Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 17th May 2022

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Sheep – 2,386 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

New Season Lambs – 717 Sold

Top price per kilo – 349p – Dylan Isaac
Top price per head – £149 – Miss Katie Tucker

A lot more of these on offer this week throughout the country. We doubled last week’s entry to over 700 in the pens and, in turn, this has eased the trade a little compared to recent weeks. Many of the larger processors have yet not made the complete switch-over to spring lamb, as there is still sufficient numbers of lighter weight hoggets available which are, particularly, fulfilling their export orders. Most of the new seasons are still selling in excess of £3 kg and up to a top price of £149 hd from Miss Katie Tucker for some heavy weight Charollais lambs, with some very smart continental crosses from Dylan Isaac selling to 349p.

Finished Hoggets – 1,669 Sold

Top price per kilo – 312p – R L Pack
Top price per head – £153.50 – C Ballard

Another large entry, bigger than anticipated for the time of year, with mixed quality of offer. Many vendors clearing all remaining hoggets off the farm but the trade was once again on fire with bigger, better types topping out at £153.50 from C Ballard, and a great number of these selling in excess of £140 hd. A notable run of 229 heavies from R G Gibson & Son sold very well to average £141, taking many of the top prices per kilo. Lighter hoggets from 36 kg-44 kg were also in strong demand with these regularly selling up to £3 kg to a top of 312p. Several pens of sheep with erupted teeth now in the entry every week selling from £100-125 hd.

Top Prices

36kg – £108.00 (300p/kg) – Stuart Agnew Trading
37kg – £105.00 (284p/kg) – Robert Woods
38kg – £112.50 (296p/kg) – I Lucas
39kg – £113.00 (290p/kg) – M A Piper & Son Farms
40kg – £114.00 (285p/kg) – Langrish Farmers
41kg – £128.00 (312p/kg) – R L Pack
42kg – £118.00 (281p/kg) – M A Piper & Son Farms
43kg – £122.50 (285p/kg) – Stuart Agnew Trading
44kg – £131.00 (298p/kg) – R L Pack
45kg – £134.50 (299p/kg) – M B Farms
46kg – £134.00 (291p/kg) – Ben Foy Ltd
47kg – £136.00 (289p/kg) – I Lucas
48kg – £138.00 (288p/kg) – R G Gibson & Son
49kg – £140.00 (286p/kg) – R L Pack
50kg – £144.00 (288p/kg) – M B Farms
51kg – £138.00 (271p/kg) – Stuart Agnew Trading
57kg – £147.00 (258p/kg) – R G Gibson & Son
62kg – £150.00 (242p/kg) – R G Gibson & Son
66kg – £153.50 (233p/kg) – C Ballard

Averages (p/kg)

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 92 – Top 300, Average 274.7
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 352 – Top 312, Average 276.4
Heavy 45.6 to 52kgs – 472 – Top 294, Average 265.7
Others over 52.1 kgs – 626 – Top 272, Average 244.8

Breeding Sheep – 237 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook O’Connell 07712246474

A much larger entry of couples on offer with plenty of interest shown. T Beesley took top spot selling couples to £190 which worked out at £92.30 per life for Romney ewes with their lambs. D G Millen sold Suffolk cross ewes with lambs at 200% selling to £246 per outfit which worked out at £82 per life.

Ewe tegs were also a good trade with top spot taken by M B Farms with some Beltex cross tegs making £170. Flock reduction from J Prior & Son seeing a smart run of mainly Romney tegs to a top price of £160.

We will continue to sell breeding sheep every Tuesday.  We would appreciate it if you could let us know what you have to sell.

Cull Sheep – 447 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook O’Connell 07712246474

Ewes: Top £189 – Miss K Tucker, Average £116.10
Rams: Top £186 – Diana Lindon, Average £117.97

 Trade remaining very similar for all ewes with the best fleshed ewes trading between £120 – £150 and the very best in excess of £150. Leaner sorts £80 – £110 with very few being sold under this bracket. Goats making between £95 – £198.

