Weekly Sales News – 10th October 2017

Top price per kg – Mrs J Walker – 191p; Top price per head – Mrs J Walker – £93.50

Report on trade: We saw a slightly bigger entry this week with an improved trade following last weeks dip. Overall averages were in the region of 10p up on last week with the heavier sorts most improved due to these being in short supply nationally. Less of the best quality continental lambs on offer this week with the best of these from G P King selling to 190p for some smart Beltex lambs. Heavier sorts from Mrs J Walker once again topped the market in both price per head and price per kg for both 47kg and 50kg lambs respectively.

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.

Cull Ewes and Rams – 450 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: A smaller entry of ewes this week with a smaller percentage of the leaner sorts on offer for the grazing men who were once again out in force this week after a couple of weeks off with 9 separate customers buying sheep to farm on. Meat ewes sold on a similar trade to recent weeks to a top price of £80.

Ewe numbers have been high in recent weeks with the overall ewe number sold from January 1^st 2017 to date up by almost 10% on last years corresponding period.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £74.50 from I Hobden, crossbred Ewes to £70 from A Jull and Romneys to £65 from H J Noakes.

Report on trade: A smaller entry of ewes this week with a smaller percentage of the leaner sorts on offer for the grazing men who were once again out in force this week after a couple of weeks off with 9 separate customers buying sheep to farm on. Meat ewes sold on a similar trade to recent weeks to a top price of £80.

Ewe numbers have been high in recent weeks with the overall ewe number sold from January 1^st 2017 to date up by almost 10% on last years corresponding period.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £74.50 from I Hobden, crossbred Ewes to £70 from A Jull and Romneys to £65 from H J Noakes.

We are now selling these sheep on Fridays – see our Store and breeding sheep pages for reports

Report on trade: A similar entry met a similar strong trade and with several buyers failing to fulfil orders more could have been sold at favourable prices. A run of handy weight British Blue and Limousin cross heifers from D W Ferguson Ltd  took the pick of the trade at 220p plus and up to £1242 (238p) while a smart Simmental cross heifer sold well at £1179 (219p) from T Masters.

Trade for the commercial sorts has firmed over recent weeks with the majority now making in the 190p to 205p with Limousin cross heifers at £1302 (206p) from E Chantler & Sons and £1115 (207p) from Station Farms. The best of the steers made to £1263 (203p) for a British Blue x Sussex from Maytum Wharf Farm, £1170 (204p) for a British Blue x Friesian from A J Down and £1156 (207p) for a Simmental cross from H G Tompsett & Son Ltd.

A small entry of native topped at £1313 (170p) for Aberdeen Angus cross steers from M J Osenton and the best of the bulls £1000 plus and up to £1097 (179p) for a North Devon from David Potter Farms.

Support the live market and compare deadweight returns. Buyers are in attendance every week  for all qualities of finished cattle and specialist feeders competing well for cattle to feed

Cull Cows – 47 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: Numbers remain short with scanning not yet in full flow amongst the beef herds. The wet weather in the North and West has brought numbers forward nationally but even here they are beginning to steady showing that supplies will remain tight this winter with herds of all types having kept tidy and up to date on culling their non performers.

We report no change in the trade which remains very strong. Flesh very much in demand with the plain cows the only ones to find any sort of resistance.

No fed meat beef cows were penned but anything with some shape and finish made 130p – 140p per kg with all keepers wanted. Simmental cross 143p, £905, T Avon (Non FA); Limousin cross 138p, £1011, C & J Georgetti & Sons; South Devon cross 137p, I Hobden (Non FA); Blonde cross 136p, D J Miles; Aberdeen Angus cross 134p, £968, C & J Georgetti & Sons and 110p, £1014, M J Osenton (Non FA).

