Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 8th November 2022

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

New Season Lambs – 471 Sold

Top price per kg: 283p – H G Allen
Top price per head: £147 – H G Allen

A small entry of lambs with many not forward after the atrocious weather of recent days which has made ground conditions so tricky. Trade improved throughout the entry with averages up about 20-25p/kg. Better finished lambs in the entry really rang the bell today with a super run from Huw Allen topping out at £147, also taking the top price per kilo at 283p. Many other heavy types selling over £120 this week but to make the best prices they must be well finished and carrying weight. Smaller leaner sorts are still selling on a par with the stores.

Top Prices

37kg – £91.00 (246o/kg) – Langdon Farms
38kg – £94.00 (247p/kg) – N A Vincent
39kg – £99.00 (254p/kg) – A Body
40kg – £99.00 (248p/kg) – K Lukehurst
42kg – £105.00 (250p/kg) – N A Vincent
43kg – £120.00 (279p/kg) – A Body
44kg – £118.00 (268p/kg) – Langdon Farms
45kg – £114.00 (253p/kg) – H V Link Ptnsp
46kg – £130.00 (283p/kg) – H G Allen & Son
47kg – £125.00 (266p/kg) – L Stevens & Sons
48kg – £128.00 (267p/kg) – S & D Broad
49kg – £126.00 (257p/kg) – L Stevens & Sons
50kg – £131.00 (262p/kg) – L Stevens & Sons

Averages (p/kg)

Light 25.5 to 32 kgs – 39 – Top 280, Average 248.6
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 138 – Top 247, Average 230.5
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 191 – Top 279, Average 245.9
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 99 – Top 283, Average 255.8
Over 52.1 kgs – 3 – Top 245, Average 242.2

Cull Sheep – 561 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewes: Top £135 – C R & G Daws, Average £68.16
Rams: Top £192 – A Pickford, Average £92.17

Similar numbers, but with very few well fleshed ewes forward, and a large number of plainer sorts which has been the case for a while now. The best fleshed ewes were regularly £80-£110 to a top price on the day of £135 from C R & G Daws for some well done Suffolk Cross ewes. Medium sorts regularly £70-£90 with plainer grazing ewes £40-£65, to a top price of £76 from J Prior and Son for some well framed Suffolk Cross grazing ewes. A good trade all round with plenty of buyers competing well for all grades of ewes.

Top prices included:

Suffolk cross to £135 and £121 – C R & G Daws, Texel cross to £133 – H V Link Ptnsp, Texel cross to £121 – Link Bros, Romney cross to £118 – R Colby, Lleyn cross to £109 – J A Buggs & Son, Romney to £101 – Groombridge Farms Ltd

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle – 28 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

An improved trade on the week with a disappointing throughput considering the good prices of late. The high numbers in both the store and cull cow sections probably having an impact on the lack of numbers in the clean section.
Best continental cross beef bred cattle attracted prices in excess of 260p with a smart Limousin steer topping the market at £1673 (278p) from W G Vant & Sons and heifers to £1473 (266p) for Limousin from W Alexander (Shoreham) whose heavyweight Limousin steer grossed well to £1711 (270p). Dairy bred Limousin x Friesian steers looking well sold to £1546 (250p) from A J Down.
A bigger percentage of native bred cattle on offer with the pick including Hereford x Friesian steer £1620 (237p) from A J Down, Angus cross steers £1592 (240p) and £1569 (242p) from W S Furnival Ltd, Angus cross heifer £1341 (249p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and purebred Sussex steers £1513 (223p) from Sussex Herd Co Ltd and £1234 (227p) from A H Hoad & Son.

More finished cattle to satisfy an improved demand leading up to Christmas.

