Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 26th March 2024

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Finished Hoggets – 1,761 Sold

Top price per kg: 452p – T Husk
Top price per head: £233 – T Husk

Another good entry of hoggets with 1,800 penned. The trade might have been expected to ease, somewhat, following the repeated attempts of the deadweight buyers to pull down the price but this was not the case in the live sale, with the trade just as strong as it has been in recent weeks, provided the sheep are well finished. Averages for the middle weights were less on paper, however the quality in this section this week was considerably lower than we have been used to. The best still flew past £200 head on many occasions to a top price of £233 this week and 455p, both from Tom Husk. Trade seems to be stable at the current level  with Easter, the end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr, the Greek Orthodox Easter and other events all coming in the next few weeks. Throughput numbers are also strongly affecting the trade. Numbers across the country have fallen so much in recent years and with this Spring`s festivals falling earlier, and close together, we have seen the perfect storm of conditions to create these incredible prices. But we must remember that the butchers, wholesalers, and retailers must be able to sell the product…

36kg – £106.00 (294p/kg) – G Tucker
37kg – £138.00 (373p/kg) – Ross Douglas
38kg – £150.00 (395p/kg) – Lovejoy Farm Partnership
39kg – £166.00 (426p/kg) – T Husk
40kg – £170.00 (425p/kg) – T Husk
41kg – £160.00 (390p/kg) – R L Pack
42kg – £170.00 (405p/kg) – R L Pack
43kg – £178.00 (414p/kg) – R L Pack
44kg – £176.00 (400p/kg) – B G & M A Tomsett
45kg – £185.00 (411p/kg) – Bungehurst Farms Ltd
46kg – £193.50 (421p/kg) – R L Pack
47kg – £208.00 (443p/kg) – T Husk
48kg – £217.00 (452p/kg) – T Husk
49kg – £212.00 (433p/kg) – T Husk
50kg – £226.00 (452p/kg) – T Husk
51kg – £215.00 (422p/kg) – T Husk
52kg – £220.00 (423p/kg) – T Husk
53kg – £233.00 (440p/kg) – T Husk
54kg – £200.00 (370p/kg) – Beslee Farms
55kg – £200.00 (364p/kg) – R F & E A Simmons
56kg – £208.00 (371p/kg) – R L Pack
57kg – £210.00 (368p/kg) – L Stevens & Sons
58kg – £227.00 (391p/kg) – T Husk
59kg – £218.00 (369p/kg) – T Husk
63kg – £230.00 (365p/kg) – T Husk 

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 191 – Top 426, Average 327.8
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 717 – Top 425, Average 349.6
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 600 – Top 452, Average 383.4
Other 52.1+ kgs – 246 – Top 440, Average 358.5

Store Sheep – 672 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Trade has certainly lifted this week with a stronger show on offer than 7 days ago. Best stores up over £150 head, once again, and averages increased considerably back up to £122 head, all included. We are seeing the quality and quantity of stores drop as the weeks go by and, as we approach April, numbers will continue to dry up and hence the reason for buyers battling to secure some numbers, to ensure that they have stock to sell at the end of the season – Eid ul-Adha 16th June

Cull Sheep –  541 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewe: Top £175 – T Husk – Ave £95.70
Ram: Top £162 – W J Waters – Ave £68.94

Consistent numbers in the pens week on week with an ongoing firm trade for all grades. The best meat ewes look to be getting well rewarded at this stage with majority £125 – £150, to a top price of £175 from Mr T Husk for strong Texel cross ewes. Medium sorts £80 – £110 on most occasions with leaner grazing types £50 – £70 throughout. With the grass growing, and drier weather ahead, there confidence going forward. Demand is strong and, so is the trade, so please do not hesitate to get your ewes booked in with us.

Top prices included

Texel cross to £175 – T Husk, Crossbred to £170 – I Strang, Beltex cross to £156 – W J Waters, Suffolk cross to £150 – M J Ashworth, Romneys to £146 – M J Ashworth, Mules to £100 – C Moss & Sons

Sock Lambs – 19 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

The first of this year’s sock lambs forward for sale today with strong demand seeing trade top at £37 to an average of £22.42.