Some very good meat cows were found amongst a mixed show of dairy culls and trade remains exceptional for the time of year. British Friesians 140p, 135p, 129p and £955 from Debden Court; 137p and 130p £996 and £965 PHR Farms; Holstein Friesian 138p, 134p, 132p and £1202, £1176 and £1144 Ledger Farms; 128p (2) £1020, £1001 W F Farms and imported cows 109p £906.

A Holstein Friesian bull made 104p and £1170.

Breeding Cattle – 2 Females Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: An in calf 2010 born Sussex cow made £850 and 2009 born British Blue cow £820

Store Cattle – 604 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A large entry of cattle with probably the best show of strong continental cross beef bred stores seen at Ashford Market for many a year. Several large runs notably from E W & R E Hanks, T Masters and Dan Mackelden Ltd sold exceptionally well with the best £1100 plus and up to £1235 for 20 mths continental crosses from Dan Mackelden Ltd. The best of the heifers made around £900 and up to £955 for an Aberdeen Angus cross from R Winstone.

A relatively small percentage of youngsters and these sold well with 6-7 mths Charolais cross steers up to £700 and heifers just short of £600 from M J Goodsell.

Principal prices include:                                                                                                                  

Report on trade: Numbers remain short with scanning not yet in full flow amongst the beef herds. The wet weather in the North and West has brought numbers forward nationally but even here they are beginning to steady showing that supplies will remain tight this winter with herds of all types having kept tidy and up to date on culling their non performers.

We report no change in the trade which remains very strong. Flesh very much in demand with the plain cows the only ones to find any sort of resistance.

No fed meat beef cows were penned but anything with some shape and finish made 130p – 140p per kg with all keepers wanted. Simmental cross 143p, £905, T Avon (Non FA); Limousin cross 138p, £1011, C & J Georgetti & Sons; South Devon cross 137p, I Hobden (Non FA); Blonde cross 136p, D J Miles; Aberdeen Angus cross 134p, £968, C & J Georgetti & Sons and 110p, £1014, M J Osenton (Non FA).

Some very good meat cows were found amongst a mixed show of dairy culls and trade remains exceptional for the time of year. British Friesians 140p, 135p, 129p and £955 from Debden Court; 137p and 130p £996 and £965 PHR Farms; Holstein Friesian 138p, 134p, 132p and £1202, £1176 and £1144 Ledger Farms; 128p (2) £1020, £1001 W F Farms and imported cows 109p £906.

A Holstein Friesian bull made 104p and £1170.

Breeding Cattle – 2 Females Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: An in calf 2010 born Sussex cow made £850 and 2009 born British Blue cow £820

Store Cattle – 604 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A large entry of cattle with probably the best show of strong continental cross beef bred stores seen at Ashford Market for many a year. Several large runs notably from E W & R E Hanks, T Masters and Dan Mackelden Ltd sold exceptionally well with the best £1100 plus and up to £1235 for 20 mths continental crosses from Dan Mackelden Ltd. The best of the heifers made around £900 and up to £955 for an Aberdeen Angus cross from R Winstone.

A relatively small percentage of youngsters and these sold well with 6-7 mths Charolais cross steers up to £700 and heifers just short of £600 from M J Goodsell.

Principal prices include:                                                                                                                  

Report on trade: A large entry of cattle with probably the best show of strong continental cross beef bred stores seen at Ashford Market for many a year. Several large runs notably from E W & R E Hanks, T Masters and Dan Mackelden Ltd sold exceptionally well with the best £1100 plus and up to £1235 for 20 mths continental crosses from Dan Mackelden Ltd. The best of the heifers made around £900 and up to £955 for an Aberdeen Angus cross from R Winstone.

A relatively small percentage of youngsters and these sold well with 6-7 mths Charolais cross steers up to £700 and heifers just short of £600 from M J Goodsell.

Principal prices include:                                                                                                                  

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: An in calf 2010 born Sussex cow made £850 and 2009 born British Blue cow £820

Report on trade: Numerically another good entry of all bar a few young calves. Quality offered was mixed too leading to a selective trade reflecting a seasonal slackening in demand.

