Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 12th May 2026

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Hoggets – 1,055 sold.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 478p – S J Reeve & Son, East Sussex.
Top price per head – £276.00 – Mr Michael Turner, West Sussex.

Numbers are getting very tight in the hogget section now as we move towards the summer months and look toward to a switch over into new season lambs in the coming weeks. Numbers of lambs available are still too low to allow this, and with reducing numbers of quality hoggs on offer, the trade went up one more gear and again I think again the highest average we have ever recorded at 430p/kg and £203/hd with all hoggets included. Some very good quality finished sheep were on offer this week which is shown by the top prices achieved peaking at £276/hd for some superb pure Texel hoggets from Mr Michael Turner. A good number of sheep sold over £220/hd, and several also over £230/hd from M Turner, S J Reeve & Son, J & N Case, Lloyd Barrett and Husk Farms Ltd. Lighter weight sheep this week were exceptionally well sold also with an SQQ average of 430p/kg and a good number of sheep in this category over 450p/kg, topping at 478p/kg from S J Reeve & Son. Norfolk was well represented once again this week with some quality shorn hoggets, topping at 471p/kg and 469p/kg from J & N Case & C D Lakey respectively.

Finished Hoggets

39 – £185.00 (474p kg) – James Bull
40 – £180.00 (450p kg) – Miss M Lakey
41 – £185.00 (451p kg) – Miss M Lakey
42 – £193.00 (460p kg) – C D Lakey
43 – £202.00 (470p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
44 – £200.00 (455p kg) – James Bull
45 – £212.00 (471p kg) – J & N Case
46 – £220.00 (478p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
47 – £220.00 (468p kg) – J & N Case
48 – £224.00 (467p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
49 – £218.00 (445p kg) – J & N Case
50 – £229.00 (458p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
51 – £228.00 (447p kg) – J & N Case
52 – £226.00 (435p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
53 – £230.00 (434p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
54 – £209.00 (387p kg) – K Bond
55 – £237.00 (431p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
56 – £230.00 (411p kg) – Mr Michael Turner
57 – £230.00 (404p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
58 – £221.00 (381p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
59 – £204.00 (346p kg) – G L Boulden & Sons
60 – £223.00 (372p kg) – Mr Michael Turner
61 – £201.00 (330p kg) – C B Hope
62 – £240.00 (387p kg) – Mr Michael Turner
63 – £228.00 (362p kg) – Lloyd Barrett
66 – £214.00 (324p kg) – Lloyd Barrett
67 – £215.00 (321p kg) – Mr Michael Turner
69 – £253.00 (367p kg) – Mr Michael Turner
70 – £221.00 (316p kg) – Mr Michael Turner
71 – £238.00 (335p kg) – Mr Michael Turner
76 – £276.00 (363p kg) – Mr Michael Turner

Averages (p/kg)

Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 232 – Top 474, Ave. 442.3
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 331   – Top 478, Ave. 404.5
Over 52.1 kgs + – 480 – Top 435, Ave. 365.2

New Season Lambs – 105 sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903.

Numbers will grow significantly each week now with over 100 this week and an overall average of 450p/kg, and some lambs approaching 500p/kg from T R & J R Kirk with 47kg at £228/hd. Others from D Clarke Farms topped at 484p/kg and S & V Bullock at 474p/kg. Lighter lambs from S W Mount topped at £169/hd for 36kg continental crosses.

Store Hoggets  69 – Sold

Auctioneers: John Rossiter 07557 392903.

End of the line entry of hoggets this week which topped at £160/hd from Mr P Gorringe and averaged £130 all included.

Cull Sheep – 277 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewes: £240.00 – Beslee Farms, Kent. – Ave. £152.56

A smaller show today which is no surprise with the consistent numbers we have seen come forward over previous weeks.
The best and strongest types were short with these regularly £160 – £190 and to a top price of £240 from Beslee Farms for superb Texel ewes. Medium sorts £130 – £160 on most occasions with more of these seen in the pens and leaner grazing types £100 – £130 throughout with only 9 lots sold under £100 on the day.
A firm and positive trade for all grades and more numbers would be of no concern with buyers present every week for all types.