Top prices included:

Charollais to £189 – Miss K Tucker, Suffolk to £186 – Diana Lindon, Beltex cross to £164 – P Ashlee, Texel cross to £145 – P Ashlee, Suffolk cross to £139 – J Farrant & T Dingle, Mules to £120 – L E Humphreys & Son, Romneys to £130 – G A Mitchell & Son.

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle – 36 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

The best beef bred Continental crosses continue to take the pick of the trade in the 250 to 260p bracket while well fleshed dairy and native bred cattle are only a small margin behind and attracting prices in excess of 240p.

The best dairy bred cattle grossed in excess of £1500 notably Continental x Friesian steers £1626 (247p), £1589 (247p) and £1565 (249P) from AJ Down while the few heavyweights on offer grossed exceptionally well at £1785 (247p) and £1767 (243p) for British Blue cross steers from K & P M Sinden & Sons.

Just a few native cattle on offer this week with the pick including Hereford x Friesian steer £1534 (244p) from A J Down, Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1410 (248p) and purebred Sussex steer £1137 (238p) from Gillshaw Farms Ltd.

Top Steers

W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 260p/kg (£1634)
G L Boulden & Sons – Limousin cross – 260p/kg (£1518)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 259p/kg (£1512)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 259p/kg (£1589)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 257p/kg (£1677)

Top Heifers

R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 256p/kg (£1389)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 256p/kg (£1504)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 253p/kg (£1313)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 250p/kg (£1509)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 244p/kg (£1224)

Average Prices (p/kg)

Steers up to 650kg – 22 Sold – Top 260 – Ave 245
Steers over 651kg – 7 Sold – Top 257 – Ave 249
Heifers up to 590kg – 6 Sold – Top 256 – Ave 246
Heifers over 591kg – 1 Sold – Top 250 – Ave 250

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 54 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795200357

The trade continues at extraordinary levels with another outstanding demand for everything on offer.

Certainly more, leaner and older, grazing types amongst the entry but there was more flesh amongst the beef cows suggesting that some long term good cows are having the questions asked of their future.

Best beef cows 210-230p with good meat 190-210p, whilst good feeders 200p plus and even older cows 150-180p kg.

Limousin cross 227p, 211p, 203p, £1713, £1617, £1358 W G Watkins; 200p, £1456 (Non-FA) P J S Farms; 194p, £1267 (Non-FA) T Martin; Aberdeen Angus cross 223p, 216p, £1377, £1357 (Non-FA) T Lyle & Ptnrs; 205p, £1820 (Non-FA) Turtle Farms; 195p, £1721 (Non-FA) Gallagher Farms; Sussex 215p, 211p, 188p, £987, £969, £928 Bowes Lyon Estate; Simmental cross 193p, £1415 (Non-FA) T Martin; 186p, £1269 Lawrence & Son; Hereford 187p, £1641 (Non-FA) Old England Farm.

Very short of cows from the dairy this week and many more of all grades required by processors. Good quality regularly 170-190p with plainer cows at 130-160p looking very well sold. Holstein Friesian 193p, 188p (2), 185p, £1590, £1533, £1522, £1406 J S & M D Antrum & Sons; 179p, £1508 J W Boyd & Sons; 178p, 174p, 173p, £1438, £1379, £1337 Huddlestone Farm.

Stock bulls – strong demand for two well fleshed assured bulls. Limousin 166p, £1581; Sussex 144p, £1376.

Just a handful of overage clean cattle but all a very strong price. Aberdeen Angus heifer 4 year old plus 213p, £1434; Simmental cross heifer 4 year old plus 208p, £1629; Limousin cross steers 3 year old plus 202p, £1743; Sussex heifer 3 year old plus 200p kg.

