Ashford Market Report – Monday 22nd December 2025


Sheep Sales Report

New Season Lambs – 820 sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903.

Top price per kilo – 414p –S J Martin, Kent.

Top price per head – 177.50 – B Head, East Sussex.

Report on trade: A small entry of sheep for a very seasonal sale that we fitted into the short festive week.

Numbers are tight and the demand for export grade sheep is very strong all around the UK as the orders have come in very late this year. It is hard to convince sellers to sell lambs in the 40-46kg price bracket against the price of the stores and also with a huge amount of keep still available. However, the trade for these types has been very good and prices around 350p kg are commonplace with the overall average 343p kg, topping at 414p kg from S J Martin. Heavy lambs were also sold on a better trade with some nice runs from Mr B Head and Mervyn Woodroofe with the best heavies over £165 to a top of £177.50.

Next week’s sale will return to Tuesday and we will be selling both sheep and cattle at the normal Tuesday times. As numbers are tight, we strongly recommend selling at these levels, for any selling advice please give me a call on my mobile over the coming days.

Merry Christmas to all our buyers, sellers and staff.

New Season Lambs

Kgs        Top Price              Top Vendor                                                          p per kg

29           £120.00                 S J Martin                                                              414.0
30           £100.00                 B A Kirk Engineering                                          333.0
33           £127.00                 S J Martin                                                              385.0
35           £135.00                 E J Stanford & Sons                                            386.0
36           £127.00                 J A Buggs & Sons                                                353.0
37           £130.50                 J A Buggs & Sons                                                353.0
38           £145.00                 C B Hope                                                              382.0
39           £130.50                 J A Buggs & Sons                                                335.0
40           £140.50                 D G Long                                                              351.0
41           £158.00                 E J Stanford & Sons                                            385.0
42           £148.00                 R & S L M Smith                                                  352.0
43           £140.00                 D Thompson                                                        326.0
44           £157.00                 E J Stanford & Sons                                            357.0
45           £161.00                 R & S L M Smith                                                  358.0
46           £141.00                 S Goodsell                                                            307.0
47           £164.00                 R & S L M Smith                                                  349.0
48           £174.00                 R & S L M Smith                                                  363.0
49           £170.00                 J R Lilley                                                               347.0
50           £170.00                 B Head                                                                  340.0
51           £175.00                 B Head                                                                  343.0
52           £177.50                 B Head                                                                  341.0
54           £168.50                 L E Humphreys & Sons                                      312.0

Weight range                                       Number                 Top         Bottom                  Average

Light 25.6 to 32 kgs                               26                         414.0      333.0                      389.7
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs                     135                         386.0      292.0                      355.8
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs                    186                         385.0      310.0                      333.5
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs                          357                         363.0      274.0                      318.1
Others 52.1 +                                        115                         356.0      290.0                      306.3

Cull Ewes & Rams – 156 sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678.

Top price ewes: £235.00 – M J Ashworth, Kent                           Ave. £155.59.

Report on trade: A super trade once again with demand strong and numbers short ahead of Christmas.

The best ewes regularly £150 – £180 hd to a top price of £235 hd for Texels from M J Ashworth with Charollais from B J Baker in close attendance to £230 hd. Medium sorts £120 – £150 hd on most occasions with leaner grazing sorts very short in the pens this week as to be expected for the time of year with large numbers of these now sold. More ewes of all grades are wanted with customers present for all types every week.

The next sale of cull ewes will be on Tuesday 30th December 2025.

Top prices included:

Texel                                      to £235                  M J Ashworth
Charollais                             to £230                  B J Baker
Suffolk cross                         to £202                  P Smith
Border Leicester                  to £198                  B J Baker
Texel cross                           to £175                  G Dallaway
Romneys                               to £162                  G Dallaway
Mules                                     to £152                  M Woodroofe
Southdown                           to £125                  S Snart