Top prices included:

Texel to £240 – Beslee Farms, Beltex to £240 – Husk Farms Ltd, Suffolk cross to £200, Beslee Farms, Texel cross to £199 – P Ashlee, Romneys to £190 – R Mair & Son, Mules to £178 – J & C Kellet.

Ewes & Lambs 293 sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

A larger show of couples in the pens with plenty of buyers forward and the better bred types certainly in the strongest of demands. Flock aged Suffolk x Romney ewes with Texel lambs from P Ashlee top at £362 per outfit and £127 per life with others from the same home £126 per life. Older Suffolk x Mules ewes with Charollais lambs from J A Biddle saw £210 per outfit and £114 per life with others from E J Stanford & Sons to £232 per outfit and £116 per life. A run of older Exlana ewes with young, crossbred lambs from J J Livestock Solutions saw £170 per outfit and £71 per life.
Please do inform me of any couples you have to sell in the coming weeks with a section available for every Tuesday.

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 –  74 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

These are difficult days for many sectors with consumer confidence levels low, and prices for everything going upwards. Having stated the negatives, we had a bigger entry of cattle than anticipated and with a few more welcome faces around the ring the trade overall was no worse, and possibly just a little more positive for the well fleshed butchers cattle. Awkward types were still difficult, but the customers were there bidding reflecting the times we are in.
A smart Limousin heifer from R F & E A Simmons topped the day at 360p, £1977 with a Limousin x British Friesian steer from Alan Down taking the steer honour at 359p, £2223. Generally, the handyweight beef bred cattle 330-360p, with a few heavyweights a bit less but grossing up to £2507, 324p from Birt Bros.
Limousin x from A J Down were stronger on the week selling to 359p and grossing to £2258, Herefords to 328p, £2129. Heavy British Blue x Holstein Friesian steer from W F Farms to £2344, 311p. the more dairy bred types 270-310p but a little more life in places.
Good flesh amongst the natives and with more butchers in evidence a little more trade. A well put together Aberdeen Angus steer from Birt Bros 353p, £2150. Sussex steers from John Taylor 343p, £1987. Hereford and Angus heifers from John Berryman 330p, £1895 with a strong Angus heifer to £2250, 329p from B G & M A Tomsett.
Young Bulls (16) Certainly one of the very best runs of young bulls ever seen in Ashford from Messrs G W & B Bridges whose quality Limousin, and Limousin x Sussex bulls were much admired selling to a range of buyers with good competition up to 373p £2328, and generally 325-340p.

Leading steer prices

A J Down – Limousin cross – 359p (£2223)
Birt Bros – Aberdeen Angus cross – 353p (£2150)
Leggat Farming Ltd – Limousin cross – 350p (£2167)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 344p (£2250)
J Taylor – Sussex – 343p (£1987)

Leading heifer prices

R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 360p (£1977)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 356p (£1920)
S J Theobald & Sons – Blonde D’Aquitaine – 350p (£2184)
J Berryman – Limousin cross – 349p (£1986)
G & E Livestock Ltd – Limousin cross – 344p (£2113)

