Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 28th March 2023

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Hoggets – 2,473

Top price per kg: 326p – Church Street Farm
Top price per head: £149.00 – Mrs L Listbrain

This week felt like a flashback to selling finished hoggets in 2022! Trade has been boosted considerably this week, which was somewhat unexpected, as we are now into the Ramadan fasting period and despite a good number of sheep coming out onto the market through the larger auction centres.  Other factors, such as stock piling for Easter and export orders, have certainly helped and the trade is the strongest we have seen all season. Whether it can be sustained is another matter and our advice would be to sell now and not to hold off for a further lift in price as ultimately it ends up in a flood of numbers when sellers sense an easing in prices.  Top prices per kilo were on the same level as last week at 326p kg from Church Street Farm but we managed to reach £149 from Mrs L Listbrain for top price in the lump, with the averages up by 25p kg on average.
There is nothing like a lift in the finished price to make the store buyers get a bit excited…trade was on fire today with genuine stores selling for up to £117 and averaging £90. Less of these are on offer now which is boosting prices and the stronger they are the more bidders that are present for them. More could be sold every week and we are nearing the teeth season, so our advice is to sell these stores now and take advantage of the current levels while they last.

35kg – £114.00 (326p/kg) – Church Street Farm
36kg – £112.00 (311p/kg) – T Husk
37kg – £103.00 (278p/kg) – I Lucas
38kg – £107.00 (282p/kg) – C Woodhead
39kg – £116.50 (299p/kg) – R L Pack
40kg – £124.00 (310p/kg) – T Husk
41kg – £125.50 (306p/kg) – T Husk
42kg – £128.50 (306p/kg) – M B Farms
43kg – £123.00 (286p/kg) – H Rivers
44kg – £126.00 (286p/kg) – R L Pack
45kg – £126.00 (280p/kg) – T Husk
46kg – £139.00 (302p/kg) – M L Wilson & Son
47kg – £135.00 (287p/kg) – O Tilley
48kg – £137.00 (285p/kg) – Miss G Jackson
49kg – £140.00 (286p/kg) – M B Farms
50kg – £147.00 (294p/kg) – T Husk
51kg – £139.00 (273p/kg) – M L Wilson & Son
52kg – £138.50 (266p/kg) – C Ballard
53kg – £139.00 (262p/kg) – R H Smith & Ptns
54kg – £130.00 (241p/kg) – T Husk
55kg – £141.00 (256p/kg) – R & S L M Smith
56kg – £138.00 (246p/kg) – Miss G Jackson
57kg – £143.00 (251p/kg) – J Wayman
58kg – £148.00 (255p/kg) – N & D Attwood
60kg – £149.00 (248p/kg) – L Listbrain

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 137 – Top 326, Average 276.8
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 708 – Top 310, Average 269.7
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 941 – Top 302, Average 262.7
Over 52.1 kgs – 253 – Top 266, Average 254.2

Cull Sheep – 468 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewe: Top £140 – N & D Attwood, Average £91.92
Ram: Top £126 – J A Friend, Average £80.25

Yet another super trade throughout with all grade of ewes in strong demand. The best ewes regularly £90 – £120 and to a top price of £140 from N & D Attwood for some smart Charollais ewes. Medium sorts generally £70 – £90  with leaner grazing types £40 – £65 with very few sold below these figures.

Charollais to £140 – N & D Attwood, Texel cross to £140 – T Husk, Texel to £137 – C Ely, Suffolk cross to £124 – J Wayman, Mules to £98 – Beslee Farms, Romney to £115 – W T Kemp

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  62 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

A slightly easier trade with prices back by some 10p on the dizzy heights of last week, with some resistance in the trade nationally.

Nevertheless, the best beef bred continental crosses attracted prices in excess of 280p with another superb run of Limousin crosses from M B Farms taking top honours with several grossing in excess of £2000, up to £2138 and ranging in the 290p to 308p kg. In addition to the leading prices below others worthy of a mention include cattle with weight notably Limousin cross steer £1859 (272p) from W G Vant & Sons and Limousin cross heifer £1838 (277p) from L E Humphreys & Sons.

An increased number of native bred cattle on offer with the majority in the 240 to 260p level with top prices including Sussex steer £1679 (265p) K & P M Sinden & Sons and Sussex cross heifer £1476 (269p) M A Piper & Son Farms; Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1710 (238p) and £1653 (251p) and heifers £1494 (265p) and £1749 (254p) from Leggat Farming Ltd and R C & J L Pickering respectively; Hereford x Friesian steer £1485 (244p) and Friesian steer £1479 (247p) A J Down, and Devon cross heifers looked well sold at £1423 (248p) from Gillshaw Farms Ltd.

