Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 11th October 2022

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

New Season Lambs – 685 Sold

Top price per kg: 296p – Snowfields Academy
Top price per head: £128.00 – Snowfields Academy

A smaller number this week and I’m afraid, that in terms of quality and finish, it was a poor show. Of the 700 lambs penned I would suggest that maybe only 250 of them were of rump mark quality and this has obviously reflected in the trade. Averages were similar to recent weeks at around 225p kg, but the best finished sorts were selling well in excess of this figure and top spot was taken by Snowfields Academy at 296p kg for some super Beltex crosses.  A good number of the lambs sold today would be more in line with the store trade in terms of quality and sold from £75-£90 hd.

Top Prices

34kg – £71.00 (209p/kg) – Laura Agley
35kg – £74.50 (213p/kg) – G L Harris
36kg – £82.00 (228p/kg) – K Bugden
37kg – £92.00 (249pkg) – S G Barten
38kg – £101.00 (266p/kg) – A Denning
39kg – £89.00 (228p/kg) – D Thompson
40kg – £118.50 (296p/kg) – Snowfields Academy
41kg – £119.50 (291p/kg) – T Husk
42kg – £121.00 (288p/kg) – T Husk
43kg – £102.00 (237p/kg) – Laura Agley
44kg – £124.00 (282p/kg) – T Husk
45kg – £109.00 (242p/kg) – A J Budd
46kg – £123.00 (267p/kg) – T Husk
47kg – £114.00 (243p/kg) – J Howie
48kg – £117.00 (244p/kg) – Snowfields Academy
49kg – £115.00 (235p/kg) – L Stevens & Sons
50kg – £128.00 (256p/kg) – Snowfields Academy
51kg – £115.00 (225p/kg) – P J & P B Wade
52kg – £128.00 (246p/kg) – Snowfields Academy
53kg – £115.00 (217p/kg) – L Stevens & Sons

Averages (p/kg)

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 209 – Top 266, Average 217.5
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 338 – Top 296, Average 228.7
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 89 – Top 267, Average 227.9
Over 52.1 kgs – 12 – Top 223, Average 219.4

Cull Sheep – 640 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewes: Top £133 – S P Howland, Average £68.71
Rams: Top £165 – S Goody, Average £87.53

A very similar trade throughout with a good number of buyers forward and competing well for all grades of ewes. The majority of best fleshed ewes £80-£110 with a top price of £133 from S P Howland for some well fleshed Texel ewes. Medium sorts regularly £65-£85 with the top pen of these to £90 from G H Dean for big, framed Suffolk cross ewes. Leaner grazing types £40-£60 with a very small numbers being sold below these figures.

Top prices included:

Texel cross to £133 – S P Howland, Texel cross to £118 – G H Dean & Co, Suffolk cross to £117 – H F & J H Glover, Charollais cross to £105 – N G Theobald, Romney cross to £108 – H & J Noakes, Romney to £111 – H Metcalfe, Romney to £100 – W T Kemp

Store & Breeding Sheep – Friday 7th October

7,968 Sold

Auctioneers: Elwyn Davies: 07710 803901, Peter Kingwill 07795 200357 and John Rossiter 07557 392903

The largest sale of the season met a very satisfactory trade throughout all the sections. A better show of store lambs with increased number of stronger sorts on offer sold well to average £78. Lambs with flesh topped at £100 for a pen of Charollais cross from M D Lott, while the best stores sold readily around £90, medium sorts £75 to £85 and only small term lambs below £70. Romney wethers a similar trade with the best around £85 and an overall average of £70.
Over 1,000 tegs and, while quality was not quite as high as the previous sales, the prices held reasonably well with the best Mules in excess of £170 (Av £162), Suffolk x Mule to £150 from E W & R E Hanks and strong Continental cross to £170 from M B Farms.
Plenty of interest in flock aged ewes with young Beltex cross ewe topping at £134 from Angmering Park Farms LLP, and strong full mouth Suffolk x Mule ewes £132 from C & J Georgetti & Sons.

