Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 9th January 2024

Sheep Sales Reports

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Finished Hoggets – 1,315 Sold

Top price per kg: 341p – C A Worley Farming Ltd
Top price per head: £155.50 – D J Morphett

A larger entry of hoggs on offer this week with a good show of dry and empty sheep in the pens. Perhaps less overall quality on offer than last week but trade was very strong throughout for all types. With the recent poor weather conditions, we see a good number of hoggets come onto the market which are not quite finished. This, in turn, will boost the prices of the best finished sheep which was very evident yesterday with top end hoggets selling to 341p kg and above £150 head on occasions. The Sussex sellers were out in force this week with a super run of finished sheep from C H Ellis Ltd selling to a top price of £140,   and a grand run of over 300 Suffolk Mules from H J Hecks & Son topping out at £124.50. Hogget numbers are low now and the trade is strong…. Selling now, if the sheep are fit, may be the best move this year to avoid periods of oversupply?
Clean and dry sheep were best sold on the day, please make use of the overnight lairage facility every Monday that is available from 2pm.

36kg – £112.00 (311p/kg) – T Russell
37kg – £108.50 (293p/kg) – G H S Wilson
38kg – £118.00 (311p/kg) – C A Worley Farming Ltd
39kg – £133.00 (341p/kg) – C A Worley Farming Ltd
40kg – £134.00 (335p/kg) – N A Balcomb & Son
41kg – £121.50 (296p/kg) – John Monnington Farms Ltd
42kg – £128.00 (305p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
43kg – £129.50 (301p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
44kg – £136.00 (309p/kg) – D J Morphett
45kg – £130.50 (290p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
46kg – £130.50 (284p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
47kg – £140.00 (298p/kg) – C H Ellis Ltd
48kg – £132.00 (275p/kg) – A Denning
49kg – £138.00 (282p/kg) – J G & D G D White
50kg – £155.50 (311p/kg) – D J Morphett
54kg – £120.00 (222p/kg) – N A Balcomb & Son
57kg – £144.00 (253p/kg) – D R Thompson
60kg – £138.00 (230p/kg) – Masters Farms 

Averages (p/kg)

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 173 – Top 341, Average 289.1
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 855 – Top 341, Average 274.2
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 237 – Top 311, Average 266.4
Other 52.1+ kgs – 43 – Top 290, Average 259.3

Store Sheep – 506 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

A flying trade for store hoggets this week with over 500 in the pens and a strong buyer attendance. The finished price has boosted demand and confidence here and a few dry days has certainly made everyone feel more optimistic to say the least…. Best half meated stores were over £100 head this week and topped at £110 from J H & A H Godden with others over £100 from A R Dunlop, P Bates, and B J Barker. Medium types were trading from £75-90 and only very long termers below these figures.

Cull Sheep – 494 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Ewe: Top £152.00 – E Stretton – Ave £79.45
Ram: Top £109.00 – Masters Farm – Ave £78.08

Similar numbers in the pens with a mixed entry of ewes throughout. The best ewes £100 – £120 generally, and to a top price of £152 from E Stretton for cracking Texel ewes. Medium sorts plentiful with majority £70 – £90 and looking well sold on the day. Leaner grazing types £35 – £55 throughout and certainly no dearer with the recent weather making conditions a little harder. The best fleshed ewes are being well rewarded, and this will remain the case with numbers staying tight.  We have a good number of customers every week for all grades of ewes. Please do inform me of any large consignment of ewes that you intend on selling in the coming weeks.

Top prices included

Texel to £152 – E Stretton, Suffolk cross to £133 – Masters Farms, Charollais to £124 – N A Balcomb & Son, Texel cross to £120 – Langrish Farmers, Mules to £118 – Masters Farms, Romney to £102 – N A Balcomb & Son

 

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  37 Sold

Auctioneer:Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A really sharp, bright trade for the finished cattle with all buyers keen for stock, recognising the shortage of cattle in the pipeline and seeing retail demand strengthen in this cold snap which looks likely to stay for somewhile.
All grades dearer with the well covered stock of any category and weight much sought after. The few keeping types on offer very dear reflecting the confidence for the future.
Highlight this week a pair of very smart Limousin heifers from Brian Baker selling at 317p and 308p, realising £2245 and £2231. Steers led by the consistent quality of W Alexander (Shoreham) with his Limousin to 298p £1909 (4 av 291p).
Well fleshed dairy bred cattle all in demand with Alan Down`s Limousin steers to 285p, £1900 and Brian Goodsell`s Limousin heifer to 274p, £1545.
Native cattle in short supply this week and trade sharp for all on offer. Angus x heifers from D W Ferguson Ltd to 285p, £1565; their Herefords to 266p, £1434; whilst a nice trio of well-shaped Sussex steers from N A Balcomb & Son to 280p (3 av 277p).