Top Steers

M B Farms – Limousin – 294p/kg (£1761)
M B Farms – Limousin cross – 293p/kg (£1872)
M B Farms – Limousin cross – 290p/kg (£2069)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Simmental cross – 283p/kg (£1539)
W S Furnival Ltd – Limousin cross – 282p/kg (£1618)

Top Heifers

M B Farms – Limousin – 308p/kg (£2014)
M B Farms – Limousin – 292p/kg (£1734)
W S Furnival Ltd – Limousin cross – 291p/kg (£1786)
M B Farms – Limousin cross – 291p/kg (£1728)
M A Piper & Son Farms – Blonde cross – 286p/kg (£1513) 

Average Prices

Steers up to 650kg – 23 sold – Top 294p – Ave 258p
Steers over 650kg – 7 sold – Top 290p – Ave 264p
Heifers up to 590kg – 17 sold – Top 286p – Ave 265p
Heifers over 591kg – 8 sold – Top 308p – Ave 272p
Bull – 1 – Top 190p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 63 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Another flying trade for a good seasonal entry. The full range again with some well fleshed animals from both beef and dairy sectors on offer. Fewer tidy feeding cows now coming forward as perhaps, some are prepared to give them another chance as grass gets closer. More minority breeds on offer this week but readily taken by a demanding ring full of customers.
No real best cows this week but tidy younger types readily 200–250p kg, plenty 180–200p kg and little below 170p kg. Great returns so take advantage before turning empty cows or calf less cows to grass.
Aberdeen Angus cross 243p, 225p, £1661, £1528 (Non FA) Boty Farms, 228p, £1422 A J Thompson & Sons, 203p, 196p, 190p, £1701, £1525, £1402 R Carr & Partners; Hereford cross 226p, 221p, £1590, £1532 R C & J L Pickering; Limousin cross 215p, £1405 R F & E A Simmons, 214p, £1345 C R Cook, 210p, 208p, 207p, 204p, £1400, £1330, £1260, £1201 J Berryman; Beef Shorthorn 210p, £1508 (Non FA) M Britton, 185p, £1338 D & J Murray; Sussex 199p, £1131 A J Thompson & Sons; South Devon 198p, £1402 (Non FA) J Eagleton ; British Blue 188p, £1491 (Non FA) F S Husk; White Park 206p, 182p, 159p, £944, £853, £808 C R Cook; Longhorn 179p, £1455 T Offen; Dexter 116p, 112p, £446, £433 A Duke.
Dairy farmers are doing a great job at holding more condition on their cows and are reaping a rich reward with meat types generally 170 – 190p kg, and nothing particularly strong this week.
Holstein Friesian 190p (2), 186p, 183p, £1497, £1354, £1298, £1205 J W Boyd & Sons; 190p, 185p, 180p, £1577, £1573. £1310 R C & J L Pickering; 187p, 185p, £1421, £1399 D Murdoch & Sons, 169p, £1289 J Scutt & Sons; Jersey 142p, £771 S E Lane & Partners.
Overage (5) Wanted! Charolais cross heifer 3 year old + 228p, £1615; Sussex steers 4 years old +218p, 206p, £1077, £1038.
Bulls (3) fleshed traditional Herefords 168p, 156p, £1231, £1065; lean Limousin 130p, £965.

Beef Cows – 37 Sold – Top 243, Average 191.5
Dairy Cows – 18 Sold – Top 190, Average 169.5

Store Cattle – 419 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Another good show of store cattle was well attended with customers for all breeds, age and quality on offer.

Trade was brisk throughout with prices on a par with recent weeks and good premiums available for the better quality stock on offer.

Best Continental cross yearlings sold readily in excess of £1000 with a superb run of Limousin cross steers from Geoffrey Bates Ltd taking the pick of the trade at £1100 plus and up to £1520.

Stronger 18 mths cattle to finish shorter term generally £1250 plus with smart Limousin cross steers and heifers topping at £1580 and £1365 respectively from Friday Street Farmers, Eastbourne.

A good selection of native bred cattle were well received with 20 mths Devon cross steer topping this section at £1280 from Farrant Bros, yearling Aberdeen Angus cross steers looking well sold at £1005 from Miss J Fuller while premium prices were available for heifers with breeding potential, notably yearling Aberdeen Angus cross heifers to £1160 and £1100 from R J & C M Greengrow and R W Goddard & Partners respectively.