 Please keep in touch and call to discuss future marketing of store lambs, Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Principal store lamb prices included

Suffolk x Mule ewe – £120 – D Howard Farms
Suffolk x Mule ewe – £112 – Angmering Park Farm LLP
Suffolk x Mule wether – £92.50 – E & M E Brundrett
Suffolk x Mule wether – £88 – M A & F W Owen
Suffolk x Romney – £83.50 – S G & G T Orpin
Beltex cross – £89 – S Weeks & Sons
Charollais cross – £100 – M D Lott
Charollais cross – £93 – N Hacking
Charollais cross – £93 – M Wicken
Charollais cross – £90 – J H & A H Godden
Texel cross – £96.50 – D Isaac
Texel cross – £95.50 – S J M Evans
Texel cross – £94.50 – J R Lilley
Texel cross – £90.50 – A J Thompson & Sons
Texel cross – £90.50 – G Lawrence & Son
Texel cross – £90 – Maytham Wharf Farm
Texel cross – £90 – H G Tompsett & Sons Ltd
Romney ewe – £86 – J Saunders & Son
Romney wether – £87.50 – R S Body & Sons
Romney wether – £86 – G L Boulden & Sons
Romney wether – £85 – A J Thompson & Sons

Average prices: Store lambs 6,377 sold to £120 Ave £78

Suffolk x Mule ewe – 274 – to £120 – Ave £112
Suffolk cross – 955 – to £97 – Ave £76
Beltex cross – 319 – to £90 – Ave £80.50
Texel cross – 1,463 – to £96.50 – Ave £82
Charollais cross – 970 – to £100 – Ave £82
Crossbred – 630 – to £89 – Ave £75.30
Romney wether – 1,766 – to £87.50 – Ave £69.50

Ewe tegs

Mules – £178.00 – Little Boarzell Farm Ltd
Mules – £176.00 – W G Vant & Son
Mules – £172 – Little Boarzell Farm Ltd
Mules – £172 – Swallow Mill Farms
Suffolk x Mule – £150 – E W & R E Hanks
Continental cross – £170 – M B Farms
Continental cross – £151 – H G Tompsett & Sons Ltd

Breeding ewes

Breeding ewes – 387 – to £134 – Ave £107

Mules – £110 – Angmering Park Farm LLP
Mules – £105 – T Crick
Suffolk x Mule – £132 – C & J Georgetti & Sons
Beltex cross – £134 – Angmering Park Farm LLP

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle – 36 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

A better quality show of cattle met a strong trade with the best beef bred Continental crosses 260p plus and topping at £1641 (287p) for a well-shaped Limousin cross steer from S Marsh. In addition to the leading prices quoted below other favourable returns included Limousin cross steer grossing well at £1709 (250p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and dairy bred Limousin cross in the 235p to 248p bracket and grossing to £1621 from A J Down.
The pick of the native bred cattle included Aberdeen Angus cross steer and heifer at £1624 (243p) and £1400 (242p) respectively from W S Furnival Ltd and Purebred Sussex steer £1334 (221p) from M Moncrieff.

Top Steers

S Marsh – Limousin cross – 287p/kg (£1641)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Bazadaise cross – 270p/kg (£1625)
G L Boulden & Sons – Limousin cross – 268p/kg (£1441)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 250p/kg (£1709)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 248p/kg (£1524)

Top Heifers

D W Ferguson Ltd – Limousin – 270p/kg (£1414)
S Marsh – Limousin cross – 270p/kg (£1374)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 266p/kg (£1553)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 263p/kg (£1493)
D J Miles – Aberdeen Angus cross – 255p/kg (£1259)

Average Prices (p/kg)

