Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 6th February 2024

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Finished Hoggets – 1,049 Sold

Top price per kg: 361p – N A Balcomb & Son
Top price per head: £169 – N A Balcomb & Son

A smaller entry this week and, in line with Monday’s markets, numbers are low, prices are high. The highest average we have seen in quite some time at 310p with an average price per head for finished sheep of just a fraction under £140. This trade is literally on fire now, but we have often seen it level out following sharp increases. We do advise to take this price while its available and not to wait for more as number will start to roll out again in the coming weeks. The Balcomb family topped both charts this week with top price per kilo and per head at 361p and £169 respectively. Prices were very strong throughout with many sheep over £150.

37kg – £133.50 (361p/kg) – N A Balcomb & Son
39kg – £120.00 (308p/kg) – A B Jones & Partners
40kg – £136.00 (340p/kg) – Stone Farms Ltd
41kg – £140.00 (341p/kg) – R F & E A Simmons
42kg – £136.00 (324p/kg) – Stone Farms Ltd
43kg – £147.00 (342p/kg) – R L Pack
44kg – £143.50 (326p/kg) – R L Pack
45kg – £146.00 (324p/kg) – R L Pack
46kg – £146.00 (317p/kg) – R L Pack
47kg – £148.00 (315p/kg) – S & V Bullock
48kg – £150.00 (313p/kg) – R L Pack
49kg – £148.50 (303p/kg) – J Farrant
50kg – £147.00 (294p/kg) – J G & D G D White
51kg – £152.50 (299p/kg) – Langrish Farmers
52kg – £164.00 (315p/kg) – R L Pack
53kg – £165.00 (311p/kg) – N A Balcomb & Son 

Averages (p/kg)

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 51 – Top 361, Average 320.4
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 494 – Top 342, Average 307.5
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 348 – Top 324, Average 295.8
Other 52.1+ kgs – 156 – Top 315, Average 261.2

Store Sheep – 408 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Less of these on offer this week with a little over 400 in the pens, but the trade was once again on fire with a top price of £125 for some forward types form A & H Edmonds and an overall average of £90. Only long term lambs below £80 but a real boost in price felt here following on from the finished price.

Cull Sheep – 682 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewe: Top £139.00 – Stone Farms Ltd – Ave £85.39
Ram: Top £44.00 – C & J Georgetti & Sons – Ave £108.29

A good trade from start to finish with averages up for the larger show of ewes in the pens. The best ewes regularly £105 – £125 to a top price of £139 for cracking Suffolk cross ewes from Stone Farms Ltd. Medium sorts £75 – £95. Grazing types £45 – £65  with little seen below these figures. Demand is strengthening as the prime sheep get dearer and regular buyers looking for all grades of ewes. Festival season is very much earlier this year. Do not hesitate to get them booked in with us at Ashford.

Top prices included

Suffolk cross to £139 from Stone Farms Ltd, Texel cross to £138 from H V Link Partnership, Beltex cross to £136 from Stone Farms Ltd, Mules to £109 from Stone Farms Ltd, Romney to £100 from E Stretton

Breeding Ewes – 131 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Today we saw a flock dispersal of North Country Mule ewes, in – lamb to Texel rams scanned at 197% and due from the 23^rd of March onwards. The best of the ewes topped at £175 with the tegs topping at £168 leaving the whole run averaging £157.50. Please do inform us of any breeding sheep that you have to sell in the coming weeks.

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  65 Sold

Auctioneer:Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Terrific numbers again with, perhaps, a few less of the best and a few more commercial types met another very strong enquiry but just off the very high levels of the past two weeks.
Quality certainly making their deserved premium rates with 8 cattle over 300p and 5 grossing in excess of £2000. Marvellous cattle from M B Farms led the day with their heifers to 324p and 323p £2200 and their steers at 320p and 318p £2093.
Top draw beef bred cattle generally 280-310p with a strong show from our regular breeders and feeders.
A few more finished cattle with dairy origin but continuing at strong rates when carrying good finish. George Sim sold Blue x Friesians steers to 281p and £1952 whilst Alan Down had Limousin x Friesians to 276p £1759, Herefords to 259p £1525, Friesians to 250p £1447, and Dairy Shorthorns to 240p £1341.
A big show of Sussex amongst the natives and a very strong demand for all weights. Sussex steers to 268p £1482 A H Hoad & Son, heifers to 266p from Dan Mackelden Ltd. Strong Angus x steers from J & A Lyon sold to £2034 (262p), their heifers to £1778. Angus x heifers from M J Ashworth sold to 269p £1607. Longhorn heifers to 245p £1382. British White heifers to 241p. Angus young bull to 255p £1412 from the Montreal Estate.