Highlight this week included Limousin x British Friesian bulls to £290 and heifers £220 (August borns) from T Castle & Son; September born Britisgh Blue bulls to £285 and heifers £240, Aberdeen Angus bulls £260 from Ledger Farms; September bron again British Blue bulls to £245, Simmental bulls £255and heifers £195 and Sussex bulls £210 from F W Hamlyn & Son; Holstein bulls to rear to £75 (September born) from W F Farms and W S Furnival Ltds September born British Blue bulls made to £275 and a Hereford cross bull £265.

Younger black and white bulls made £30 to £60 bar a few and 3 reared 5 month old models £118.

Please keep your entries of calves coming – we have customers for all classes . At our fortnightly sales we expect to have plenty of enquiries for all shapes, sizes and ages of stock. Thank you all for texts and messages with early notice of your entries for forthcoming sales – it does help.

Store and Finished Pigs – 65 Sold

Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: The pig trade is not in a good place after nearly 12 months of stable prices and good demand. Demand for stores was very slack too.

The finished pens saw butchers pigs make to 110p per kg from Miss K Dennis and S Scott & Son and the rest 50 to 95p

The cull pig demand has dropped to affected by German political manoeuvrings blamed in the trade. Best sows made43p and the rest 38 to 42p

Our pig sales are held once a fortnight and with the summer now we are seeing plenty of competition and more confidence in the pig sector after very low levels which prevailed for about 3 months in the spring. Please keep in touch with us here in Ashford if you have pigs to sell.

Report on trade: The pig trade is not in a good place after nearly 12 months of stable prices and good demand. Demand for stores was very slack too.

The finished pens saw butchers pigs make to 110p per kg from Miss K Dennis and S Scott & Son and the rest 50 to 95p

The cull pig demand has dropped to affected by German political manoeuvrings blamed in the trade. Best sows made43p and the rest 38 to 42p

Our pig sales are held once a fortnight and with the summer now we are seeing plenty of competition and more confidence in the pig sector after very low levels which prevailed for about 3 months in the spring. Please keep in touch with us here in Ashford if you have pigs to sell.

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

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Notices – Alan Watkins

The family have advised that Alan, known to many as a farmer from the Wadhurst  area, died recently..

A funeral service will be held at Stonegate Church on Thursday 19^th October at 11.30am.

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Vehicle Parking on busy market days – Congestion in the bottom / livestock parking area

Please help us to help you. The upper car park on the top side of the market buildings is available for all cars and Land Rovers with trailers.

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Miscellaneous wanted and Livestock for sale ex farm

3 Pedigree British Blue bulls at 18 to 30 mths, one black and 2 blue and white – Suffolk – Contact Mark Cleverdon for details – 07748 202688

Wanted – upto 10 pedigree Hereford cows (with calves and/or in calf) for an Essex farmer.

Wanted Full time Shepherd/farm worker required on a busy forward thinking family farm based in Wittersham, Kent. Over 1000 ewes split into 3 flocks including Pedigree breeding. You will be required to help out in all areas of the business including hay making and other tractor work throughout the year. Must be personable and happy to deal with the general public in our other diversified enterprises. You need to be able to work alone as well as part of a team. Please contact Ed on 07970 913934 or 01797270129

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Commercial Vehicles

Thursday 19^th October at 3.00pm

A wide selection of up to 40 vehicles are generally offered in these sales

Horse & Saddlery Sale

Thursday 26^th October at 10am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Entries expected of riding ponies, event horses and youngstock

New & nearly new saddlery & tack, grooming kit, yard equipment, rugs, harness Riding boots, show jackets, jodhpurs, body protectors, yard clothing & boots

Special 4 x 4, Diesel and MPV Vehicle sale

Wednesday 8^th November at 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale of 4 X 4, Diesel and MPV with the normal car auction to follow

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 10^th November at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Lots will include new & nearly new mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large selection of miscellaneous it