Weekly Sales News – 10th April 2018

Top price per head – £175  – R H Smith; Top price per kilo – 326p – Dan Mackelden Ltd

Report on trade Well last week we stated that records had been broken in the hogget section for the overall trade and this week we smashed those records once again, with a fantastic entry of quality, well bred and well presented hoggets on offer.  Out of the entire entry of 2200, only 13 lots offered sold below £100, with these only being the lighter weights and leaner sorts.

Top price this week was a fantastic £175 from R H Smith but several runs of sheep sold in excess of £150 with the best heavies making around £160 from M R Woodroofe, L J & J P Bolton, R F & E A Simmons and others. These heavy offerings were selling between 270p-280p which is certainly again a record. Smarter continental types for the export market were also well sold with the vast majority of these selling around 300p to a top price of 326p from Dan Mackelden Ltd. C A Worley Farming Ltd also sold Beltex hoggets to £120 and £128 for 40kg and 41kg respectively.

A small entry of new season lambs this week with less quality on show in comparison to last week. Early lambs producers are clearly having a difficult time with the current weather conditions but those who are managing to present lambs for sale are being well rewarded with prices in the region of 300p and only the leaner offering dropping below that level. Top spot was taken by some heavy Dorset cross lambs from Bocketts Farm at £143.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities and dagging are available every Monday evening.

Sheep sales here in Ashford are supported by buyers representing a large cross section of abattoirs throughout the country. Please ensure your FABBL status is up to date and if you are not FABBL assured seriously consider becoming so – certain buyers are restricted to the purchase of only farm assured stock.

Report on trade: Again an absolute flying trade for a good quality entry of ewes. Everything penned returned an overall average of just under £100 which could be as dear as they have ever been but this is unconfirmed as we have seen ewes at tremendous levels occasionally in the recent years.

Most of the meated ewes made in excess of £100 to a top price of £158 from R F & E A Simmons, closely followed by L Andreozzi at £148 and P N & C Burden at £142.50. Very few leaner sorts were on offer this week.

Top prices this week included crossbred ewes to £158 from R F & E A Simmons, Charollais ewes to £148 from L Andreozzi, Suffolk crosses to £142.50 from P N & C Burden, Romneys to £109 from R G Hobbs Farms Ltd and Mules to £118.50 from A C Hulme & Sons

Report on trade: Another strong trade for store hoggets with confidence high as finished hoggets get dearer by the week. All best stores made £85 plus and topping at £102 for a pen of Texel crosses from E J Stanford & Sons while only small long term sorts selling below £75.

A run of 190 Mule ewe hoggets from T Crick attracted lots of interest with the majority selling around £105 per head and up to £109.

A small entry of ewes and lambs sold well up to £144 (£57.60 per life) from Saw Lodge Farm.

Report on trade: A similar sized entry met a good demand through the whole sale. First offered were strong various breed lambs from N A Balcomb & Son making £16 to £32. Young lambs and triplets generally made £5 to £20 with ewe lambs a premium and “on the bottle and growing” lambs all £20 to a top call of £33. Average £16.36.

Entries will increase for the next few weeks and they will be sold at 10.30am in the calf shed.

Report on trade: Quality was in short supply with the few smart butcher types making around 215p notably Limousin cross heifers at £1104 (215p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and £1086 (214p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). The best cattle with weight made just short of 200p with the pick grossing well up to £1336 (197p) for a Limousin cross steer again from W Alexander (Shoreham) and a Blonde cross steer at £1224 (198p) from G L Boulden & Sons.

Another run of continental x Friesian steers from A J Down sold at similar levels around 185p and up to £1127 (190p) while a Sussex steer sold at £1020 (183p) from B G & M A Tomsett and Friesian steers up to £1086 (158p) from R Price & Son.

There is plenty of competition for all cattle on offer with 9 successful buyers for a relatively small entry.

Report on trade: Whilst we cannot compete with the speed of the price increase enjoyed by the sheep section cull cows have enjoyed long term steady improvement for a considerable time and yesterday was again no exception! Prices were exceptional across all grades and while it is the best fleshed heavyweights that generally catch the headlines but there was no doubting yesterday that the lean medium weight culls straight from the parlour were an outstanding trade.

Overall the entry saw more flesh on offer with dairy farmers in the South East fortunate to have more feed and straw than their counterparts in the North and West and lifting condition scores has paid handsomely.  Beef cows were again in short supply, fleshed cows very dear and graziers were competed for by a large attendance of buyers. Keep looking at cows for those not working hard enough for you and replace them when the opportunity arises!

A first rate young Aberdeen Angus x Charolais cow, non assured, but with a summers feeding in front of her from K Bugden topped the day at 176p with other grazers of all ages making 110p-150p. Heavyweight Limousins 160p, 150p and £1464, £1443 from N Gould, 159p A J Thompson & Sons and 158p and £1205 MB Farms; Charolais cross 153p, 147p £1273, £1194 (Non FA) R J & C S Wratten and 149p £1255 L A Charman & Ptnrs; Aberdeen Angus 144p £1083 R J & C M Greengrow; Aberdeen Angus cross 141p G L Boulden & Sons and 139p A J Thompson & Sons.