Top Steers 

W G Vant & Sons – Limousin cross – 278p/kg (£1673)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 270p/kg (£1711)
W G Vant & Sons – Limousin cross – 263p/kg (£1653)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 263p/kg (£1483)
G L Boulden & Sons – Blonde cross – 257p/kg (£1590)

Top Heifers

W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 266p/kg (£1473)
G L Boulden & Sons – Blonde cross – 252p/kg (£1420)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Aberdeen Angus cross – 249p/kg (£1341)
J S & M D Antrum & Son – Aberdeen Angus cross – 224p/kg (£1350)
T F Russell – Aberdeen Angus cross – 215p/kg (£1308)

Average Prices

Steers up to 650kg – 18 sold – Top 278p – Ave 243p
Steers over 651kg – 3 Sold – Top 240p – Ave 233p
Heifers up to 590kg – 4 Sold – Top 266p – Ave 244p
Heifers over 591kg – 3 Sold – Top 224p – Ave 213p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 121 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A terrific entry of cows both in terms of numbers as well as overall quality. Trade every bit as strong as of late with competition intense between buyers from start to finish. Undoubtedly the 4 inches of rain in four days played its part but with numbers, nationally, remaining short and a high proportion of leaner beef cows being taken to feed I see no difficulties with the processing sector of the beef market. Some emphasis of boning resources will switch to prime beef for Christmas but with supplies tight in all sectors there will be less issues than in many years.
Young beef cows to kill or feed a fantastic trade and regularly 190-220p; commercial fleshed beef cows 170-190p and only the older and plainer below 150p. Gross returns superb with more than half of the entry over £1000/head.
Simmental cross 226p £1409 Langrish Farmers, 192p, 185p £1522, £1494 C & J Georgetti & Sons; Limousin cross 218p £1490 C & J Georgetti & Sons  196p, 190p £1611 A J Bray 195p £1284 (Non FA) J Bull; Sussex 213p, 211p £1318, £1252 J C & C Lewis, 208p £1382 L Stevens & Sons, 200p £1159 (Non FA) City of London, 197p £1150 J Hooker & Son; Angus  213p, 197p(2), 188p £1526, £1522 (2), £1496 Vexour, 179p 178p £1464, £1402 (Non FA) R D E Spencer; Charolais 198p, 186p £1381, £1353 R V A Stannard; Hereford 197p £1670 Vexour; Beef Shorthorn 189p £1338 R J T Farm Lands.
Competition just as strong, if not firmer, amongst the dairy culls. Few really well fleshed cows, not surprisingly, but the half meat types fast right the way through as retailers seek a product that little bit cheaper. Best meat over 180p but a lot of cows 140-170p and only the lightest and leanest below 120p. Fleshed Channel Island cows again very strong. Foreign cows finding plenty of custom.
Holstein Friesian 181p, 168p, 164p, 163p £1570, £1457, £1261, £1218 Appleton Farms; 178p, 167p £1411, £1369 J S & M D Antrum & Son; 167p, 166p, 158p £1167, £1140 W G & T A Manford; 160p, 155p £1228, £1091 J & J Binnington; 158p 156p £1189, £1089 Huddlestone Farmers; Guernsey 153p, 148p £1068, £1025 W G & T A Manford; Jersey 149p, 140p £943, £815 Hickson Bros; Danish Red Import 144p £947.
Stock Bulls (4) No stopping this trade. Angus 162p £1655; Limousin 170p, 165p, 158p.
A small show of overage clean beef and not very far behind the UTM prime cattle. Angus cross OTM heifer 229p £1291; Charolais cross OTM steer 223p £1424; Sussex OTM steer 215p £1542; Blue cross OTM heifer 208p £1492; Holstein 3+ steers 175p, 172p £1422.

Beef Cows – 70 Sold – Top 243.5, Average 163.1
Dairy Cows – 41 Sold – Top 180.5, Average 140.9

Store cattle – 488 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Probably the best quality show of store cattle this Autumn with several runs of choice suckled calves, and stronger stores to finish this winter.
The quality entry attracted a good attendance of potential buyers with several local beef producers competing well for the better bred heifers with breeding potential.
Plenty of customers keen for the weaned beef calves on offer with a run of Simmental cross bulls selling to £830 from Betchworth Estate Farms and smart Limousin cross steers topping the section at £900 from Gardners.
Stronger and older stores attracted prices in excess of £1100 with 22mths British Blue x Friesian steers topping the market at £1270 from J S & M D Antrum & Son closely followed by purebred Charolais steers at £1240 from R V A Stannard and top run of the day included 74 17mths Limousin cross heifers from E W & R E Hanks which sold to £1210 and averaged £990 overall.
Several native bred cattle on offer with purebred Hereford steers to £1180 from B C Ginger and big Friesian steers looked well sold at £1145, again from J S & M D Antrum & Son.
A small selection of breeding cattle with quality in calf registered Limousin heifers to £2300,  £2050 and £1800 from J Latham. A young purebred Limousin bull £1850 from L Smith.

