Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 19th May 2026

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Hoggets – 996 sold.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 523p – J & N Case, Norfolk.
Top price per head – £243.00 – Mrs L Head, Kent.

A few more penned than we thought for this week, but the entry did contain quite a number of clear up and end of the line sheep which didn’t help the averages; however, we did see an SQQ figure of 422p/kg, a little less than last week but I would suggest that the trade was actually a little stronger “pound for pound” and is a reflection on the quality. Top spot this week was taken by Mr James Case, Norfolk with Beltex hoggs to 523p/kg (40kg @ 209p/kg), up there with some of the highest prices seen this year. Others from the same vendor hit 479 & 478p/kg and many handy weight sheep sold in excess of 450p/kg from several vendors.
Heavy sheep were more in demand this week with numbers now really coming under pressure for next week’s festivities of EID, and these topped out at £243/hd from Laura Head, closely followed by E & M E Brundrett at £240/hd. A run of strong Romney heavy ewe hoggets topped at £217/hd and averaged £207 from A J Thompson & Sons.

Finished Hoggets

37 – £177.00 (478p kg) – J & N Case
38 – £136.00 (358p kg) – A J Thompson & Sons
39 – £187.00 (479p kg) – J & N Case
40 – £209.00 (523p kg) – J & N Case
41 – £190.00 (463p kg) – Black Robin Farm Partnership
42 – £186.00 (443p kg) – C D Lakey
43 – £184.00 (428p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
44 – £200.00 (455p kg) – P Ashlee
45 – £199.00 (442p kg) – Chandler & Dunn
46 – £198.00 (430p kg) – R J Adams
47 – £206.00 (438p kg) – Ross Douglas
48 – £201.00 (419p kg) – S J Reeve & Son
49 – £219.00 (447p kg) – Black Robin Farm Partnership
50 – £209.00 (458p kg) – Frederick & Sons
51 – £211.00 (414p kg) – Black Robin Farm Partnership
52 – £219.00 (421p kg) – Frederick & Sons
53 – £218.00 (411p kg) – M R Woodroofe
54 – £210.00 (389p kg) – Frederick & Sons
55 – £209.00 (380p kg) – A J Thompson & Sons
56 – £206.00 (368p kg) – A J Thompson & Sons

Averages (p/kg)

Light 32.1 to 39 kgs – 29 – Top 478, Ave. 402.1
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 262 – Top 523, Ave. 426.3
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 260   – Top 458, Ave. 394.7
Over 52.1 kgs + – 403 – Top 422, Ave. 352.7

New Season Lambs – 462 sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903.

Top price per kilo – 533p – Mrs L Head, Kent.
Top price per head – £237.00 – M J Ashworth, Kent.

One of the first “proper” entries of lambs this year with just under 500 penned and what a great show of quality was on display with some runs of tremendous lambs from M J Ashworth, P & E Andreozzi, and Alan Down to name just a few and the trade topped at £237/hd for heavy continentals from M J Ashworth, with the overall entry averaging £196/hd and the SQQ returned at a very pleasing 465p/kg. New season lambs are now growing on very well with most intensive finishers and numbers will continue to rise in the coming weeks, which could impact on the trade, so if you have lambs that are ready, time is of the essence in selling but please let us know of any larger consignments in advance.

Averages (p/kg)
Light 32.1 to 39kgs – 93 – Top 500, Ave. 471.0
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 214 – Top 533, Ave. 462.1
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 148   – Top 481, Ave. 440.5
Over 52.1 kgs – 7 – Top 416, Ave. 408.8

Cull Sheep – 501 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewes: £226.00 – R L Goodman & Son, Kent. – Ave. £159.08

A larger entry forward and a better show in terms of quality with buyers keen ahead of next week’s Muslim festival, Eid al-Adha.
The best regularly £170 – £200 and to a top price of £226 from R L Goodman & Son for a cracking Texel. Medium sorts plentiful on the day and £140 – £170 on most occasions with leaner grazing types scarce and £110 – £140 throughout with only 12 lots sold under £110 per head.
Customers present every week for all grades with the trade remaining firm so if you have ewes to sell, I would not hesitate in doing so.

Top prices included:

Texel to £226 – R L Goodman & Son, Charollais to £220 – Mrs L Head, Texel cross to £218 – P Ashlee, Suffolk cross to £211 – D Thompson, Crossbred to £202 – M J Ashworth, Zwartbles to £199 – R L Goodman & Son, Romneys to £185 – N J Rivett, Mules to £179 – D Howard Farms Ltd.

