Weekly Sales News – 10th January 2017

Report on trade: A larger entry this week with almost 2000 hoggets penned and we saw a similar trade to last week, if a couple of pence less on the returned averages due to the heavier sorts being slightly harder to sell. The heavies were back by about 8p per kg due to a large number of heavy types being marketed nationally in the larger finishing areas. Trade has taken a switch from the autumn where we saw heavy lambs selling at an equal price per kilo to the standard and medium weights which are now selling at an equal price per head to the heavy weights!

Well fleshed export grade hoggets once again exceeded made over 200p form L Stevens & Sons, with several others around 190p from P & C Bower Ptnrs and High Ridge Farm Partnership and the heavy weights topped at £87.50 from Mr A Jull.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities 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: A larger entry of ewes than anticipated this week as a result of people really starting to get going with scanning and clearing up any empties prior to the rumoured bad weather expected this weekend. Meated ewes were once again well sold on the day but the leaner sorts were harder to sell than they have been of late.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £80 form M Woodruffe & W G Watkin & Sons, continental ewes to £80, Mules to £68 from Master Beau Keeley and Romneys to £69.50 from Mr C Apps

Report on trade: Once again we saw a full row of stores on offer with several long term finishers but a flying trade throughout the entry was seen to a top price of £66.50 from J H & A H Godden. Stores are selling very well at the moment and those with lambs that are still lean may wish to consider selling in this section as an option to finishing. Please call us for advice on this matter. Averages Top £66.50 aver £55.08

Report on trade: Another small but quality entry of cattle found a very strong trade and more cattle could undoubtedly be sold to advantage. A large attendance of butchers and wholesalers competed strongly to secure stock. Across the country cattle numbers remain tight and look likely to remain so.

Some very good fed cattle were on offer with outstanding continentals from D W Ferguson Ltd topping both steer and heifer sections at 225p and 229p per kg respectively. Other good runs from W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd, G L Boulden & Son, and P N & C Burden readily made 200-216p. Commercial fleshed types generally made 180-200p.

Producers should be careful with fat which whilst wanted to a degree is certainly not wanted in excess!!

Cull Cows – 92 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: A tremendous day in the cow section with close to 100 culls and overage forward and well received by the processing sector and feeders alike who were in the mood to secure good numbers. Manufacturing meat is in short supply both at home and from abroad where the weakening of the Pound is hindering imports. Feed is plentiful and this helps the fatteners. Decent scanning results in the beef herds has reduced culling numbers and even the hard pressed dairy sector is holding onto cows as milk prices improve a little.

Best of the beef youngsters (under 48m) made 140-165p, good meat 120-135p and very little bar the very oldest down were below 100p. Aberdeen Angus made 180p from L A Charman & Ptrs; Limousin 164p and British Blue 159p Alastair Boyd & Co; Limousin 147p £1068 P N & C Burden; Sussex 133p Castle Goring Farm; Simmental 132p £1118 C & J Georgetti & Sons and 131p,130p £1064 R J & C M Greengrow; Charolais 131p  £1109 L A Charman & Ptrs and 131p P N & C Burden; Sussex  cross 129p £989 K & P M Sinden & Sons and Aberdeen Angus 129p from W S Furnival (Brookland).

There were some good fed cows amongst the dairy culls showing that if you have the food and space to feed dried off cows that big returns are available. Young British Friesian slips (under 36mths) made to 165p and £971 and cows to 128p, 127p and £969 from PHR Farms; Holstein Friesian to 124p, 120p, 119p, 117p(3 times) and  £1058, £1018 from R C & J L Pickering; 124p, 118p(2) £1037 W S Furnival; 120p £980 M W Goddard; Jerseys 89p, 86p, 83p Hickson Bros.

Report on trade: A tremendous day in the cow section with close to 100 culls and overage forward and well received by the processing sector and feeders alike who were in the mood to secure good numbers. Manufacturing meat is in short supply both at home and from abroad where the weakening of the Pound is hindering imports. Feed is plentiful and this helps the fatteners. Decent scanning results in the beef herds has reduced culling numbers and even the hard pressed dairy sector is holding onto cows as milk prices improve a little.

Best of the beef youngsters (under 48m) made 140-165p, good meat 120-135p and very little bar the very oldest down were below 100p. Aberdeen Angus made 180p from L A Charman & Ptrs; Limousin 164p and British Blue 159p Alastair Boyd & Co; Limousin 147p £1068 P N & C Burden; Sussex 133p Castle Goring Farm; Simmental 132p £1118 C & J Georgetti & Sons and 131p,130p £1064 R J & C M Greengrow; Charolais 131p  £1109 L A Charman & Ptrs and 131p P N & C Burden; Sussex  cross 129p £989 K & P M Sinden & Sons and Aberdeen Angus 129p from W S Furnival (Brookland).

There were some good fed cows amongst the dairy culls showing that if you have the food and space to feed dried off cows that big returns are available. Young British Friesian slips (under 36mths) made to 165p and £971 and cows to 128p, 127p and £969 from PHR Farms; Holstein Friesian to 124p, 120p, 119p, 117p(3 times) and  £1058, £1018 from R C & J L Pickering; 124p, 118p(2) £1037 W S Furnival; 120p £980 M W Goddard; Jerseys 89p, 86p, 83p Hickson Bros.

Report on trade: A small show of stores with which to start the New Year but plenty of interest from farmers and traders. With fodder in plentiful supply and confidence strong stores are now wanted and a good catalogued entry is booked for the 24^th January sale.

Generally bits and bobs this week but a nice run of dairy bred Limousin cross heifers, 7-9mths made £570, £550, £472 and Hereford cross heifers, 9mths £575 all from M Gammons.

Anthrax declarations

Producers should be aware that these are not required at present.

Lairage bookings for Monday and Thursday evenings

Please ring David Martin on 07860 114650 to confirm when you are delivering stock to the market for overnight lairage.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The January edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

Notices – Alec Bray

The family have advised that sadly Alec passed away on Christmas Eve. He was a highly respected farmer in the Faversham area and had many friends among market users here in Ashford.

There will be a funeral service at the church of St Peter and St Paul, Ospringe at 11.30pm on Friday January 20th.

General news

Updated 10^th January 2017

For Sale – Beautiful male working collie puppy from working parents who can be seen. Very well socialised , well grown and healthy and looking for good active country home (ideally working but not essential ). On a north Kent farm ring 07875356294.

Wanted – trained mid aged working sheepdog, preferably a bitch. Ring 01424 870892

Hay, Straw and fodder

Updated 10^th January 2017

For Sale – up to 1,000 tonnes of 2016 season clamped maize silage and large quantities of hay. Ring 07860 623196.

Market manager’s news

Updated 10th January 2017

Ray Scott (weekend boot fair and stall market manager) and his team of helpers would like to thank everyone who supported their charity raffle in the weeks leading up to Christmas. £1,300 was raised for Demelza House.

RABI and FCN news

Updated 10th January 2017

Fund raising events over the next few months include:

Farmhouse breakfast in North Kent – Wednesday 1^st February. Hempstead House hotel, London Road, Bapchild, Sittingbourne. ME9 9PP at 8.30am. Ring Anthony Hyde01795 830355or Rollo Parsons (NFU) on 01795 472774

Farmhouse breakfast here in the market – Wednesday 15^th February. Ring Chris Older 01233 720395 or Richard Beaugie 01233 732580 for full details

Watch this space for details of more events next week and ongoing