Steers up to 550kg – 3 sold – Top 268 – Ave 234p
Steers over 551kg – 11 Sold – Top 287p – Ave 244p
Heifers up to 500kg – 6 Sold – Top 255p – Ave 204p
Heifers over 501kg – 15 Sold – Top 270p – Ave 239p
Bulls – 1 sold – Top 210p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 81 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Pleasing to see more numbers this week and what a trade! All grades of cows dearer with intense competition from a strong company of buyers looking to secure flesh, as well as short and long term feeding cows.
There was a general shortage of good meat cows which is perhaps not surprising at this time of the year. Nothing outstanding amongst the fleshed beef cows but pushing through the 200p level regularly. Feeding beef cows up over 200p but condition and age a big factor in buyers minds with older cows from 110p right through to 160p. A very good trade for them.
Limousin 210p £1454 (Non FA) I D Machin; Sussex 208p £1212 (Non FA) D M Brown 187p, 178p £1333 Bowes Lyon Estate 184p, 174p £1285 Torry Hill Farms 183p £1305 (Non FA) M Moncreiffe, Aberdeen Angus cross 205p £1258 (Non FA) C Hewitt-Dedman  191p, 186p, £1181 £1085 (Non FA) G C Amos 190p £1486 (Non FA) B G & M A Tomsett; Simmental cross 203p £1347 (Non FA) P C Coleman; Charolais 196p, 180p £1280, £1261 R V A Stannard; British White 165p £1374 (Non FA) D Light; Highland 160p (Non FA) M & D Prebble.
An outstanding trade for all the cows from the dairy sector right from the best shaped and fleshed down to the leanest and lightest. Meat cows up above 180p with a strong maiden heifer to 207p £1735 from D Murdoch & Sons. Plain cows 110p-140p.
British Friesian 187p, 182p £1324, £1207 Debden Court; Holstein Friesian heifer 207p £1735 D Murdoch & Sons; Holstein Friesian cows 186p £1512 J W Boyd & Son; 175p £1506 J E Scutt & Sons; 169p £1441; 159p £1197 W F Farms; 157p £1152 Huddlestone Farmers; Danish Red 171p Kingcott Dairy; Jersey 138p £747 Hickson Bros; Foreign cows 122p £857.
Stock Bulls (5) Strong trade continues. Dexter 178p £710, Limousin 176p £1641, British Blue 147p £1267, Charolais 135p £1345, Sussex 135p £1237.
Demand for overage cattle is insatiable and more wanted for feeding, as well as slaughter. Angus x OTM (Non FA) 228p £1285; Blue x 3yo+ 200p (Non FA); Murray Grey x 3yo+ 198p (Non FA); British White x 3yo+ 198p (Non FA).
A few mixed overage sold very well again. Sussex steers 3yo+ 222p (2) £1406, £1340; Shorthorn cross steer 3yo+ 199p £1050.

Beef Cows – 42 Sold – Top 210, Average 156.1
Dairy Cows – 24 Sold – Top 187, Average 142.2

Store cattle – 254 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

One would not describe this week`s entry as being anything other than a mixed bag! With no disrespect to cattle and customers there was a shortage of better bred types and the entry was of largely dairy bred types of all ages and qualities.
However, with the right customers having been alerted and around the ring, there was a decent trade and competition throughout.
The older and better the cattle the stronger the trade this Autumn as buyers, conscious of increased costs calculate the length of time for finishing whilst remaining positive about the strength of the finished market.
Quality yearlings, and a few early draws of suckled calves, are finding reassuring levels of trade. Stronger dairy bred stores with condition are well sold but there is no doubt that as shape, size and condition declines so price follows as buyers look to a long term future for some cattle with minimal inputs and probably a overage future in some cases.