Top Steers

W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 298p/kg (£1904)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 292p/kg (£1909)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 290p/kg (£1606)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 285p/kg (£1721)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 285p/kg (£1437)

Top Heifers

B J Baker – Limousin – 317p/kg (£2231)
B J Baker – Limousin – 308p/kg (£2244)
G L Boulden & Sons – Limousin cross – 295p/kg (£1634)
C & J Georgetti & Sons – Limousin cross – 285p/kg (£1835)
D W Ferguson Ltd – Aberdeen Angus cross – 285p/kg (£1565)

Average Prices

Steers up to 550kg – 4 sold – Top 285p – Ave 279p
Steers 551 to 650kg – 15 sold – Top 298p – Ave 269p
Steers over 651kg – 7 sold – Top 292p – Ave 270p
Heifers 501 to 590kg – 5 sold – Top 295p – Ave 280p
Heifers over 591kg – 6 sold – Top 317p – Ave 288p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 124 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

It is always pleasing to have our advice in the market report not only read, but also acted upon! Culls are best in the New Year! Thank You.
A tremendous entry of 124 cull cows and overage cattle meeting a superb trade throughout with fresh faces around the ring to add to the intensity of New Year demand for both immediate processing beef but also the feeding cows that will come forward in coming months.
Best of the younger beef cows 200-250p; plenty of best fleshed meat cows 170-190p; and the older feeding cows all in demand with little under 150p.
Limousin x 246p, £1313 L Palmer & Son 194p, 184p, 177p, £1500 J Berryman 189p, £1517 M A Piper & Son 188p, £1228 C & J Georgetti & Sons 182p, £1261 (Non FA) J C Loveridge 179p, £1187 (Non FA) J Bull 170p, £1542 (Non FA) R A Wade; Sussex 198p, 178p,  £1600 M A Piper & Son, 179p, 176p, 175p, £1223, £1222, £1150 N A Balcomb & Son, 178p, £1402 Torry Hill Farms, 172p, £1158 Gardners; Charolais x 185p, £1125 J Berryman, 182p, £1443 (Non FA) R A Wade; South Devon 183p, £1661 Gardners; Hereford x 178p, £1287 J Berryman; Devon 176p, £1351 (Non FA) Brockhill Park;
Some very good cows from the dairy sector having gained that extra weight and condition over the last 6 weeks. A smart fleshed UTM cow to 210p from W F Farms. Demand very strong for all grades with the heavy meat types 150-175p; and even the leaner boning types looking very well sold at 110-130p.
Holstein Friesian 210p, 174p, £1492, £1173 W F Farms; 169p, 163p, 159p, 155p, £1373, £1220, £1144, £1120 Huddlestone Farmers; 167p (2), 161p, !58p, £1307, £1298, £1244 W G & T A Manford; British Friesian 166p, 165p, 164p, £1308, £1307, £1241 B J Goodsell & Son; Holstein 159p (2) £1434, £1411 P Forknall; Guernsey 156p, 142p, £1127 W G & T A Manford; Jersey 118p, 110p, £548, £443 S E Lane & Ptnrs.
Overage (16) Some marvellous cattle in our ‘Under the Stairs’ section. Quality Blue x heifers from R J T Farms 32-33 mths fought over to both feed and slaughter selling to 284p, £1814 (9 av 277p, £1675). Others of note Sussex x heifer 45 mths 252p, £1522; Limousin x heifer 46 mths 212p, £1618; Sussex heifer 32 mths 204p, £1811.

Beef Cows – 71 Sold – Top 246, Average 165.8
Dairy Cows –36 Sold – Top 210, Average 148.6

Pigs – 67 sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Finished (36) – A decent entry to start the year for the finished section selling on a seasonal trade proving harder work than they have been for a while. Best pigs today to 150p or £145 from M Godden. Heavier pigs from P & R Marshall topped at 120p. Lighter pigs and coloured more difficult to place with value to be had for the right jobs.
Cull (6) – A similar story with the cull trade today with buyers just a little cautious with lots of numbers still about. Best sows to 42p from P & R Marshall with most 30-40p. Boars harder work still.
Stores (25) – A trade to reflect the finished section with mainly coloured pigs forward. Plenty of demand at a price with weaners to £28 from J & S Bull. Berkshire stores from the Canterbury Oast Trust to £37.

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 – 16th January 2024

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

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