Average prices

Steers 200-550 kg – 3 – Top 332p – Ave. 325p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 16 – Top 359p – Ave. 333p
Steers 651 kg + – 11 – Top 344p – Ave. 327p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 1 – Top 248p – Ave. 248p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 12 – Top 360p – Ave. 334p
Heifers 591+ kg – 15 – Top 350p – Ave. 316p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 78 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Good numbers for the time of year with an entry of predominantly beef cows, of all ages, together with a few plainer dairy culls and a big showing of cull bulls as fertility testing takes its toll.
Trade holding firm despite the big processors trying to take money out of the product but, rightly, finding a hard response from fatteners when supply is so very tight at this time of the year.
Some very good continental cows with potential to go further in weight regularly over 300p, topping at 346p, £2470 from G Bates Ltd whilst well fleshed younger cows from A C Hulme & Sons to 325p, £2353. A handful of plainer, older, lighter cows under 200p but generally beef cows, to feed or slaughter, 220-270p. Plenty of customers around the ring from near and far.
Limousin 346p, 328p, 324p, 298p, £2470, £2222, £2211, £2167 G Bates, 320p, 310p, £1869 A Boyd & Co, 280p, £1863 A J Thompson & Sons; Aberdeen Angus 325p, 322p (2), 320p, 316p, 300p, £2353, £2186, £2172, £2111 A C Hulme & Sons, 260p, £1505 A J Thompson & Sons; Simmental 289p, 276p, £1947, £1818; British Blue 270p, £1946 N A Vincent, 264p, £1594, £260p, £1635 J H & A,H Godden; Beef Shorthorn 266p, £1832 V E E & M A Britton; Hereford 264p, £2016 T Maddocks, 250p, £1460 A J Thompson & Sons; Sussex 250p, £1597 T Maddocks, 230p, £1469 S & N Bish.
Not so much from the dairy sector with cows out at grass, and a little more price in the product. Rates very similar with a premium for youth.
British Friesian maiden heifers 290p, 288p, £1581 V & C Smith; Norwegian Red maiden heifers 266p (2), £1885, £1700 D Murdoch & Sons; Danish Red 224p, £1464 Kingcott Dairy; Lean Holstein Friesian 215p, £1386 Plurenden Ptnrs; Jersey 202p, 178p, £705 Hickson Bros.
Stock Bulls (9) A big show of big bulls as the suckler herds sensibly health check an important half of the herd. A little easier overall but reflecting the heavyweights on offer.
Sussex 264p, £1910; Aberdeen Angus 243p, 228p, 227p, 225p, 212p, 210p, £2716, £2582, £2377, £2348, £2336, £2195; Beef Shorthorn 221p, £2337; Limousin 216p £1390.
Overage (11) A little brighter overall with a good mixture on offer.
Limousin OTM heifer 357p, £1996 S Marsh; Hereford OTM heifer 320p, £2109 J Berryman; Red Poll 3+ steer 294p, £1570 C Saunders; Sussex 3+ heifers 293p, 291p, £1755, £1728 Wright Farm Ptnrs; Black & White 3+steers 296p, £280p, £2078, £2012 R Scott.

Beef Cows – 46 Sold – Top 346, Average 260.8
Dairy Cows – 12 Sold – Top 290, Average 217.3

Store & Breeding Cattle – 281 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

As numbers start to wind down, we remain to see buyers forward competitively for all grades regardless of the beef trade.
Breeding stock first saw a proven pedigree Aberdeen Angus bull 34 mths from B G & M A Tompsett to £3200 and White Park cows in calf to a Aberdeen Angus from J J Livestock Solutions topped at £1280.
A reduction from I M Symonds had Shorthorn cows with Limousin calves at foot to £1980 and British Blue x Friesian cows with smart British Blue calves at foot from Leggat Farming topped at £2650. Traditional Herefords 12 mths from Great Malgraves topped at £1250 for the steers and £1010 for the heifers followed by J A Biddle with 10 mths Aberdeen Angus steers to £1230. C W Farms had 14 mth Hereford cross steers to £1010 and W K Gutsell with a run of Aberdeen Angus cross 11 mths top at £1670 for the steers and £1390 for the heifers. M E Wrout topped at £1440 for well-done Aberdeen Angus steers 13 mths and Limousin cross from F W Hare & Sons 12- 13 mths saw £1590 for the steers and £1390 for the heifers. J Prior & Son topped at £1540 for Hereford steers 17 mths and Charolais steers 9 mths from Rhino Plant Hire to £1610. A cracking run from K Butcher topped at £2070 for superb Limousin steers 20 mths with the heifers to £1890 from the same home. A J Strand & Sons had Limousin cross steers 18 mths to £1930 with a run of Limousin cross from S J M Evans 12 – 14 mths topping at £1640 for both the steers and heifers. Well done British Blue x Friesian steers 18 mths from B Sutton to £1910 and Sussex steers 25 mths from Wright Farm Partnership topped at £1730.
Please do inform me of any store/breeding cattle you have to sell going forward with our next sale expected on Tuesday 26^th May.