Principal Prices

8mths Limousin cross steers – £900 – A J Britton
7mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers – £750 – A J Britton
11mths Limousin cross steer – £880 – M Godden
13mths Beef Shorthorn – £900 – D R Thompson
18mths British Blue x Friesian heifers – £850 – T Castle & Son
18mths Sussex steers – £980 – W J Hurley
18mths Sussex steers – £940 – J G & D G D White
18mths Sussex heifers – £920 – J G & D G D White
19mths Sussex steers – £850 – Mrs G Hooker
18mths Sussex heifers – £950 – Mrs G Hooker
19mths Limousin cross steers – £1360 – A Wicken
18mths Limousin cross heifers – £1100 – A Wicken
17mths Limousin cross steers – £1380 – Wood Farm Ptnrs
16mths Simmental cross steer – £1340 – Wood Farm Ptnrs
17mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers – £1125 – Wood Farm Ptnrs
18mths Simmental cross heifer – £1090 – Wood farm Ptnrs
16mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers – £1015 – P C Coleman
24mths Simmental cross steers – £1230 – D J Miles
24mths British Blue cross steer – £1130 – WF Farms
24mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers – £1110 – WF Farms
19mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer – £1085 – M S Worssam

Calves – 157 sold

Auctioneer:Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Calves – 108 sold

A fantastic entry in terms of numbers this week but trade certainly easier than the dizzy heights we saw towards the start of this year. This is a national trend with buyers facing uncertainty over feed supplies and the ongoing high cost of inputs.
Bull calves generally easy enough to sell at a price with tops of £220 for British Blues from J E Scutt & Sons, T Castle & Son, and W G & T A Manford. Limousins topped by T Castle & Son at £205 and Simmentals from R & J Ledger would look well sold at a £160 high. As you would expect native calves have seen the greatest price adjustment with Aberdeen Angus calves topping at £140, £115 and £100 from J Warnock & Sons, Herefords to £150 and £120 from Goddard & Son.
Heifers, it must be said, are a little harder work when compared to the bulls with buyers seemingly favouring the inevitable higher weights that the bulls offer when looking to sell. Blues from J E Scutt & Sons topped at £190 and £180 and returning seller W F Farms topped at £160. Charolais always well followed in Ashford with a top of £195 & £185 from The Falconhurst Estate with Simmentals from R & J Ledger to £160 and Limousins to £100 from T Castle & Son. Angus topped at £140 (x2) from Goddard & Son and a mixed selection of Herefords topped at £75.
Dairy bulls would still appear to be holding their value although I would say they have eased a little with tops of £110 for Flekvieh from J E Scutt & Sons; Holstein and British Frisians to £120 from Goddard & Son. Most second grade calves £50 – £70 with bobbies £2- £10.

Weanlings – 49 sold

Significantly more weanlings than envisaged today but all finding new homes. Bulls to £270 from T Watts for an Angus, Steers to £250 for Angus from M Goodwin and heifers to £230 for a lovely pen of Blues from M Goodwin.

Bull Calves

British Blue cross – 21 – Top £220 – Average £162.14
British Friesian – 19 – Top £102 – Average £44.47
Limousin cross – 1 – Top £205 – Average £205
Simmental cross – 1 – Top £160 – Average £160
Flekvieh – 2 – Top £110 – Average £70
Aberdeen Angus cross – 5 – Top £140 – Average £102
Hereford cross – 3 – Top £150 – Average £130

Heifer Calves

British Blue – 22 – Top £190 – Average £100.68
Charolais cross – 6 – Top £195 – Average £123.83
Limousin cross – 2 – Top £100 – Average £100
Simmental cross – 1 – Top £160 – Average £160
Aberdeen Angus cross – 6 – Top £140 – Average £91.67
Hereford cross – 7 – Top £75 – Average £53.57

Bull Weanling

British Blue – 2 – Top £200 – Average £200
Flekvieh – 2 – Top £200 – Average £200

Heifer Weanling

British Blue cross – 3 – Top £230 Average £230
Limousin cross – 2 – Top £100 – Average £100
Aberdeen Angus cross – 7 – Top £180 – Average £180

 

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Tuesday Livestock – 17th October 2022

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

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