Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 22nd November 2022

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

New Season Lambs – 1,071 Sold

Top price per kg: 290p – M A Piper & Son Farms
Top price per head: £136 – J Wayman

A similar level of trade to last week which was improved on the past couple of months trading. Certainly, better finished lambs on offer once again, which undoubtedly improved prices also. Best weighted sorts are still the best sold with prices best above 45 kg to a top price of £136 for some heavy and smart Charollais lambs from J Wayman. Lambs that are a bit lighter on the scales need good confirmation now for the export trade to really see the peak in the trade and these topped at 290p kg from M A Piper & Son Farms for a lovely pair of 43 kg continental lambs at £124.50. Trade is at a healthy level right now for the run up to Christmas with heavier carcasses in demand for the catering trade, this level should be easy to maintain provided large numbers don’t come out nationally at the same time. We can sell more at Ashford every week without an impact on trade, so if you have lambs to sell please get in touch.

Top Prices

37kg – £95.00 (257p/kg) – N A Balcomb & Son
38kg – £100.00 (263p/kg) – N A Balcomb & Son
39kg – £96.00 (246p/kg) – H & J Noakes
40kg – £115.00 (288p/kg) – A Denning
41kg – £104.00 (254p/kg) – Jamie Watt
42kg – £112.00 (267p/kg) – Jamie Watt
43kg – £124.50 (290p/kg) – M A Piper & Son Farms
44kg – £121.00 (275p/kg) – H & J Noakes
45kg – £125.00 (278p/kg) – A Denning
46kg – £128.50 (279p/kg) – J Wayman
47kg – £125.00 (266p/kg) – D R Thompson
48kg – £132.00 (275p/kg) – J Wayman
50kg – £128.00 (256p/kg) – J Wayman
52kg – £136.00 (262p/kg) – J Wayman

Averages (p/kg)

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 182 – Top 263, Average 229.3
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 401 – Top 290, Average 240.7
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 388 – Top 279, Average 256.4
Over 52.1 kgs – 98 – Top 262, Average 251.1

Cull Sheep – 711 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewes: Top £132 – C & J Georgetti & Sons, Average £79.11
Rams: Top £177 – Diana Lindon, Average £147.95

A superb trade throughout with a larger number of better fleshed ewes forward pushing overall averages up. The best ewes regularly £90-£120 and to a top price of £132 from C & J Georgetti & Sons, what more can I say!!. Majority of medium ewes £70-£95 with leaner grazing sorts remaining plentiful and on most occasions £45-£65. We have good numbers of regular buyers present every week for all grades of ewes.

Top prices included:

Suffolk cross to £132 – C & J Georgetti & Sons, Suffolk to £132 – Diana Lindon, Charollais cross to £131 – J Wayman, Texel cross to £123 – M A Piper & Son Farms, Mules to £104 – J Wayman, Romneys to £110 – J Penighetti

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle – 57 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

A much increased entry this week with almost twice the numbers on offer. Again, a similar strong trade throughout with the best 250p plus with a smart Limousin cross heifer topping the market at £1490 (269p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and a quality Limousin cross steer topping at £1561 (263p) from W G Vant & Sons.
Other top prices not included below include heavy weight Simmental cross steers to £1724 (240p) and £1713 (223p) from T Masters, 30 mths Blonde bull grossing exceptionally well at £2203 (188p) from G L Boulden & Sons and dairy bred Limousin x Friesian steers to £1618 (235p) from A J Down.
A good selection of native bred cattle on offer with Sussex cross heifer £1534 (244p) from T Masters, Hereford cross heifer £1233 (240p) from D W Ferguson Ltd, Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £1323 (239p) from S Marsh and Sussex steer £1457 (225p) from R J Horsman.

More finished cattle to satisfy an improved demand leading up to Christmas.