Holstein Friesian 143p and £1267 WF Farms, 139p M W Goddard and 133p and £1126  Oncoland Ltd; British Friesian 143p, 140p, 138p(4), 137p(4), 136p, £1229, £1128, £1078 PHR Farms and 138p £1038 Goddard & Son; Dairy Shorthorn 137p, 133p R L W Parrett; and Jersey 100p £503 Bocketts Farm Ltd.

Bulls were wanted with a  young Montbelliarde 140p £1018 and Simmental 104p £1340.

Report on trade: This week saw marvellous show of store cattle with a big percentage of single suckled beef bred continental cross and Aberdeen Angus cross yearlings. The quality on offer proved an obvious attraction with all the main buyers in attendance competing for all on offer ensuring favourable prices throughout.

The best of the continental cross yearling steers sold in excess of £1100 and up to £1170 from M J Ashworth and H J Emery & Son and fleshed heifers up to £1000 again from M J Ashworth. Other top runs of real quality included W S Furnival (Brookland) Ltd, L Smith and W G Watkins & Sons.

A good selection of Aberdeen Angus cross cattle were well received with a superb yearling steer  topping the market at £1300 from J Prior & Son and Aberdeen Angus x Charolais to £1160 from A J Strand & Sons. A run of youngsters from L A Charman & Ptnrs sold exceptionally well with steers and heifers to £865 and £780 respectively while older dairy bred Aberdeen Angus crosses looked well sold with steers and heifers to £1170 and £980 from E J Gribble. Again heifers suitable for breeding attracted good premiums notably purebred Sussex heifers at £975 from J C & C Lewis.

Large entries are now expected for the next 6 to 8 weeks ­- if you have cattle to sell please ring any of our team of auctioneers and fieldsmen for advice and to ensure cataloguing and proper advertising within our sales.

Principal prices include:                                                                                                                  

Sale report – Friday 6^th April

Sussex Cattle Societies Spring Show and Sale of Pedigree Breeding Cattle – 11 Bulls and 11 Females Sold

Report on trade: The bull sale was again the highlight of this spring event. The female entry was disappointing in size. This “Great British Beef” breed is still first choice for many farmers in the South East with supporters from further afield too in the mix providing solid demand for breeding stock. Finishers, butchers and meat wholesalers are next down the line in helping to provide the right economic basis for the continued strength of the breed.

Young John Hickman, farming at the Sissinghurst Castle estate, was judge for the day and chose a male champion from Chandler & Dunn’s Goldstone herd based in East Kent, Poll Stargazer 5^th. Reserve champion was Mrs W G Buchanan’s Poll Stargazer 1^st from their Black Ven herd kept on a farm in Nutley near Uckfield, East Sussex.

Female champion was Chandler & Dunn’s maiden heifer, Poll Gaiety 77^th with L Stevens & Sons Boxted herd producing the reserve, Boxted Heedless 32^nd from their Sittingbourne, Kent based herd.

The sale ring saw Wright Farm Ptnrs, East Guldeford purchase the champion for 5,000gns, T Monnington from Chichester the Boxted bull for 4200gns and Mrs Jane Howard, Wadhurst the reserve champion  at 2400gns. Two other bulls caught the buyers attention being Spanton & Patersons Maygate Poll Jupiter making 3200gns to Box Farm Ptnrs, Andover, Hampshire and C E & W S Millson, Goudhurst, Kent’s  Trottenden Poll Major 3^rd making 3,000gns to F A Starley, Henfield.

The female sale saw 3 young in calf cows from J & S Harmer, Lewes, East Sussex make 1000gns each to new breeder Ian Fribbins, Buxteda cow and calf 1570gns and the champion female 1000gns to Phillip Ashby, Corsham , Wiltshire and the Stevens Boxted heifer, 1200gns to Simon Hasemore, Rochester.

Averages: 11 bulls 2590 gns, 3 young in calf cows 1,000gns, 3 mature maiden heifers 1091 gns and 4 young maidens 545gns.

Report on trade: Again we report not a large entry but this weeks sale produced an excellent trade with plenty of competitive bidding for all classes of calves. The entry was particularly short on continental crosses and as always the beef crosses were very much in demand.

First in the ring were 7 black and white bulls from Oncoland (February and March born) which made £20 to £78 averaging £50. Then 3 January born Aberdeen Angus cross bulls from Boty Farms made to £350 and averaged £330. J Warnock & Sons sold a mid December born British Blue heifer at £340 and January born black and white bulls to £100. Top calf on the day was from new vendors J C & S K Williams (Ed Williams and Bethan Davies) now farming at Beacon Farm, Woodchurch, whose March born British Blue bull made £340 and their black and whites to £80 with 5 averaging £70.40. Regular vendors M W Goddard, A & W J Hitchcock and W S Furnival Ltd also sold calves with Goddards January born black and white bull making £120, the Hitchcocks February Aberdeen Angus bulls to £250 and heifers £240 (all six offered making over £200) and Furnivals February born black and white bulls to £125.

