Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 30th January 2024

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Finished Hoggets – 2,004 Sold

Top price per kg: 334p – Peter Gorringe
Top price per head: £170 – Peter Gorringe

A bigger entry of lambs this week with the end of the month now upon us with many sheep coming off winter keep as the cultivators are itching to get going with spring work.  A good trade throughout the sale, with averages a little down on last week as numbers on the market nationally have increased considerably in the last couple of days. Top of the tree on both sides was Peter Gorringe with a superb run of hoggets that topped out at £170 hd and 323p kg. Other good runs of hoggets sold very well from a few vendors and names to note include Andrew Martin and J A Agnew who got to 325p kg and £140.50 respectively. Numbers are likely to be easier next week, but it is very helpful to know what numbers you wish to send.

37kg – £115.50 (312p/kg) – Piper Farms
38kg – £120.00 (316p/kg) – S B & A E Martin
39kg – £114.50 (294p/kg) – Langdon Farms
40kg – £120.00 (300p/kg) – C Saunders
41kg – £132.50 (323p/kg) – S B & A E Martin
42kg – £136.50 (325p/kg) – S B & A E Martin
43kg – £127.50 (297p/kg) – S B & A E Martin
44kg – £124.50 (283p/kg) – S B & A E Martin
45kg – £138.50 (308p/kg) – J A Farming
46kg – £153.50 (334p/kg) – Peter Gorringe
47kg – £128.50 (273p/kg) – J A Farming
48kg – £139.00 (290p/kg) – Beau Keeley
49kg – £145.00 (296p/kg) – Peter Gorringe
50kg – £164.50 (329p/kg) – Peter Gorringe
51kg – £141.00 (276p/kg) – Peter Gorringe
52kg – £133.00 (256p/kg) – J A Farming
53kg – £140.50 (265p/kg) – J A Faming
58kg – £170.00 (293p/kg) – Peter Gorringe 

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 267 – Top 316, Average 283.1
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 927 – Top 325, Average 273.5
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 649 – Top 334, Average 263.7
Other 52.1+ kgs – 161 – Top 293, Average 246.7

Store Sheep – 861 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

A bigger entry of better stores on offer this week and stronger quality lambs compared to last week with the best stores over £100 this week on many occasions to a top price of £109 from S Wenham. Long term types now trading from £65-80 with stronger lambs £80-100.

Cull Sheep – 501 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewe: Top £156.00 – Miss A Hedges – Ave £82.77

A good show in the pens with a consistent trade throughout for all grades of ewes. The best ewes regularly £100 – £120 and to a top price of £156 for cracking Texel ewes from Miss Amy Hedges. Medium sorts £70 – £90 on most occasions and leaner grazing types £40 – £60 throughout with less of these forward every week. Ewes are wanted to fulfil buyers needs so please do not hesitate to get your ewes booked in with us at Ashford.

Top prices included

Texels to £156 from Miss A Hedges, Texel cross to £133 from C A Elliott, Beltex to £128 from N C & C G Hedges, Suffolk cross to £121 from C & J Georgetti & Sons, Mules to £99 from M A & F W Owen, Romney to £98 from Bosney Farm

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  56 Sold

Auctioneer:Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

The driver for all beef sectors is ultimately the finished market which continues at exceptional levels with 9 cattle up over 300p kg and 7 grossing over £2000 per head. Couple this with long term supply shortages and you have the conditions for a strong period of demand.
Top honours in both steer and heifer sections to M B Farms with homebred Limousin steers to 325p, £2114 and heifers to 319p, £1911. Bulls from G L Boulden & Sons with great shape, length, and finish to 304p and 301p, £2276.
The best beef bred cattle generally 280 – 310p with all our regulars turning out some excellent cattle this week.
Dairy bred cattle from Alan Down saw Limousin x Friesian steers to 278p (3 times) grossing up to £804 with his Friesian steers to 265p, £1509. Hereford x Friesian heifers from the Pickering family sold to 279p, £1644.
Weight no problem in any area and, again from the Pickering’s, Charolais and Simmental x Friesian steers sold to 285p kg grossing up to £2047.
Natives a marvellous trade with smart handy weight Angus x heifers to 300p from W Alexander (Shoreham); Beef Shorthorn x heifer to 297p, £1823 from D W Ferguson Ltd; Sussex steers to 286p, £1713 R C & J L Pickering and Sussex heifers to 282p, £1393 from N A Balcomb & Son.

