Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 16th January 2024

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Finished Hoggets – 1,114 Sold

Top price per kg: 323p – D G Long
Top price per head: £155 – D G Long

A smaller entry this week but a super show of quality finished sheep on offer. Hoggets are really beginning to show some better finish in the past couple of weeks, with a few consecutive dry days and some small periods of sun on their backs really helping them to do a bit better. Numbers are beginning to come out a little more than in recent times  but, nationally, the percentage of quality hoggets has still been low which has helped to keep prices high. Best hoggets were regularly over £3 kg this week with good runs from Harvey Rivers and J G Eales & Sons well in excess of this mark. Top on the day was regular supporter D G Long & Sons with some super Beltex crosses at 323p/ kg and they also topped the charts in the prices per head at £155.
More hoggets are going to begin to come out over the coming weeks with some winter root crops disappearing fast and seed drills desperate to get going as soon as the weather will allow. Our thoughts are that the trade will hold fast for the time-being for the well finished sheep. It is important to let us know what numbers you wish to send week on week in order to make arrangements.

35kg – £98.50 (281p/kg) – J A Buggs & Sons
37kg – £105.00 (284p/kg) – H & J Noakes
39kg – £116.00 (297p/kg) – W & P New T/A Moorhouse Farm
40kg – £126.50 (316p/kg) – H Rivers
41kg – £129.00 (315p/kg) – H Rivers
42kg – £125.50 (299p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
43kg – £131.00 (305p/kg) – J G Eales & Sons
44kg – £135.00 (307p/kg) – H Rivers
45kg – £141.00 (313p/kg) – D G Long
46kg – £134.50 (292p/kg) – C Fuggle
47kg – £138.00 (294p/kg) – C Fuggle
48kg – £155.00 (323p/kg) – D G Long
49kg – £144.50 (295p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
50kg – £131.00 (262p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
51kg – £146.50 (287p/kg) – K & P M Sinden & Sons
52kg – £151.50 (291p/kg) – O Tilley
54kg – £145.00 (269p/kg) – O Tilley 

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 124 – Top 297, Average 262.5
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 721 – Top 316, Average 279.0
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 208 – Top 323, Average 283.4
Other 52.1+ kgs – 54 – Top 291, Average 276.8

Store Sheep – 744 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

A nice run of about 700 store hoggs this week which again sold well to a top of £95 from S E Lane Partners for some strong Romney hoggets. Less overall size in the pens this week with a number of long term types on offer that sold in the £65-75 price bracket. Most strong stores over £80 hd. More Wanted

Cull Sheep – 423 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewe: Top £118.00 – M Hooker – Ave £71.17
Ram: Top £125.00 – C H Ellis Ltd – Ave £89.55

A very mixed entry in the pens with a much larger show of leaner ewes in comparison to last week. The best ewes on the day regularly £90 – £110 and to a top price of £118 from M Hooker for Texel ewes. Medium sorts £65 – £85 on most occasions with the leaner grazing types £40 – £60 throughout. We have regular buyers every week for all grades of ewes so please do inform me of any larger consignments of ewes that you intend on selling in the coming weeks.

Top prices included

Texels to £118 – M Hooker, Texel cross to £113 – S W Batch, Charollais to £110 – A Jull, Suffolk cross to £109 – H C Goldup & Son, Mules to £109 – J Farrant, Romney to £102 – H & J Noakes, Goats to £98 – J Loveridge

Our first show of Breeding sheep for 2024 saw a flock reduction from W T Kemp of strong Romney ewes in-lamb to a Romney ram scanned at 147%. These ewes are due to start lambing at the end of February with the strongest selling to £121 and the run averaging £116. If you intend selling any breeding sheep in the coming weeks, please do inform us with plenty of notice so we can advertise them appropriately ahead of the sale.