Principal Prices

Continental Bred

8mths Simmental cross bulls – £830 – Betchworth Estate Farms
8mths Simmental cross steers – £850 – A Smith & Son
8mths Limousin cross steers – £900 – Gardners
8mths Limousin cross – £850 – Dr R J & Mrs C S Wratten
15mths Limousin cross steers – £900 G Husk
17mths Limousin cross heifers – £1210 – E W & R E Hanks
18mths Limousin cross steers – £1140 – A J Bray
18mths Limousin cross heifers – £1145 – A J Bray
18mths Simmental cross steers – £1040 – W J Hurley
18mths Simmental cross heifers – £1060 – W J Hurley
18mths Charolais steers – £1240 – R V A Stannard
19mths Limousin cross steers – £1200 – R J Husk
22mths British Blue x Friesian steers – £1270 – J S & M D Antrum & Son
22mths British Blue x Friesian heifers – £1250 – J S & M D Antrum & Son

Native Bred

9mths Sussex steers – £740 – City of London
15mths Sussex steers – £1060 – J C & C Lewis
16mths Hereford cross steers – £1000 – A G Dodd
16mths Hereford cross heifers – £920 – A G Dodd
20mths Hereford steers – £1180 – B C Ginger
20mths Friesian steer – £750 – R Winstone
22mths Friesian steers – £1145 – J S & M D Antrum & Son
22mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers – £1110 – Ross Farms

Calves – 90 sold

Auctioneer:Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Trade a little sharper today with buyers showing just a little more confidence, and arguably an improved entry in terms of quality.
British Blue bulls to £370 for an absolute stormer from D Murdoch & Sons, £285 from W F Farms and £280 from J E Scutt & Sons. Simmentals to £240 from R & J Ledger and £200 from Parrett & Son. A firmer trade for native bulls this week with tops of £170 and £150 from J W Boyd & Sons, £160 from P J Forknall and £140 from Goddard & Son. Herefords to £125 & £120 from Goddard & Son and £120 from R C & J L Pickering & Sons.
Heifer trade again firmer with tops of £250 for Blues from J E Scutt & Sons, and £240 topping a tremendous run of young calves from Hall Place Farms. Native heifers a little firmer but still seeing a little more hesitancy from buyers with Angus topping at £110 from Hall Place Farms and £105 from J W Boyd & Sons. Herefords to £125 and £115 from R C & J L Pickering and Sons.
Dairy bull entry stronger with more rearing calves this week. Tops of £100 for a strong Holstein Friesian from J E Scutt & Sons with most younger rearing types £20-£40.

Bull Calves

British Blue cross – 15 – Average £186 – Top £370
Aberdeen Angus cross – 5 – Average £148 – Top £170
Hereford cross – 4 – Average £118.75 – Top £125
Holstein Friesian – 22 – Average £30.18 – Top £100
Jersey cross – 1 – Average £30 – Top £30
Simmental cross – 2 – Average £220 – Top £240

Heifer Calves

British Blue cross – 17 – Average £156.65 – Top £250
Aberdeen Angus cross – 9 – Average £92.22 – Top £110
Hereford cross – 2 – Average £120 – Top £125
Limousin cross – 1 – Average £80 – Top £80

Steer Calves

Aberdeen Angus cross – 1 – Average £150 – Top £150
Hereford cross – 1 – Average £82 – Top £82
Holstein Friesian – 8 – Average £48.38 – Top £82
Limousin cross – 2 – Average £82 – Top £82

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 15th November 2022

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here