Principal prices include:

Native:

Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers 17 mths – £1850 – B Sutton
Aberdeen Angus cross steers 21 mths – £1780 – B Adcock
Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers 17 mths – £1770 – Mrs K Butcher
Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 21 mths – £1670 – B Adcock
Aberdeen Angus x Friesian heifers 18 mths – £1520 – B Sutton
Aberdeen Angus heifers 14 mths – £1510 – A Mackay

Continental:

Limousin cross steers 20 mths – £2070 – Mrs K Butcher
Limousin cross steers 17 mths – £1930 – A J Strand & Sons
British Blue x Friesian steers 18 mths – £1910 – B Sutton
Limousin cross heifers 20 mths – £1890 – Mrs K Butcher
British Blue x Friesian heifers 19 mths – £1680 – B Sutton
Limousin cross heifers 14 mths – £1640 – S J M Evans

Calves – 56 sold

Auctioneer: Tristan Howell 07917024340.

Beef calves once again stealing the show on a day with calves present to suit all buyer requirements.
The best calves a touch back on the week, in line with the store cattle, but the lower end holding the trade and looking well sold. A J Thompson & Sons returning with another consignment of eight suckler-bred Limousin crosses, presented well and topping at £810 for a superb steer calf, their run averaging £738. Plenty of Jersey cross calves in the market, Hickson Bros at the top of this trade with their Jersey x British Blue heifer calf selling to £405, and similarly bred bull calves from the same home at £365 (twice). G R Edgar & Son putting forward their Jersey x Aberdeen Angus, bulls at £235 and ten younger Angus cross heifers to average £171. Market Supporter Mr P J Forknall had 16-day-old Angus cross bulls to £385, and a Charolais cross heifer calf, again under 3 weeks, realising £470. Top of the black-and-white-bred calves this week was an Angus bull from R & J Ledger Ltd, £630, and the British Blues, £605, from J W Boyd & Sons. Three dairy bulls sold in the ring also, with Jersey bulls to £130 from G R Edgar & Son and a British Friesian bull realising £330 from R & J Ledger Ltd.
W G & T A Manford returning with three more British Blue cross weanlings, bulls making £905 and the heifers £800. A stand on trade from two weeks ago.

Bull Calves
British Blue cross – 3 – Ave. £538.33 – Top £555.00 – J W Boyd & Sons Ltd.
Limousin cross – 6 – Ave. £765.00 – Top £810.00 – A J Thompson & Sons.
Aberdeen Angus cross – 6 – Ave. £442.50 – Top £630.00 – R & J Ledger Ltd.
British Friesian – 1 – Ave. £330.00 – Top £330.00 – R & J Ledger Ltd.
Heifer Calves
British Blue cross – 3 – Ave. £470.00 – Top £605.00 – J W Boyd & Sons Ltd.
Limousin cross – 3 – Ave. £613.33 – Top £710.00 – A J Thompson & Sons.
Charolais cross – 1 – Ave. £470.00 – Top £470.00 – P J Forknall.
Aberdeen Angus cross – 2 – Ave. £507.50 – Top £555.00 – R & J Ledger ltd.
Wagyu cross – 1 – Ave. £300.00 – Top £300.00 – Hickson Bros.
Bull Weanlings
British Blue cross – 1 – Ave. £905.00 – Top £905.00 – W G & T A Manford.
Heifer Weanlings
British Blue cross – 1 – Ave. £800.00 – Top £800.00 – W G & T A Manford.
Steer Weanlings
British Blue cross – 1 – Ave. £710.00 – Top £710.00 W G & T A Manford.

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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