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  48 Sold

Auctioneer:Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Trade continuing to hold its rates in the live sector despite a few reports that some deadweight outlets have eased their prices on completion of Easter work. With national numbers the critical factor this will be short lived as producers recognise the strength they have in their hands, and we approach a time of the year when many yards are coming to an end. More competition around the ring as customers look to secure numbers both to slaughter and to feed.
Records are there to be broken, and MB Farms, with their superb homebred Limousin, achieved a NEW RECORD PRICE of 349p, £2040 for a heifer. Their steers, not far behind selling to 333p, £2078.
Smart fed cattle regularly 280-300p with good fleshed commercial types 240-270p.
Dairy bred cattle to 269p, £1772 for Blue x Friesians from George Sim; Alan Down`s British Friesians to 251p, £1503 and his well-covered Hereford x steer to 255p, £1565.
Natives always wanted and sharp throughout. Angus x steer 280p, £1803 W Alexander (Shoreham); Hereford x Sussex steers 271p, £1504 Farrant Bros; Lincoln Red heifer 264p, £1581 W S Furnival Ltd; Sussex steer 261p, £1745 Dan Mackelden Ltd, heifers to 258p, £1380 D W Ferguson Ltd.
Good to see some tidy shaped bulls with flesh on offer selling to 289p, £1774 for Limousin from N C & C G Hedges; Charolais x to 272p, £1738 from R W Jones & Son.

Top Steers

M B Farms – Limousin – 333p/kg (£2078)
M B Farms – Limousin – 326p/kg (£1985)
M B Farms – Limousin – 320p/kg (£2045)
Gillshaw Farms Ltd – Limousin cross – 286p/kg (£1427)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Aberdeen Angus cross – 280p/kg (£1803)

Top Heifers

M B Farms – Limousin – 349p/kg (£2039)
M B Farms – Limousin – 337p/kg (£1666)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 305p/kg (£1690)
D W Ferguson Ltd – Limousin cross – 294p/kg (£1658)
I R Bramley – Bazadaise cross – 288p/kg (£1682)

Top Bulls

N C & C G Hedges – Limousin – 289p/kg (£1774)
R W Jones & Son – Charolais cross – 272p/kg (£1738)
R W Jones & Son – Hereford cross – 209p/kg (£1710)

Average Prices

Steers up to 550kg – 9 sold – Top 286p – Ave 248p
Steers 551 to 650kg – 17 sold – Top 333p – Ave 267p
Steers over 651kg – 5 sold – Top 269p – Ave 262p
Heifers up to 500kg – 1 sold – Top 337p
Heifers 501 to 590kg – 10 sold – Top 349p – Ave 284p
Heifers over 591kg – 2 sold – Top 264p – Ave 262p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 56 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Another very good seasonal entry, with certainly more flesh on offer, saw the trade step up again with terrific prices and returns for all grades of slaughter and feeding animals.
Numbers can only get tighter so, please, have a good hard look at non performers or lying-off cows and see whether they are best retained or converted into space and money before turn out.
Again, no best spec beef cows, and only a small entry this week, but good commercial types readily 170-210p with decent heavyweights up over £1400. Hard, turning out grazers a topping trade with a few now turning out despite the forecast!
Limousin x 206p, 195p, 189p, £1459 (2), £1376 Birt Bros; Angus x 187p, 174p, £1492, £1319 Llewellyn Farms; Sussex 179p, 176p, £1446, £1237 (Non FA) I Strang, 178p, 168p, £1374, £1358 Farrant Bros.
More from the dairy sector today and a roaring trade throughout. Mostly boning cows with buyers desperate to secure numbers at this time of shortage. Good meat cows 160-180p with the best over £1400. A few utm/otm heifers a marvellous trade in excess of 200p, and not very pretty!
Holstein Friesian UTM calved heifers 215p, £1115 J E Scutt & Sons, 212p, £1047 Appleton Farms Ltd, OTM heifer 194p, £1093 G A & H Vicary, 185p, £1208 H O Champneys Ltd; Holstein Friesian cows 177p, £1447 W F Farms; 175p, 174p, 163p, £1457, £1388, £1381 Huddlestone Farmers; 173p, 169p, 168p, 164p, £1340, £1308, £1306, £1277 Appleton Farms Ltd.
Overage (17) Quite a bit of age, size and price about the overage this week with several vendors searching the back of the yards to find clean cattle up to 7 years old and a total of 6 over 5!!
Limousin x OTM steer 264p, £1581, Charolais x OTM steer 258p, £1867, Sussex OTM heifers 254p, 236p, £1382, £1283, Charolais x 3+ steer 215p, £1384, Limousin x heifer 4+ 203p, £1499, Beef Shorthorn x steers 5+ 217p, 197p, £1624, £1484, Sussex steer 5+ 182p, £1751, Limousin x steer 5+ 201p, £1724, Highland steer 6+ 183p, £958.