Top Steers 

W G Vant & Sons – Limousin cross – 263p/kg (£1561)
Snowfields Academy – Limousin – 261p/kg (£1573)
G L Boulden & Sons – Blonde cross – 254p/kg (£1584)
T Masters – Simmental cross – 240p/kg (£1724)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 238p/kg (£1541)

Top Heifers

W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 269p/kg (£1490)
G L Boulden & Sons – Blonde cross – 259p/kg (£1628)
W G Vant & Sons – Limousin cross – 258p/kg (£1442)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 252p/kg (£1320)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 251p/kg (£1327)

Average Prices

Steers up to 650kg – 19 sold – Top 263p – Ave 230p
Steers over 651kg – 12 Sold – Top 240p – Ave 230p
Heifers up to 590kg – 14 Sold – Top 269p – Ave 238p
Heifers over 591kg – 6 Sold – Top 259p – Ave 230p
Bulls – 6 Sold – Top 188p – Ave 164p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 103 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Three weeks in a row with over 100 cattle in the cull section and again so pleasing to see stock coming from a wide area recognising the strength of both feeding and slaughter trade.
Trade holding very firm despite an easing in the deadweight rates as Christmas work takes precedence in some plants. Best beef cows for slaughter or feeding up over 200p with plenty 170-190p and many continuing to gross up over £1,500. Great interest in the feeding cows but perhaps the plainest and oldest a little less as buyers become more selective and their slaughter value is low. Scanning has been late this season but there is certainly no reason not to sell empty cows to free up space and to save cost.
Limousin cross 220p, 198p £1460 £1288 (Non FA) Mrs L Townsend, 210p £1263 P N & C Burden, 186p £1538 C & J Georgetti & Sons, 176p £1246 E Chantler & Sons, 170p £1212 A J Thompson & Sons; Charolais cross 210p £1267 (Non FA) J Latham, 194p (2) £1220, £1219 R V Stannard, 189p £1527 Old England; British Blue 198p £1323 A Price; Sussex 194p £1267 Chandler & Dunn; Simmental cross 186p, 185p £1566, £1540 C & J Georgetti & Sons, 178p £1276 W J Hurley, 174p £1232 J Batchelor & Sons, 168p £1471 A J Thompson & Sons; South Devon 179p, 174p £1362, £1328 Gardners, 170p, 158p £1220, £1134 H & S Nesfield; Sussex cross 172p £1678 A J Thompson & Sons; Belted Galloway 128p, Dexter 104p, Highland 102p.
A small show of Black & Whites but trade certainly no less with the middling cows at 120-140p looking particularly well sold. Good heavy meat still pushing up to 170p and £1500.
Holstein Friesian 168p £1122 H O Champneys Ltd, 165p £1472 J W Boyd & Sons Ltd, 162p (2) £1284, £1219 D Murdoch & Sons; Jersey 137p £771 Hickson Bros.
Stock Bulls (7) Lean bulls on offer sold and all well sold. Limousin 172p, 168p, 156p, 146p, 144p, 118p; Hereford 120p.
Overage (12) A real mixture this week but all well sold. Sussex OTM 207p £1053 (Non FA) J Muscat; Limousin 3yo+ 205p, 185p £1329, £1264 G R Morris & Son; Holstein steer 3yo+ 158p £1229 E T Ledger & Son.

Beef Cows – 70 Sold – Top 220.0, Average 148.4
Dairy Cows – 13 Sold – Top 168.0, Average 131.4

Store cattle – 450 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

A big entry of cattle late in the season with a large percentage on single suckled weaned calves on offer. These were well received with the majority ranging in the £650 to £850 bracket and topping at £935 for a smart 8 mths Limousin cross steer from young Harry Lucas closely followed by quality 8 mths Limousin cross steer from Mrs L Townsend. The best of these youngsters attracted prices in the 250 to 300p kg bracket with mainly local buyers competing well for all on offer.
Stronger cattle in short supply and again trade was brisk throughout with the best £1100 plus and topping at £1300 for Blonde cross steer from P Taylor and Aberdeen Angus cross steers looking well sold at £1200 from D Ward.

Principal Prices include: 

Continental Bred

6mths Limousin cross steers – £760 – Ed Stretton
8mths Limousin cross steers – £935 – Master Harry Lucas
7mths Limousin cross heifers – £870 – Master Harry Lucas
7mths Limousin cross steers – £850 – G J Ostridge
7mths Limousin cross heifers – £750 – G J Ostridge
8mths Blonde cross steers – £810 – Wanstall Farms
9mths Blonde cross heifers – £700 – Wanstall Farms
8mths Limousin cross steers – £885 – Mrs L Townsend
9mths Limousin cross heifers – £790 – Mrs L Townsend
9mths Simmental cross heifers – £800 – Betchworth Estate
11mths Charolais cross steers – £845 – N Morgan
18mths Limousin cross steers – £1095 – J & H Robinson (Iford Farms) Ltd
18mths Limousin cross heifers – £1100 – J & H Robinson (Iford Farms) Ltd
19mths Limousin cross heifers – £1200 – P N & C Burden
20mths Limousin cross steers – £1090 – R J Husk
21mths Limousin cross steers – £1250 – G J Ostridge
24mths Blonde cross steers – £1300 – P Taylor
24mths Blonde cross heifers – £1180 – P Taylor
28mths Limousin cross heifers – £1360 – J Latham

