Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 4th February 2025

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Hoggets –1,550 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 368p kg – Miss Amy Hedges
Top price per head – £180.00 – C & J Georgetti & Sons

Not quite as busy today in the sheep pens as we have been for the last two weeks, with many vendors needing to be off winter keep by the end of January, and it often raises numbers on the Tuesdays that fall on these weeks. Trade was at a similar level again and seems quite stable with many better sheep over 250p/kg, but all included averages in the region of 320p/kg. More lightweight sheep this week with several pens of under 38kg hoggets on offer but these were very well sold and topped with some smart Beltex crosses from Miss Amy Hedges of the Cinderbank Flock. Heavier sheep were not in abundance, as we have seen recently, and prices were similar with the best offerings from £160-180 and topping at £180 from C & J Georgetti & Sons for some super Texel cross hoggs that were very well meated.

34 – £110.00 (324p kg) – N A Vincent
35 – £121.00 (346p kg) – M & R Morton Ltd
36 – £122.00 (339p kg) – M & R Morton Ltd
37 – £136.00 (368p kg) – Miss Amy Hedges
38 – £134.00 (353p kg) – N A Vincent
39 – £136.00 (349p kg) – M & R Morton Ltd
40 – £142.00 (355p kg) – Anna Almeida
41 – £137.00 (334p kg) – S P Howland
42 – £145.00 (345p kg) – M & R Morton Ltd
43 – £147.00 (342p kg) – P A Reeve
44 – £156.00 (355p kg) – K & P M Sinden & Sons
45 – £160.00 (356p kg) – D Smith
46 – £154.50 (336p kg) – Barleybrook Farm
47 – £154.00 (328p kg) – R & S L M Smith
48 – £165.00 (344p kg) – Barleybrook Farm
49 – £165.00 (337p kg) – John Monnington Farms Ltd
50 – £166.00 (332p kg) – John Monnington Farms Ltd
51 – £165.00 (324p kg) – H & J Noakes
52 – £177.00 (340p kg) – Miss Amy Hedges
53 – £167.00 (315p kg) – P Bates
54 – £158.00 (293p kg) – P Bates
55 – £166.00 (302p kg) – F J White & Sons
56 – £145.00 (259p kg) – G L Boulden & Sons
57 – £158.00 (277p kg) – John Monnington Farms Ltd
58 – £160.00 (276p kg) – John Monnington Farms Ltd
59 – £163.00 (276p kg) – G A Mitchell & Son
60 – £180.00 (300p/kg) – C & J Georgetti & Sons                               

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 302 – Top 368, Average 326.3
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 676 – Top 355, Average 319.1
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 385 – Top 356, Average 322.7
Other 52.1+ kgs – 166 – Top 335, Average 287.9

Store Hoggets – 460 sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Less on offer today, perhaps for similar reasons to the finished section, but there really is not the number of hoggets out there this year. Strong and forward types were still the most in demand, with these topping at £138 from J Carden, Herne Bay. Averages of over £100 still being seen every week and lots of buyers present to secure the stock and trade is stable each week.

Cull Sheep – 451 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Top price ewes: £265.00 – S P Howland – Ave. £120.06
Top price rams: £166.00 – H V Link Partnership – Ave. £122.59

A cracking trade throughout with more numbers forward than last week. The best ewes a very strong and regularly £130 – £160, to a top price of £265 from S P Howland for Texels followed by H V Link Partnership with Texels to £242. Medium sorts £90 – £120 on most occasions with leaner grazing types £50 – £80 and very few sold below these figures.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any ewes to sell in the coming weeks with buyers present every week for all grades of ewes.

Top prices included:

Texels to £265, £230 – S P Howland, Texel cross to £242, £217 – H V Link Partnership, Suffolk cross to £196 – A Pynn, Romneys to £160 – G A Mitchell & Son, Mules to £143 – John Monnngton Farms Ltd