Beef Cows – 23 Sold – Top 206, Average 164.4
Dairy Cows –17 Sold – Top 215, Average 156.6

Store & Breeding Cattle – 65 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Only a short entry this week but buyers for all grades out with the intent to secure stock – a tremendous trade!

Principal Prices include:

18mths Jersey bulls – £420 – K Wood
24mths Limousin cross bulls – £1060 – R J Husk
11mths Hereford cross steers – £610 – G D K George
12mths Hereford cross heifers – £580 – G D K George
8-10mths Angus cross steers – £810/£790 – Llewellyn Farms
8mths Angus cross heifers – £580 – Llewellyn Farms
13mths Hereford steer – £955 – T J K & S I Purchese
18mths Angus cross steers – £1010 – C Greenland
23mths Hereford cross steers – £1060 – Ross Farms
24mths Sussex steers – £1320 – Bosney Farms
25mths Sussex steer – £1240 – Sussex Herd Co
18mths Charolais cross steers – £1310 – R W Jones & Son
29mths Simmental cross steers – £1680 – R W Jones & Son

Calves – 74 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Calves – 71 sold. A decent run of calves selling on a firm trade with a particularly strong following for younger Blues and Angus.

Bulls topped at £310 and £290 for Angus from A & W J Hitchcock. Best of the youngsters from G A & H Vicary & Son who sold a tremendous Angus suckler bred bull to £210, with P J Forknall & J W Boyd & Sons Ltd both seeing £180 tops for their regular Angus consignments. Blues topped at £240 for a lovely run of young calves from Appleton Farms Ltd, others from the same home to £195 & £180. J W Boyd & Sons Ltd selling to £240 whilst J E Scutt & Sons were not far behind with £220.
Heifers, limited in numbers, saw tops of £300 and £290 from Mrs S Main for weaned Angus with other Angus from H O Champneys Ltd to £210 twice. Blues to £230 from Hickson Bros whilst younger calves from W G & T A Manford looking well sold to £180 twice.
Only 5 dairy bulls forward today with nice rearing types from J E Scutt & Sons Ltd to £45. Younger and Channel Island breeding harder work.
Weanlings – 3 sold. Just the 3 weanlings forward today meeting a strong trade and all from Kent Game with tops of £520 for a Blue steer, £460 for a Sussex steer and £400 for a Blue heifer.

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 – 22 – Ave £188.18 – Top £240 – Appleton Farms Ltd
Aberdeen Angus cross – 16 – Ave £187.19 – Top £310 – A & W J Hitchcock

Heifer Calves

British Blue cross – 20 – Ave £169.50 – Top £230 – Hickson Bros
Aberdeen Angus cross – 8 – Ave £191.25 – Top £300 – Mrs Sharon Main

Heifer Weanling

British Blue cross – 1 – Ave £400 – Top £400 – Kent Game Shooting

Steer Weanlings

British Blue cross – 1 – Ave £520 – Top £520 – Kent Game Shooting
Sussex cross – 1 – Ave £460 – Top £460 – Kent Game Shooting

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 2nd April 2024

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

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