Beef Cows – 35 Sold – Top 227p/kg, Average 189.1p/kg
Dairy Cows – 13 Sold – Top 193p/kg, Average 169p/kg

Breeding Cattle – 5 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

A handful of cows and calves sold today with a Sussex cow with Aberdeen Angus cross calf at foot topping trade from Kent Wildlife Trust at £1,410. British White outfits from T White to £1,160.

Store Cattle – 279 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Decent numbers forward for a mid-May sale and some good runs of quality cattle still coming forward, as well as the final draws of much more variable youngsters. There is no doubt that a decent soaking for a day or two or three would do the power of good to both grass and corn crops. Certainly, some grazing buyers are getting closer to shutting the gates, but long term confidence still remains firm. Shorter term yard cattle are wanted, long term types a little easier as costs of production through next winter will certainly be much higher!

Quite a few young, and not so young, bulls found a decent trade with quality yearlings £800-£900; Older and ugly types £500-£750. Please keep an eye out for any rigs as cattle go away to grass and get them sold before they cause problems.

Principal Prices

12 months Limousin cross bulls – £895, £830, £800 – T Martin
12-14 months Blue x Friesian heifers – £700 – Price & Shelbourne
12 months Limousin cross & Simmental cross heifers – £680, £625 – G F Hawkins
11-13 months Angus cross steers – £935, £870, £845 – T Lyle & Ptnrs
10-13 months Angus cross heifers – £860, £765 – T Lyle & Ptnrs
10 months Angus cross heifers – £790 – P Ashlee
12-13 months Limousin cross steers – £1080, £1000 – Gallagher Farms
13 months Angus cross steers – £1170 – Gallagher Farms
12-14 months Limousin cross steers – £1090, £890 – T Martin
12-14 months Limousin x heifers – £1270, £885, £870 – T Martin
17-18 months Limousin cross steers – £930, £875 – Wakehams Farms
13-14 months Limousin cross steers – £1180, £1005 – G W Fuller & Son
13-14 months Limousin cross heifers – £1040 – G W Fuller & Son
12-14 months Sussex steers – £1000 – L Stevens & Sons
11-13 months Sussex heifers – £840 – L Stevens & Sons
24 months Sussex steers – £1065 – Bowes Lyon Estate
23 months Beef Shorthorn cross steers – £1110 – P & G & J Carden
26-29 months Limousin cross steers – £1500 – J H & A H Godden
29 months Limousin cross heifer – £1260 – J H & A H Godden

Pigs – 74 Sold

Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Progress, at last, with more good pigs in the pens and summer demand kicking in. Values increased dramatically. Cull pigs found some demand again but please note we miss two kill days in a fortnights time so spot market demand will be limited – sows and boars would be best held for a month. Summer demand for young pigs to feed outside also kicked in and stores now look well sold too.

The entry of finished pigs saw the best from P J & P Wade gross £112 to £141 and selling to a top call of 166p per kg!. All reasonably shaped pigs made over 100p. How refreshing after about 5 months of difficult times.

The cull trade was 30p to 38p for all bar the lightest with the top gross call £144. Boars with weight and shape made to 35p and £134. Remember the next sale day is in a short kill week – your cull pigs are best held for a month now.

The 2 pens of store pigs saw real shape young pigs from Ms M Godden make £47 and lesser sorts £25 and £27.

Finished good-p per kg – 26 – Top 166 – Average 142.7
£ per head – Top £141.00 – Average £123.50
Finished other-p per kg – 17 – Top 118 – Average £90.1
£ per head – Top £101.48 – Average £82.71
Sows-p per kg – 11 – Top 38 – Average 34.2
£ per head – Top £144.40 – Average £79.24
Boars-p per kg – 4 – Top 35.0 – Average 7.0
£ per head – Top 210.00 – Average £21.00
Strong stores-£ per head – 16 – Top £47.00 – Average £35.00

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 24th May 2022

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here