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  40 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Another substantial leap forward with commercial RECORDS being OBLITERATED as the best fast approach the 400p/kg level, and only two cattle below 300p!!
Congratulations to Laurence Smith with his quality homebred Limousin steers selling to 394p £2529 (4 av 375p £2432). Other best beef bred types from William Alexander saw their Bazadaise steers to 371p £2279 and smart mediumweight heifers to 361p £1766.
Native Record to Stephen Furnival with a Sussex heifer at 352p £1881.
In fact, mostly dairy bred cattle forward today but carrying nice flesh, and with more buyers around the ring all grades were substantially dearer. Simmental x Friesian steers to 339p £2237 R C & J L Pickering; Hereford x 334p(2) £2100 A J Down; British Friesian steers 326p(2) £1888 A J Down; Blue x Friesian heifers 328p £2227 P W & P Sim; Hereford x Friesian heifers 320p £1789, Blue x Frisian heifer 332 £1872  R C & J L Pickering.
Natives saw Sussex heifers to 352p from W S Furnival; Angus heifers to 342 £1861 from B G & M A Tomsett whilst Angus steers from A C Hulme & Sons to 337p £2000.

Top Steers

L Smith – Limousin cross – 394p (£2361)
L Smith – Limousin cross – 387p (£2319)
L Smith – Limousin cross – 379p (£2517)
W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Bazadaise cross – 371p (£2529)
L Smith – Limousin cross – 340p (£2529)

Top Heifers

W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Limousin cross – 361p (£1766)
W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Limousin cross – 357p (£1747)
W S Furnival Ltd – Sussex – 352p (£1881)
B G & M A Tomsett – Aberdeen Angus cross – 342p (£1861)
Dan Mackelden Ltd – Sussex – 335p (£1572)

Average prices

Steers 200 to 550 kg – 4 – Top 328p – Ave. 323p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 18 – Top 394p – Ave. 339p
Steers 651 kg + – 4 – Top 379p – Ave. 335p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 4 – Top 361p – Ave. 337p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 8 – Top 352p – Ave. 329p
Heifers 591 kg + – 2 – Top 328p – Ave. 328p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 101 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

This must be seen to be believed! OUTSTANDING throughout and very pleasing to see more stock forward from West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey and Essex to benefit from this rapid escalation in price levels.
Best beef cows now well over 300p and £2200, with fleshed and feeding cows at superb levels as the future picture only shows tightening supply.
A C Hulme & Sons, Canterbury led the way with young meat Angus cows to 322p £2009 whilst top gross returns went to G W & B Bridges, Pease Pottage with Limousin x at £2222.
With overall averages for beef cows of 237p, and for dairy of 191p the story is clear enough to see, and whilst we recognise that culls are short, there can be no better time than now to have another look for appropriate candidates.
Angus x 322p, 270p, 262p, 254p(2) £2009, £1962, £1749, £1736 A C Hulme & Sons, 260p, 238p £1686, £1518 G Stokes; Limousin x 319p, 311p £1988, £1879 R F & E A Simmons, 280p, 278p, £2222, £2026 G W &B Bridges, 274p £1956 J C Loveridge, 253p £1780 W F Kirk; British Blue x 291p £1888 G W & B Bridges, 272p(2), 255p £1656, £1602, £1502 H Lucas; Charolais x 285p, 251p £1792, £1591 J C Loveridge; Sussex 275p £1482 J Taylor, 240p £1305 N Tiller; Saler x 266p £2164 Gardners; Blonde x 261p, 260p £1758, £1750 J C Loveridge; Simmental x 261p £1824 W J Hurley, 240p £1401 R C & J L Pickering, 221p £1444 R Padfield.
No real amount of flesh on offer amongst the dairy culls but all a phenomenal trade. Good empty types to 231p from R C & J L Pickering and grossing up to £1823 from J Warnock & Sons. Good feeding interest in some lean cows showing the disservice that some dairies are bringing to the interests of their producers – time for dissent!?
Holstein Friesian 231p, 217p, 213p, 212p, 205p, £1705, £1585, £1466, £1407, £1401 R C & J L Pickering; 215p, 201p, 199p, 195p(2) £1823, £1605, £1458, £1414 J Warnock & Sons; 190p, 182p £1261 D Murdoch & Sons.
Overage (9) More flesh and well received with plenty over 300p.
Sussex 3+ heifer 325p £1752; Sussex OTM steer 321p £1763; Longhorn 3+ steers 318p, 295p £1715; South Devon OTM heifer 305p £1888; Hereford x 3+ steer 292p £1836; Holstein 3+ steers 219p £1551.
Stock Bulls (2) Dearer.  Simmental 224p £2459. Hereford 185p £1753.