Top Steers

M B Farms – Limousin – 325p/kg (£2109)
M B Farms – Limousin – 316p/kg (£2114)
W G Vant & Sons – Limousin cross – 303p/kg (£2042)
W G Vant & Sons – British Blue cross – 303p/kg (£1860)
K & P M Sinden & Sons – British Blue cross – 293p/kg (£1755)

Top Heifers

M B Farms – Limousin – 319p/kg (£1911)
M B Farms – Limousin – 306p/kg (£1848)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Aberdeen Angus cross – 300p/kg (£1512)
S Marsh – Beef Shorthorn cross – 297p/kg (£1823)
D W Ferguson Ltd – Aberdeen Angus cross – 294p/kg (£1570)

Average Prices

Steers up to 550kg – 4 sold – Top 282p – Ave 277p
Steers 551 to 650kg – 25 sold – Top 325p – Ave 277p
Steers over 651kg – 7 sold – Top 316p – Ave 284p
Heifers up to 500kg – 3 sold – Top 282p – Ave 278p
Heifers 501 to 590kg – 9 sold – Top 300p – Ave 277p
Heifers over 591kg – 6 sold – Top 319p – Ave 290p
Bulls over 651kg – 2 sold – Top 304p – Ave 302p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 86 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Just a few less but quality overall good with still plenty of flesh coming forward particularly on the beef cows.
Trade recognises that numbers can only shorten as we process through the weeks and prices are set to remain at these exceptional levels with much of the best cuts from younger cow carcases supporting the prime market both home and abroad.
Best of the younger cows (under 48 mths) regularly 220- 240p kg with 6 young cows (44-46 mths) from M A Piper & Son Farms selling to 243p (6 av, £1652). Fed commercial cows 160 – 200p with the feeding men always there to keep extra competition in the equation. Fewer feeders overall and quite a number of cold plain outdoor types but finding their reward.
Blonde x 243p, £1734 M A Piper & Son Farms; Limousin x 230p, 229p, 223p, £1691, £1618, £1524 M A Piper & Son Farms, 228p, £1831 L E Humphreys & Sons, 214p, £1100 H & S Nesfield, 212p, 210p, £1607, £1603 Geoffrey Bates Ltd, 189p, £1234 A J Thompson & Sons, 183p, £1256 (Non FA) G W Fuller & Son; Simmental x 219p, £1584 M A Piper & Son Farms, 212p, £1681 L E Humphreys & Sons, 187p (2), 180p, £1324, £1184 A J Thompson & Sons; South Devon 188p, £1388 H & S Nesfield; Sussex 216p, £1455 L Stevens & Sons, 182p, £1407 (Non FA) R J Horsman, 166p, £1208 G W Fuller & Son;
Some good cows from the dairy sector and some lean cows, also, but selling well throughout to the strong competitive trade. Nothing really smart but maiden OTM Holstein Friesian heifers to 234p, £1401 from J E Scutt & Sons, and fleshed cows 150 – 175p kg grossing up to £1614 from Peter Forknall.
Plain cows 120 – 140p kg and only light weights under 100p kg.
Holstein Friesian 176p, 169p, 159p, £1588, £1376, £1331 J Warnock & Sons; 174p, £1614 P J Forknall; 167p, 158p, £1241, £1128 R C & J L Pickering; 166p, £1101 H O Champneys Ltd; Guernsey 145p, £889 R C & J L Pickering; Jersey’s 92p, £439 S E Lane & Partners.
Bulls (3) A younger Sussex (under 48 mths) well sold at 148p, £1173 but plain tired out types around 100p kg.
Overall a very good trade throughout and good numbers wanted each week to satisfy demand.
Overage badly wanted by all. British Blue x OTM heifer 264p, £1594; Sussex OTM heifer 241p, 239p, £1407; Simmental x steer (horns) 3 year old + 215p, £1298; Hereford x steers 3 year old + 205p, £1584; Angus x heifer 3 year old + 202p, £1411.