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  61 Sold

Auctioneer:Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

More cattle, more customers, more trade! An excellent show in terms of quality and numbers met a terrific demand, perhaps, accentuated by the freezing weather and snow on the forecast, further North.
9 Cattle breaking the 300p barrier with gross returns topping at close to £2400. Credit to producers for getting cattle in tiptop condition with plenty of cover.
Heifers topped the day with 310p, £1872 for a Limousin x from W S Furnival Ltd whilst the steer honours shared, jointly, by A J Thompson & Sons and Brian Baker (grossing £2382) at 302p. Quality beef bred continentals regularly 280-310p.
Natives a very strong trade and always wanted. A grand run of Angus x from D W Page & Son saw their best, well-shaped, heifer sell to 306p, £1603, others to 288p, £1754 whilst their steers sold to 277p, £1915. Sussex, in short supply, and more wanted with steers from W Alexander (Shoreham) to 284p, £1588.
Dairy bred cattle from Alan Down saw Limousin steers to 277p, £1811, with Friesian steers to 265p, £1587.
A young Limousin x bull to 258p, £1403 from A J Thompson & Sons.

Top Steers

A J Thompson & Sons – Limousin cross – 302p/kg (£1643)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 297p/kg (£1912)
W S Furnival Ltd – Blonde cross – 286p/kg (£1884)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 286p/kg (£1870)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 286p/kg (£1827)

Top Heifers

W S Furnival Ltd – Limousin cross – 310p/kg (£1872)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 308p/kg (£1737)
D W Page & Son – Aberdeen Angus cross – 306p/kg (£1603)
B J Baker – Limousin – 304p/kg (£1942)
S J Theobald & Sons – Limousin – 304p/kg (£1760)

Average Prices

Steers up to 550kg – 7 sold – Top 302p – Ave 272p
Steers 551 to 650kg – 25 sold – Top 297p – Ave 269p
Steers over 651kg – 4 sold – Top 286p – Ave 281p
Heifers up to 500kg – 4 sold – Top 285p – Ave 272p
Heifers 501 to 590kg – 12 sold – Top 308p – Ave 280p
Heifers over 591kg – 8 sold – Top 310p – Ave 281p
Bulls – 1 sold – Top 258p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 71 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A few less than last week and more are certainly needed to satisfy this level of trade with the weather playing its part in strengthening consumer demand. Again, plenty of flesh on offer with the younger beef cows flying to high prices as quality select cuts are taken into prime roles and export opportunities rather than looking at them as processing beef. More buyers looking for early grazing cows as well as the stronger cows to yard.
Best fed beef cows, under 48 mths, regularly 220-250p, with gross returns pushing close to £1900. Best feeders to 260p for pure British Blues with the commercial crossbred cows look well sold at 160-200p with little under 150p.
British Blue 259p, £1693 Price & Shelbourne; Angus x 248p, 245p, 244p, 238p, £1893, £1649, £1507, £1473 W S Furnival Ltd, 200p, £1727 A J Thompson & Sons, 181p, £1399 (Non FA) J Marshall; Sussex x 231p, 226p (2), 218p, £1804, £1729, £1683, £1601 M A Piper & Son; Limousin x 214p, £1612 M A Piper & Son, 195p, £1264 A J Thompson & Sons; Lincoln Red x 179p, £1107 A J Thompson & Sons; South Devon x 170p, £1246 A J Thompson & Sons.
A fuller range of weight and flesh amongst the dairy culls this week but no let-up in demand with everything wanted. Terrific heavyweights from Geoff & Charlie Antrum to £1696 with plenty of cows over 150p and £1200. Clean Holstein Friesian heifers to 244p, £1619.
Holstein Friesian 179p, 170p, £1696, £1374 J S & M D Antrum & Son; 176p, 161p, £1439, £1208 D Murdoch & Sons; 172p, 167p, 161p, £1381, £1315, £1236 R C & J L Pickering; Holstein 166p, £1415 P J Forknall; Jersey 110p, 96p, £504, £430 S E Lane & Ptnrs.
No stopping the demand for overage clean cattle to kill or feed and more wanted.
Saler x OTM heifers 259p, 254p, 249p, £1964, £1714, £1673; Sussex OTM heifer 254p, £1584; Stabiliser x OTM heifer 236p, £1837; Limousin 4 yr. old Heifer 197p, £1543.
Stock bulls wanted with lean Simmental to 151p.
This is the time to have a good think about some in your herd and take advantage of the market.

Beef Cows – 36 Sold – Top 259, Average 192.3
Dairy Cows –26 Sold – Top 176, Average 142.3

Breeding Cattle – 2 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Certainly, plenty of customers looking for breeding units as we move towards spring. Strong Continental outfits with 3 mths old calves from R A Wade to £1700 and £1560.

