sold and £130 – £160 on most occasions with leaner grazing types £100 – £130 throughout with only very few sold below these figures.
Please do inform me of any large consignments of ewes you have to sell going forward with buyers present every week for all grades.

Top prices included:

Charollais to £210 – Kingswood Farmers Ltd., Texel to £200 – Kingswood Farmers Ltd., Beltex to £200 – M Friend, Suffolk cross to £191 – M J Ashworth, Texel cross to £185 – S W Batch, Romneys to £175 – Hope Bros, Mules  to £159 – J R Lilley.

Ewes & Lambs 46 sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Only a few penned however a serious trade with Romney ewes and Charollais lambs to £154 per life from Collum Securities and top call went to P Ashlee for Suffolk cross ewes and Texel lambs to £159 per life.
There is a section available for couples every Tuesday so do not hesitate to get in contact if you have any to sell.

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 Reports

Finished Cattle –  55 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Certainly, a harder day in the beef ring with weather and traffic adding to the frustrations. A strong entry of cattle and, again, plenty of weight on offer and several carrying too much cover. Resistance from all sectors of the meat trade at the moment with supply up and down the country more than meeting demand, with the heatwave adding to the woes and costs. Generally, the consistent cattle, in spec with weight and finish, faired best on the day with the super heavyweights and over finished types finding it harder going.
A few exceptional beasts at the top end with an Angus heifer, with some continental influence, from Jan Boomaars, Vexour selling at 396p, £2116 whilst Red Barn Farm’s not far behind at 388p, £2286. Generally, the better beef bred types 340-360p but feeling difficult. Several super heavyweights up over 800 kgs down towards 300p but grossing to £2548 from Leggat Farming.
Quite a range in the dairy bred cattle. Limousin x British Friesians, like peas in a pod, from A J Down well followed to 344p, £2304, and generally 330-340p. Some strong Blue x Friesian heifers to 330p, £2116 from J S & M D Antrum, their similarly bred heavy steers to 312p, £2274. Those with more dairy traits hard work at 280-300p.
A nice run of Sussex steers from Thorsons Farms to 347p, £1906 with Angus steer from G Stokes to 328p, £2093.

Leading steer prices

R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 348p (£1998)
Thorsons Farms Ltd – Sussex – 347p (£1906)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 344p (£2130)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 340p (£2241)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 336p (£2013)

Leading heifer prices

Jan Boomaars – Aberdeen Angus – 396p (£2116)
Red Barn Farm – Limousin cross – 387p (£2286)
Dan Mackleden Ltd – Limousin cross – 355p (£1808)
W S Furnival Ltd – Limousin cross – 340p (£2105)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin – 340p (£2054)

Average prices

Steers 200 to 500 kg – 4 – Top 347p – Ave. 334p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 15 – Top 348p – Ave. 326p
Steers 651 kg + – 14 – Top 340p – Ave. 310p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 1 – Top 320p – Ave. 320p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 8 – Top 396p – Ave. 340p
Heifers 591+ kg – 13 – Top 340p – Ave. 316p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 38 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Still respectable numbers, and quality, on a scorching Tuesday after the Bank Holiday. Rates a shade easier overall but competition still positive with only the older grazing types easing a little as we move into the midsummer season.
No top end feeders forward but good commercial beef cows still 230-270p, with only the plainest and lightest below 200p. Solid British Blue x Friesian cow from J S & M D Antrum & Son to 270p, £2156 whilst strong Sussex cows from J C & C Lewis to 259p, £,1860.
Limousin 272p, £1589 Goodsell Farm Ptnrs, 267p, £1746 J Berryman; British Blue 270p, £2156 J S & M D Antrum, 251p, 249p, £1851, £1516 J Berryman; Parthenais 264p, £1568 Herbert & Sons; Sussex 259p, 244p, 243p, 239p, £1860, £1729, £1722, £1680, 255p £1718 R Murtagh, 251p, £1641 P Taylor; Angus 238p, £1686 G Hosmer & Son.
A few from the dairy sector and mostly nicely covered. A little easier overall but still excellent levels with a tremendous cow from J S & M D Antrum & Son to £2129
British Friesian 249p, 237p, £1857, £1715 Debden Court; Holstein Friesian 234p, 237p, £2129, £1880; Jersey 218p, 210p, £1077, £1027 Hickson Bros; Guernsey 194p, £1412 M Elphick.
Stock Bulls (3) Again a little easier overall. Younger Angus and Hereford to 249p, £2274 and 244p, £2118 respectively, with a traditional Hereford older bull at 218p, £1838.
Overage (6) Some well fleshed cattle in this section sold well. Limousin 3+ heifers 354p, 337p, £2209, £2019 Red Barn Farm; Hereford OTM heifer 304p, £1988 J Berryman; Holstein Friesian OTM steer 285p, £2077, OTM heifer 260p, £1739 J S & M D Antrum.