Ewes & Lambs 154 sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

An absolute flyer with genuine farming couples from P Ashlee topping the day with Texel cross ewes and Beltex lambs reaching the highs of £290 per outfit and £145 per life. I Lucas was in close attendance with genuine outfits to £375 and £125 per life for Suffolk x Romney ewes and Texel lambs followed by D Tully with Continental ewes and Charollais lambs to £300 per outfit and £120 per life.
Please do inform me of couples you have to sell with customers present every week and section available 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 –  50 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

A few less forward this week but a different complexion to the entry with a lot more weight coming forward with just but a handful of lighter weight steers and heifers. Trade overall very similar with a good mixture of buyers and assisted by the upcoming festival next week.
An outstanding Limousin heifer from the Red Barn Farm show team stood out clearly as the top beast of the day selling at 411p, £2524 whilst a smart Limousin steer, as part of a run of heavyweights from A J Thompson & Sons sold to 360p, £2475
Generally, the smart beef types 330-360p, with the heavyweights 315-335p selling at £2200-£2500 led by a Limousin heifer from Leggat Farming at 360p, £2481, and a Limousin steer from Red Barn Farm at 357p, £2692.
Dairy bred types from A J Down generally 335-345p, up to £2251 with a nice heifer at 342p. Strong British Blue steers from R G & J L Pickering to 316p, £2477. Holstein bred types still struggling a little at 280-310p.
Angus steers to 334p, £2234, Sussex steers 331p, £2181 from Dan Mackleden Ltd.
No overall improvement in the general state of the trade nationally but please be careful about getting cattle too thick and too big to compensate for the easing trade.

Leading steer prices

A J Thompson & Sons – Limousin cross – 360p (£2175)
Red Barn Farm – Limousin cross – 357p (£2692)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 344p (£2130)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 340p (£2139)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 339p (£2217)

Leading heifer prices

Red Barn Farm – Limousin – 411p (£2525)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin – 370p (£1958)
Leggat Farming Ltd – Limousin cross – 360p (£2481)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 353p (£1939)
S J Theobald & Sons – Simmental cross – 348p (£2276)

Average prices

Steers 551 to 650 kg – 11 – Top 360p – Ave. 329p
Steers 651 kg + – 18 – Top 357p – Ave. 329p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 1 – Top 342p – Ave. 342p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 5 – Top 370p – Ave. 343p
Heifers 591+ kg – 11 – Top 411p – Ave. 338p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 49 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

A respectable number of culls for mid May with reasonable flesh on the beef cows but a lean offering from the dairy sector. Trade showing a degree of resistance in common with the prime animals as processors do all in their powers to maintain their margins, as costs rise, without having to raise prices to retailers, and therefore the consumer. A lot of cows carrying big belly weight, and producers must remain responsible at a time when prices are easing not to be tempted simply to raise sale weights.
Best of the feeding beef cows up to 346p and £2407 for Charolais from J Boomaars whilst well fleshed Limousin cows from L E Humphreys & Sons sold up to £2531, 300p. Rates a little easier throughout with the empty, better fleshed cows treated better than the leaner, wasteful types. Feeders still strongly followed both to feed or graze with confidence in the longer term sound for all grades of beef.
Charolais 346p, 336p, £2407, £2365 J Boomaars; Sussex 313p, £1609 D G & J W Gore, 245p, £1479 P Taylor, 245p, 240p, £1369, £1353 L Stevens & Sons, 224p, £1922 B Luck Ltd; Limousin 300p, £2531 L E Humphreys & Son, 257p, £1885 B Luck Ltd, 246p, £1559 J Berryman; Hereford 294p, £2055 J Boomaars; Angus 285p, £1863 R C & J L Pickering, 269p, 265p, 254p, £2243, £2034, £1939 A C Hulme & Sons, 267p, £2305 J Boomaars, 258p, £1545 P Taylor, 240p, £1365 D G & J W Gore; British Blue 256p, £1686, 240p, £1652 R C & J L Pickering; Beef Shorthorn 240p, £1832 A R Mew.
Largely lean wet bagged cows from the grass were certainly easier this week though a few better fleshed dry cows holding reasonably well. Fleshed, shaped British Friesian to 234p, £1646 from R & J Ledger, whilst strong Holstein Friesians to £1831, 228p from J W Boyd & Sons. Plain types generally 160p-210p.
Overage (4) A small but select entry this week was well received.
Limousin 3+ heifer 356p, £2186, Angus 3+ heifer 354p, £2351 S Marsh; Limousin 3+ steer 346p, £1987 R F & E A Simmons; Black & White OTM heifers 285p, 270p, £1650, £1644 D Murdoch & Son.

Beef Cows – 32 Sold – Top 346, Average 256.4
Dairy Cows – 12 Sold – Top 234, Average 185.7

Store & Breeding Cattle – 8 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

A smart British Blue in calf heifer due July sold well at £2000.
A few minority breed stores sold to reasonable competition. Longhorn heifers 21 mths £850, steers 13 mths £750; Dexter steers 23 mths £650.

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.

Store & Finished Pigs – 8 sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

A small offering of good quality pigs found decent competition for clean pigs but no demand, at all, for culls.
Heavy weight white boar pigs from C K Guest sold to 168p/kg, £173 whilst smart Duroc gilts from A P & P C Rose sold to 196p, £178.
2 heavy cull boars found no customers and returned, unfortunately, unsold.

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