Native Bred

8mths South Devon cross steers – £830 – I Tapsell
8mths South Devon cross steers – £790 – Gardners
9mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers – £800 – Betchworth Estate
10mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers – £780 – N Morgan
20mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers – £1020 – A K Dod
20mths Friesian steers – £750 – R Winstone
20mths Flekvieh cross steers – £1000 – C Kearl
24mths Sussex cross steers – £1125 – D J Miles
25mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers – £1200 – D Ward

Breeding Cattle – 20 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

A quality entry of breeding cattle comprising a dispersal of The Thorndean Herd of Pedigree Limousin. The sale provided customers with the rare opportunity of purchasing top quality stock and trade was competitive throughout with the bulls topping at £3,100 for a bull youngster and cows with smart calves at foot up to £3,600. Several top quality in calf cows topped at £2,200 and the 18 mths maiden heifers attracted lots of interest with the pick up to £2,150.

Average Prices

Bulls – 3 – to £3100 – Ave £2966
Pedigree Limousin cows and calves – 4 – to £3600 – Ave £2950
Cows and calves – 2 – to £1500
In calf Pedigree Limousin cows – 5 – to £2200 – Ave £1720
Pedigree Limousin heifers – 6 – to £2150 – Ave £1508

Calves – 84 sold

Auctioneer:Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Calves: 65 – Trade generally stronger this week particularly for continental and strongest native calves.

Continental Bulls a roaring trade with British Blues from H O Champneys Ltd to £370, £345, and £330 (x2), P J Forknall topped at £305 and R & J Ledger topping at £255. Simmental bulls to £325 from R & J Ledger and Charolais to £200 from Falconhurst Estate. Native bulls certainly a sharper trade from the last sale with Aberdeen Angus topping at £195 from W F Farms, £150 from J Warnock & Sons and £145 from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd. Hereford offering a little more value and topping at £85 from Falconhurst Estate.
Continental heifers stronger in quality and price with British Blues to £230 and £185 from R & J Ledger. Charolais to £160 from Falconhurst Estate. Native heifers still more difficult to place with tops of £120 from A & W J Hitchcock and £100 W F Farms for Aberdeen Angus. Younger and smaller native heifers look value now, maybe time to consider finding a pen in the corner of the yard to take a punt?
Weanlings: 19 sold – A selection of generally younger weaned calves this week ranging from 2 to 4 mths in age. Suckler bred Limousin bull from L J Osbourne & Son topped at £275 with British Blue bulls from A L Betts Ltd to £180. Aberdeen Angus steers from S E Lane & Partners look well sold topping £280 with heifers from the same home and same breeding to £200.

Bull Calves

British Blue cross – 12 – Average £238.75 – Top £370
Charolais cross – 2 – Average £197.50 – Top £200
Simmental cross – 1 – Average £325 – Top £325
Aberdeen Angus cross – 10 – Average £112.50 – Top £195
Hereford cross – 2 – Average £57.50 – Top £85
Holstein Friesian – 3 – Average £55 – Top £90

Heifer Calves

British Blue cross – 14 – Average £109.43 – Top £230
Charolais cross – 2 – Average £130 – Top £160
Aberdeen Angus cross – 18 – Average £52.39 – Top £120

Bull Weanling

British Blue cross – 3 – Average £180 – Top £180
Limousin cross – 1 – Average £275 – Top £275
Beef Shorthorn cross – 2 – Average £150 – Top £150

Heifer Weanling

British Blue cross – 3 – Average £180 Top £180
Beef Shorthorn cross – 1 – Average £185 – Top £185
Aberdeen Angus cross – 2 – Average £155 – Top £200 

Steer Weanling

Aberdeen Angus cross – 4 – Average £207.50 – Top £280

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 29th November 2022

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

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