Beef Cows – 20 Sold – Top 272, Average 228.8
Dairy Cows – 9 Sold – Top 249, Average 207.8

Store & Breeding Cattle – 143 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Numbers remain to come forward in the store and breeding section with plenty of interest in the smaller long term grazing types however a tidy trade was seen for all grades.
The breeding section saw Limousin cross cows in-calf to a Limousin bull from A J Bray to £2180 followed by store bulls with top call in this section going to J Boomaars for an 18 mth Charolais bull to £1710.
Top call on the day goes to A J Thompson & Sons with Aberdeen Angus cross steers 26 mths topping at £2060.
Well reared Hereford x Friesian steers 6-7 mths from H West to £1050 and Stabiliser cross heifers 10-16 mths from A & N Bullen look well sold topping £1220. Hereford heifers 4-8 mths from J Boomaars topped at £1050 and Angus heifers 13 mths from the same home to £1280. Limousin steers 12 mths from A W Vincent to £1420 and stronger Limousin steers 13-14 mths from A J Strand topped at £1700 with Beef Shorthorns from the same home to £1640. A superb run of Limousin steers 11-13 mths from Mrs K Butcher topped at £1870 with others £1830 and £1790 followed by B Sutton with well-done Blue x Friesian steers 22 mths topping at £2010.
We will be doing our next catalogued sale of store and breeding cattle on Tuesday 9^th June so please do inform me of any cattle you have to sell for this day.

Principal prices include.

Continental:
British Blue x Friesian steers 22 mths – £2010 – B Sutton
Limousin cross steers 26 mths – £1980 – A J Thompson & Son
Limousin cross steers 13 mths – £1870 – Mrs K Butcher
British Blue x Friesian heifers 22 mths – £1850 – B Sutton
British Blue x Friesian heifers 21 mths – £1780 – B Sutton
Charolais heifers 5 mths – £960 – J Boomaars

Native:
Aberdeen Angus cross steers 26 mths – £2060 – A J Thompson & Sons
Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers 21 mths – £1910 – B Sutton
Shorthorn cross steers 13 mths – £1640 – A J Strand & Son
Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 13 mths – £1530 – A & S Woodford
Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 12 mths – £1350 – K M Goddard
Hereford heifers 18 mths – £1220 – J Boomaars

Calves – 36 Sold

Auctioneer: Tristan Howell 07917024340.

Local buying power reigning supreme with travelling customers discouraged by the heat, yet the trade remaining largely unaffected.
Plenty of quality on show with the sale headed by Parrett & Son, a strong Simmental cross at £760, followed by T Castle & Son’s British Blue cross bull calf at £735. T Castle & Son’s British Blues averaging £658 and J W Boyd & Sons Ltd’s younger Blue calves topping at £605, with their Aberdeen Angus cross bulls making £500, £495 and their heifers £400, £395. Hickson Bros returning with a British Blue bull to £400 and Mr M Elphick had British Blue cross Dairy Shorthorn heifers to £555, £540, £515. Pure dairy calves included Dairy Shorthorns to £360, British Friesians to £370, Guernsey’s to £160. Just the two beef calves this week, again from A J Thompson & Sons, Limousin cross to £570 and £440.

Bull Calves
British Blue cross – 11 – Ave. £547.27 – Top £735.00 – T Castle & Son.
Simmental cross – 1 – Ave. £760.00 – Top £760.00 – Parrett & Son.
Aberdeen Angus cross – 3 – Ave. £511.67 – Top £540.00 – Parrett & Son.
British Friesian – 3 – Ave. £305.00 – Top £370.00 – T Castle & Son.
Dairy Shorthorn – 1 – Ave. £360.00 – Top £360.00 – M Elphick.
Heifer Calves
British Blue cross – 7 – Ave. £449.29 – Top £555.00 – M Elphick.
Limousin cross – 3 – Ave. £481.67 – Top £570.00 – A J Thompson & Sons.
Aberdeen Angus cross – 2 – Ave. £403.33 – Top £415.00 – M Elphick.
Steer Calves
Limousin cross – 1 – Ave. £440.00 – Top £440.00 – A J Thompson & Sons.

Ear Tags
Producers are reminded that all cattle require two ear tags with at least one large distance readable tag. Please inspect stock in good time to order replacement tags as, regrettably, any stock that are incorrectly tagged may not be offered for sale. Local authority inspectors will be taking note as stock comes to market.

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