Beef Cows – 48 Sold – Top 243, Average 176.6
Dairy Cows –27 Sold – Top 176, Average 136.9

Store Cattle – 166 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357 & James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

A different balance within the sale today with the buying strength coming from a more local quarter, together with several buyers from away, but some of the Blue Tongue tracings are causing short term headaches to buyers and feeders as APHA struggle to come to terms with what they are trying to achieve and end up delaying farming business here in the South East & East Anglia.
A good medium sized entry of cattle with a fine run of single suckled yearlings from D G & J W Gore leading the field with their Limousin x steers to £1135 and Limousin x heifers to £1060.
Generally, the strongest trade remains for the short term cattle; The out wintered and open yarded stock that can face the early spring weather; And the hardy quality youngsters that are so badly wanted for the years grazing season.
Top price today to 3 hard Limousin x Friesian 24 mths steers from David Ward at £1290.

Principal Prices include: 

Continental cross

15mths Limousin cross bull – £1130 – Miss H Dent
9-12mths Stabiliser cross steers – £880 – F Pearce & Sons
11mths Stabiliser cross heifers – £730 – F Pearce & Sons
10-11mths Limousin cross steers – £1135/£1100/£1040/£1030 – D G & J W Gore
10-11mths Limousin cross heifers – £1240/£1060/£900 – D G & J W Gore
15mths Limousin cross steer – £1165 – Newline Learning
9mths Limousin cross heifers – £640 – A W Vincent
22mths Simmental cross heifers – £990 – A Smith & Son
15-20mths Stabiliser cross steers (O/W) – £650 – A & N Bullen
20mths Stabiliser cross heifer(O/W) – £630 – A & N Bullen
22mths British Blue cross steers (O/W) – £1225/£1190/£1060 – D J Cornforth
22mths British Blue cross heifers (O/W) – £1065 – D J Cornforth
24-27mths Charolais x Friesian steers – £1195/£1095 – J Mountfort
24-27mths British Blue x Friesian steers – 1140 – J Mountfort

Native Bred

9-10mths Angus cross steers – £980 – Llewellyn Farms
10mths Angus cross heifers – £780 – Llewellyn Farms
10-11mths Angus cross steers – £885 – D G & J W Gore
10-11mths Angus cross heifers – £660 – D G & J W Gore
13mths Angus x Friesian steers – £655 – A W Vincent
21mths Sussex steers – £1160 – N A Balcomb & Son
22mths Sussex cross heifers – £1150 – J H & A H Godden

Calves – 52 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

A few more calves than anticipated but all very much welcome and in demand. Trade has perhaps settled a little for now with best calves selling above the £300 mark with more middling types holding firm.
A decent selection of bulls forward today with Blues topping the entry at £320 & £300 from J E Scutt & Sons, £300 also topped the entry from H O Champneys Ltd with others to £280. Simmentals from the same home to £280. Angus bulls topped at £250 for an excellent run of calves from J C & S K Williams with others to £220 from Kingcott Dairy and J E Scutt & Sons. A single Hereford from Goddard & Son selling for £125.
Heifers lighter in numbers this week with best Blues to £240 from J E Scutt & Sons, Simmentals from H O Champneys Ltd to £220. Only Angus natives this week with tops of £190 from H O Champneys Ltd, a lovely heifer from regular vendor P J Forknall looking well sold to £180.
Dairy calves few and far between trade easier, best to £60 for Holsteins from J E Scutt & Sons and Swedish Red from Kingcott Dairy the same. Second grade calves also a little easier as with bobbies.
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 – 12 – Ave £220.42 – Top £320 – J E Scutt & Sons
Simmental cross – 1 – Ave £280 – Top £280 – H O Champneys Ltd
Aberdeen Angus cross – 12 – Ave £179.17 – Top £250 – J C & S K Williams Ltd
Hereford cross – 1 – Ave £125 – Top £125 – Goddard & Son

Heifer Calves

British Blue cross – 9 – Ave £147.22 – Top £240 – J E Scutt & Sons
Simmental cross – 1 – Ave £220 – Top £220 – H O Champneys Ltd
Aberdeen Angus cross – 7 – Ave £121.43 – Top £190 – H O Champneys Ltd

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 6th February 2024

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

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