Store Cattle – 137 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357 & James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

A really good start to the New Year store section with a decent entry for the time of year meeting a tremendous trade for everything on offer as feeders and graziers recognise the tightness of numbers in the country. A terrific run of homebred Angus x steers and heifers from Ed and Tom Gribble led the field but other good entries from F Pearce & Sons, W Hurley, A J Thompson & Sons and P M Langridge meeting strong demand.

Principal Prices include:

9-11mths Stabiliser cross steers – £920/£870 – F Pearce & Sons
10mths Simmental cross steer – £900 – F Pearce & Sons
15-18mths Angus x Friesian steers – £1160/£1080/£1060 – E J Gribble
15-18mths Angus x Friesian heifers – £1020/£995/£955 – E J Gribble
16mths Angus cross steer – £1250 – Brockhill Park School
17mths Beef Shorthorn cross heifer – £1080 – P J & P B Wade
18mths Beef Shorthorn x Sussex heifers – £1050 – Kinnear & Co
22mths Sussex steers – £1360 – N A Balcomb & Son
19mths Hereford cross steers – £1200 – G W Fuller & Son
20mths Simmental cross steers – £1165 – W J Hurley
20mths Simmental cross heifers – £1040 – W J Hurley
20mths Limousin cross steers – £1205 – A J Thompson & Sons
16mths Limousin cross heifers – £1120 – A J Thompson & Sons
21mths Angus x Friesian steers – £955 – Kent Game Shooting
21mths Limousin cross steers – £1090 – P M Langridge
28mths Limousin cross heifers – £1220 – P M Langridge

Calves – 78 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Nothing but heat from the trade today despite the sub-zero outside temperatures – a strong trade with plenty of numbers forward – more could have been sold to vendors advantage!
A quality entry of bulls all round today with best Blues from D Murdoch & Sons leading the trade and topping at £390 and £360 (x2). H O Champneys Ltd deserve a mention for their pen with Blues topping at £350. A tremendous run of younger calves from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd looking very well sold with tops of £345 and £320. Simmental cross bulls always well sold and followed with tops of £360 from H O Champneys Ltd and £310 from Parrett & Son. Natives in relative abundance and meeting a strong trade for the goods on offer with £295 and £285 the top of the tree from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd. Herefords from Goddard & Son to £135 and £130.
Heifers perhaps a little easier on the day across the board but certainly no let up at the top end of the quality stakes. Blues to £350 & £300 from D Murdoch & Son and £300 from M S Clifford-Baynes. Simmentals from H O Champneys Ltd to £310. Angus heifers not quite the same quality as a fortnight ago but still selling on a decent trade with plenty of interest ringside. Trade topping at £240 from B J Goodsell & Son. Herefords always in demand with tops of £140 from Goddard & Son.
Dairy bulls in short supply, with most forward today being stronger 6-8 weeks plus types. Tops from Parrett & Son at £255 for a British Friesian with Holsteins and Ayrshires with a little less size and shape generally around the £70-£80 mark.
Please note, we have a number of customers looking for registered sired native breed calves, please remember to record the sire ear tag on the birth registration to ensure it appears on the passport!

Bull Calves

British Blue cross – 12 – Ave £300.42 – Top £390 – D Murdoch & Sons
Limousin cross – 1 – Ave £340 – Top £340 – R J Grover
Simmental cross – 3 – Ave £290 – Top £360 – H O Champneys Ltd
British Friesian – 3 – Ave £140 – Top £255 – Parrett & Son
Aberdeen Angus cross – 17 – Ave £152.06 – Top £295 – J W Boyd & Sons Ltd
Hereford cross – 3 – Ave £131.67 – Top £135 – Goddard & Son

Heifer Calves

British Blue cross – 7 – Ave £282.86 – Top £350 – D Murdoch & Sons
Simmental cross – 2 – Ave £230 – Top £310 – H O Champneys Ltd
Aberdeen Angus cross – 16 – Ave £138.75 – Top £240 – B J Goodsell & Son
Hereford cross – 4 – Ave £130 – Top £140 – Goddard & Son

Steer Calves

Aberdeen Angus cross – 5 – Ave £128 – Top £180 – B J Goodsell & Son
Holstein Friesian – 1 – Ave £80 – Top £80 – J Howie
Ayrshire – 2 – Ave £67.50 – Top £70 – J Howie

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 23rd January 2024

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here