Principal Prices include:

Continental Bred

11mths Limousin cross heifers – £920 – N A Vincent
11mths Limousin cross steers – £1010 – H & S Nesfield
11mths Limousin cross heifers – £935 – H & S Nesfield
11mths Limousin cross steers – £1150 – W J Hurley
11mths Limousin cross heifers – £970 – W J Hurley
12mths Limousin cross steers – £1520 – Geoffrey Bates Ltd
12mths Limousin cross steers – £1200 – Mrs K Graham
12mths Limousin cross heifers – £930 – Mrs K Graham
12mths Simmental cross steers – £1205 – M & M L Goodwin
12mths Limousin cross heifers – £990 – M & M L Goodwin
12mths Limousin cross steers – £1250 – Gallagher Farms
18mths Limousin cross steers – £1580 – Friday Street Farmers
18mths Limousin cross heifers – £1365 – Friday Street Farmers
18mths Limousin cross steers – £1340 – L Smith
18mths Limousin cross heifers – £1310 – L Smith
18mths British Blue steers – £1290 – K M Goddard Agri
18mths Simmental cross steers – £1310 – W J Hurley

Native Bred

9mths Longhorn steers – £705 – I M Symonds
10mths Sussex cross steers – £900 – Miss T Maddocks
11mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers – £800 – Wey Street Farm
12mths Aberdeen Angus x Friesian heifers – £1100 – R W Goddard & Ptnrs
12mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers – £1005 – Miss J Fuller
12mths Hereford cross steers – £810 – Farrant Bros
13mths Stabiliser cross heifers – £950 – F Pearce & Sons
14mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers – £1160 – R J & C M Greengrow
17mths Hereford cross steers – £1040 – Gilbert McKie
20mths Devon cross steers – £1280 – Farrant Bros

Calves –  70 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Calves – 46. A stand on trade from a fortnight ago with perhaps the exception some of the stronger bulls which would have been a touch stronger. Younger, smaller and Channel Island cross calves a little harder to place with buyers certainly favouring the stronger animals this week.
Bulls and trade overall topped by D Murdoch & Sons with a fantastic British Blue bull to £410! Other British Blue bulls from Mrs Clifford-Baynes to £330 and £310. Younger British Blues from R & J Ledger looked on the money with tops of £260. One single strong Simmental from Mrs Clifford-Baynes sold for £370. Continental heifers well received with British Blues to £210 from Mrs Clifford-Baynes.
Only a handful of Aberdeen Angus amongst the native bulls today with tops of £290 from A & W J Hitchcock and £155 from J E Scutt & Sons. Plenty of Aberdeen Angus heifers about with tops of £180 from J E Scutt & Sons with ranges of £130 – £180.
A little more spark in the dairy bulls with tops of £60 for rearing Holstein Friesians from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd. Most £30-£40 with bobbies £5-£15.
Weanlings – 24. A vintage entry it certainly was not but demand for weanlings certainly increasing with buyers aware that spring is supposedly round the corner! Topping the entry were a pen of 6 mths Holstein Friesian steers from Langdon Farms to £280. Smaller cattle with age against them selling to £280 for Aberdeen Angus Bulls and £270 for Limousin bulls from Plurenden Partnership. Aberdeen Angus heifer from the same home to £240.

Bull Calves
British Blue cross – 10 – Ave £217 – Top £410 – D Murdoch & Sons
Simmental cross – 1 – Ave £370 – Top £370 – M S Clifford-Baynes
Aberdeen Angus cross – 5 – Ave £245 – Top £290 – A & W J Hitchcock

Heifer Calves
British Blue cross – 8 – Ave £116.88 – Top £210 – M S Clifford-Baynes
Aberdeen Angus cross – 12 – Ave £135 – Top £180 – J E Scutt & Sons

Bull Weanlings
Limousin cross – 1 – Ave £270 – Top £270 – Plurenden Ptnsp
Aberdeen Angus cross – 2 – Ave £280 – Top £280 – Plurenden Ptnsp
Hereford cross – 5 – Ave £198 – Top £210 – J Latham
Danish Red cross – 1 – Ave £170 – Top £170 – J Latham
Norwegian Red cross – 2 – Ave £170 – Top £170 – J Latham

Heifer Weanlings
Limousin cross – 2 – Ave £200 – Top £220 – Plurenden Ptnsp
Aberdeen Angus cross – 4 – Ave £195 – Top £240 – Plurenden Ptnsp

Steer Weanlings
Holstein Friesian – 4 – Ave £280 – Top £280 – Langdon Farms

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 4th April 2023

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

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