Beef Cows – 64 Sold – Top 322, Average 237.3
Dairy Cows – 20 Sold – Top 231, Average 190.8

 

Store & Breeding Cattle – 91 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

A different show of cattle than last week but trade on par with plenty of buyers forward and keen to get involved. Longhorn cows and calves from Gate Street Farm, Guildford to £1200 followed by E Chantler & Son, Maidstone with cracking Simmental x steers 6 mths to £1080. The last of the cattle sold from the Christie family, Dover topped at £1045 and Blue x Friesian steers 10-12 mths from P J & P B Wade, Hythe looked well sold at £950. Rougher coated sorts from D Hurst, Chilham saw Hereford x steers 10 mths to £890 and heifers from the same home £630. A cracking run from Friday Street Farmers, Hailsham topped at £1440 for Sussex x steers 12 mths with Lim x steers £1340 and Sussex x heifers £1140. Well done Hereford steers from H W Clayson, Canterbury 10 mths to £1385 with Lim x steers 10 mths again to £1360. A few older cattle with Mrs P Dumbreck, Edenbridge selling Sussex steers 21 mths to £1205, and Angus x Fr steers 23 mths from C Kearl, Dorking to £1270.
We expect a larger entry of store cattle for Tuesday 11^th February so do not hesitate to get in contact and take advantage of this current market trade.

Calves – 91 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A nice entry of fresh calves together with a mix of weaned 4-8m stirks met a strong trade throughout with a very good attendance of customers buoyed by the confidence in the cattle sector.
Fresh Calves (67)
Mostly Blues today and no shortage of customers, both local and away.
Blue x bulls topping at £362 for stronger types from Andrew Clifford-Baynes whilst Ellie Goddard sold 4 week bulls to £335. Peter Boyd, Peter Forknall, and Ben Ledger all close by at £298, £295, and £290 respectively. Blue x heifers to £236 from Will Hickson, plenty £170-£222 from Appleton Farms and J W Boyd & Sons.
A small show of Angus x but a sharp trade. Medium bulls generally £170-220; heifers £150-£166. A few Black & Whites £80-£100.
Weaned Calves (24)
A bit of a mixture from a wide area including Hampshire and West Sussex but positive competition even for stock lacking growth for age.
Shorthorn bull £500, steer £450 Garrett & Mannering; Blonde x steer 4m A Christie; Blue x Fr steers 7-8m £400 Stilwell Farms; Angus x Fr heifers 8m £315 D Rangecroft.

Bull Calves

British Blue cross – 21 – Ave £242.52 – Top £362.00 – M S Clifford-Baynes
Limousin cross – 2 – Ave £325.00 – Top £325.00 – M S Clifford-Baynes
Aberdeen Angus cross – 11 – Ave £146.27 – Top £222.00 – Goddard & Son
Hereford cross – 1 – Ave £145.00 – Top £145.00 – Goddard & Son
Dairy Shorthorn – 1 – Ave £500.00 – Top £500.00 – Garratt & Mannerings

Heifer Calves

British Blue cross – 19 – Ave £193.00 – Top £236.00 – Hickson Bros
Limousin cross – 2 – Ave £94.00 – Top £110.00 – M S Clifford-Baynes
Aberdeen Angus cross – 8 – Ave £118.38 – Top £202.00 – Goddard & Son

Steer Calves

Dairy Shorthorn – 1 – Ave £450.00 – Top £450.00 – Garratt & Mannerings

Steer weanling

British Blue cross – 1 – Ave £400.00 – Top £400.00 – Stilwell Farms Ltd
Blonde cross – 2 – Ave £315.00 – Top £400 – A Christie
Aberdeen Angus cross – 5 – Ave £302.00 – Top £350.00 – Stilwell Farms Ltd 

Heifer Weanlings

Blonde cross – 1 – Ave £180.00 – Top £180.00 – D Rangecroft
Aberdeen Angus cross – 3 – Ave £318.33 – Top £325.00 – Stilwell Farms Ltd
Hereford cross – 4 – Ave £210.00 – Top £300.00 – D Rangecroft
Salers cross – 4 – Ave £300.00 – Top £300.00 – D Rangecroft

 

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 11th February 2025

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here