Sales will be offered fortnightly again through the whole of 2018. Please keep in touch whether you are a buyer or seller.

Report on trade: It is very pleasing to report a spark in the trade and better demand than we have seen for a long time in this section. Spring and summer is at last on its way.

With a few more good finished pigs on offer at least half a dozen buyers looked to secure pigs and the best pigs all made either side of 100p per kg and the heaviest grossing nearly £100. D J Cole sold 12 making from 96p to 104p and averaging £79.

Cull sows were a better call too with the best 30p plus up to 34p and a shapely boar 32p.

Store and breeding pigs were offered with a saddleback sow and small team of six making £190 and Tamworth weaners and stronger feeders all £19 to £28.

Already entered for Tuesday 24^th April  – a Berkshire gilt with her first litter of 9 Pietrain cross piglets from Mr B Roberts

Sheep tags – farmers are reminded that all sheep require an electronic tag so we can record the number and return these details to you..

For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact

Elwyn Davies (Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263

Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357

Martin Crowhurst (Sheep & Cattle) 07710 803903 or 01797 343936

Simon Husk (Sheep & Cattle) 07885 968077 or 01304 842393

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07748 202688

John Rossiter (Cull ewes & store sheep plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

British Wool Board announcement re Wool sheets

Corrected – Tuesdays 17^th and 24^th April – Wool sheets will be available here in Ashford Market for farmers and smallholders to collect.

Hay, Straw and fodder

For Sale – 210 small twine wrapped bales of un-sprayed clean meadow hay from old lay made in July 2017. Ashford area. Collect only. Ring 01233 627087

For Sale – 47 round bales of 2017 season made haylage – analysed. Buyer to collect. 01303 840112

For Sale – up to 300 Class 4string rectangular bales of wrapped hayledge made for a 2^nd year seeds lay. Delivery can be arranged – mid Kent. Ring 07711167467

For Sale – Large quantity of 2017 ensiled forage maize – analysis available. East Kent. Ring 07739 490975

For Sale – 90 5’ round bales of 2017 season gathered spring barley straw and 100 similar sized bales of wheat straw, all stored inside – Kent / Sussex borders. Ring 07835 521800

For Sale – Organic Hay, Haylage & Silage, Big Square and rounds. All good quality – Available East Sussex/Kent border. Contact Buckhurst Estate: Sharon 01892 770220 or Warren 07836 378044

This register will now run until early May for further details please ring our auctioneers office on 01233 502222 or Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Miscellaneous livestock and general goods and services for sale and wanted ex farm

Wanted – visiting shepherd to the area is looking for a Border Collie to stand at stud to a working bitch. Phone 07860 469597

For Sale – 4 well bred British Blue bulls – East Kent. Ring Simon on 07885 968077

For Sale – 30mths old well bred and grown Simmental bull – East Sussex.

Wanted – work for an experienced relief lamber available for immediate start.  This is a farmers daughter able to help with feeding, bedding, walking out as well as lambing loking for a position  within 10mile radius of Folkestone. Ring 07838 215446.

South East Point to Point Meetings (www.pointingse.com)

The fixture list for the season has been circulated with this report recently. Further copies are available here in the market

Sunday 15^th April – Mid Surrey Farmers Drag; Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB, Surrey – 2.15pm

Saturday 21^st April – Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent; Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD – 2pm

Saturday 28^th April – Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray; Parham, West Sussex. RH20 2ER – 2pm

Saturday 12^th May – Surrey Union; Peper Harrow, Surrey. GU8 6LA – 2pm

Thursday 17^th May – Fontwell Park; United Hunts – 3pm.

RABI, FCN, Young Farmers Clubs and Kent Herdsmans Club News

RABI

Future fundraising events

Sunday 13^th May 2018 – Tour of Chapel Down Vineyard, Chapel Down Winery, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent TN30 7NG

Wednesday 27^th June – Champagne, Strawberries & Jazz at the Kent County Showground, Detling. ME14 3JF

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 14th May 2018 at 7.30pm – visit to Matt Cullen’s farm to view his Longhorn Cattle at Animal Farm, Mill Road, Staple, Canterbury. CT3 1LB.

For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Alan Jull 07708283220 or Jo Masters 01580 240568.

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Marathon man!! This year Mark Cleverdon.

Our Mark is hoping to fulfil a personal ambition to complete the London Marathon on Sunday 22^nd April.

The British Legion have provided him with his charity place to run and his aim is to raise £2000 (or more) in sponsorship for this worthy cause. Donations to support Mark and the British Legion can be made by logging into to his charity page – www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-cleverdon , Texting CYMA56 £10 to 70070 or passing your donation to Mark himself or adding your name to his sponsors form here in the market.

Mark says “barring injury or accidents I believe I am ready for this challenge. Your response to my fundraising efforts has been nothing short of amazing Thank you all so very much. My fund can be counted in thousands at present. I will advise a final figure shortly after the 22^nd April. Thank you all again”