Top Steers

M B Farms – Limousin – 320p/kg (£2093)
M B Farms – Limousin – 318p/kg (£1937)
S Husk – British Blue cross – 307p/kg (£1793)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 297p/kg (£1542)
W G Vant & Sons – Limousin cross – 296p/kg (£1847)

Top Heifers

M B Farms – Limousin – 324p/kg (£2200)
M B Farms – British Blue cross – 323p/kg (£2000)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Blonde cross – 314p/kg (£1803)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 311p/kg (£1646)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 307p/kg (£1487)

Average Prices

Steers up to 550kg – 4 sold – Top 297p – Ave 264p
Steers 551 to 650kg – 16 sold – Top 318p – Ave 270p
Steers over 651kg – 12 sold – Top 320p – Ave 272p
Heifers up to 500kg – 10 sold – Top 307p – Ave 261p
Heifers 501 to 590kg – 13 sold – Top 314p – Ave 271p
Heifers over 591kg – 9 sold – Top 324p – Ave 275p
Bulls up to 650kg – 1 sold – Top 255p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 66 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Quality was good overall with plenty of flesh, a good number of younger types and only one cow from the dairy sector – and that was a good one!
Buyers strong from start to finish and keen to secure numbers that are clearly declining nationally and an overall average of over 180p speaks volumes.
The younger fleshed cows regularly 200-240p with the best of the feeders pushing to 260p. Commercial meat 180-210p with 11 cattle up over £1500. Not so many older feeders forward today but all wanted.
Limousin x 260p, 216p £1498, £1414 (Non FA) G & R Bailey, 230p, 217p, 204p £1689, £1486, £1423 M A Piper & Son Farms, 199p £1429 R F & E A Simmons, 191p £1238 L Smith; Sussex 249p, 232p, 225p, 193p(2) £1563, £1563, £1516,£1319 Gillshaw Farms, 214p, 207p, £1761, £1693 Montreal Estate, 195p £1410 A H Hoad & Son, 182p, 179p £1388, £1205 Earl de La Warr; Angus x 223p £1713 R P Kent & Son; Simmental x 221p, 176p(2) £1687, £1333, £1272 M J Ashworth, 183p, 180p, 178p £1413, £1360 R P Kent & Son; White Park x 199p £1320 R F & E A Simmons; South Devon 187p, 185p £1522, £1427 Gardners; British Blue x 185p £1476 Gardners.
Just the one Black & White cow, from R P Kent & Son at 176p £1413
Overage (15) Non stop demand in this section and more wanted each week.
Sussex OTM heifers 264p, 249p £1516, £1502; Sussex OTM steers 255p 251p (2) £1565, £1503, £1428; Hereford OTM steer (Horned) 228p £1331; Hereford x OTM heifers 227p, 225p, 220p £1591, £1538, £1529; Sussex steer 10yo+ 166p £1655.
Keep Finding Them! Many Thanks.

Beef Cows – 54 Sold – Top 260, Average 181.5
Dairy Cows –1 Sold – Top 176

Store Cattle – 36 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A small entry this week of mostly hard coated yearling types met an enthusiastic company of buyers looking for the right types to graze.

Principal Prices include: 

23mths Sussex bulls – £905 – Earl de la Warr
12-13mths British Blue x Friesian heifers – £715/£530 – Jack Highwood
9-12mths Angus cross steers – £825/£735 – T Beesley
9-12mths Angus cross heifers – £695/£625 – T Beesley

Store & Finished Pigs – 47 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Finished (29) – Slightly more numbers than expected with quality and weights improved. All selling on an improved trade from a fortnight ago. Best pigs by a country mile today from Snowfields Academy looking well sold to 160p or £184. A lovely run of white pigs from P & R Marshall topped at 145p. A few coloured pigs in the mix reflected in the averages, but even these were a better trade.
Cull (5) – More life in the cull section, as well, and certainly not a vintage entry. Tops 40p or £132 from M Wilson for a sow. A nice young boar from P & R Marshall topped at 65p.
Stores (13) – Oxford Sandy and Black Boar weaners from Woodlands Farm Trust in one lot to £25.

A polite request to all vendors to please pre enter all pigs on the Monday morning prior to a pig sale. This is to help us to help you by ensuring that buyers are kept up to date with entries.

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 13th February 2024

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here