Weekly Sales News – 10th September 2019


The large entry of store cattle penned this week was the main feature of the days business here in Ashford. All cattle entered were sold. A large entry of store and breeding sheep will be sold this Friday (13th September). Read on for auctioneers detailed reports…

For forthcoming sales information – www.hobbsparker.co.uk/auctioneers/livestock-marketing/forthcoming-sales/

 


Finished Sheep

1,073 Sold

Top price per head – £86.50 – W G Watkins & Sons: Top price per kilo – 196p – DC Foy

Report on trade: A smaller entry on offer this week with around 1,000 lambs penned and a harder trade than in recent weeks. Wholesale demand is reported to be at a very low point currently with the lift in the strength of the pound impacting export levels. Best continental sorts were sold to almost 200p per kg from D C Foy as these types were in short supply on the day. Heavier fed offerings are starting to become shorter in supply in the area as many of the finishers are coming to the end of this year’s crop and the top end of these lambs sold  to £86.50 from W G Watkins & Sons, closely followed by C & J Georgetti & Sons at £86.

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.

                                            New Season Lambs
KgsTop PriceAve PriceTop Vendorp per kg
3874.5063.54D C Foy196.0
3972.0066.11D C Foy185.0
4073.5065.02D C Foy184.0
4170.0066.40W J Waters171.0
4275.0067.20Swan Young Farmers Club179.0
4368.0067.18W G Vant & Sons158.0
4476.0073.42C & J Georgetti & Sons173.0
4574.0071.17R White164.0
4680.0079.33C & J Georgetti & Sons174.0
4780.0078.71C & J Georgetti & Sons170.0
4880.0080.16W G Watkins & Sons167.0

 

New Season Lambs – pence per kg
Weight RangeNumberTopBottomAverageNational Av
Light 25.5 to 32 kgs16150.0143.0146.9145.4
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs213196.0158.0170.2162.8
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs427184.0122.0161.4168.3
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs281174.0151.0167.5162.8
Other over 52 kgs4163.0163.0163.0151.8

Cull Ewes and Rams

1020 sold

Report on trade: A bigger entry of ewes this week with over 1,000 penned but it must be said, fleshed ewes were only a small part of the entry. Many weaned ewes were on offer that were leaner in type as is often the case as the larger store lamb sales begin to get into full swing. These ewes were all finding homes with the grazing men for further finishing and presenting for sale in the new year. These sorts sold from £30-£50. Best ewes still sold to £96 from Miss J & V Weeks for some very smart Texel offerings.

Top prices included Texel ewes to £96 from Miss J & V Weeks, Crossbred ewes to £75 from Mrs J Walker and Romneys to £63 from W T Kemp

Store and Breeding Sheep

4366 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901 Peter Kingwill 07795 200357, John Rossiter

Report on trade: The special show and sale of Suffolk x Mule ewe lambs met a selective trade and while the best attracted favourable prices the second and third quality sorts proved more difficult although the majority realised prices above their store value. Only the best sold in excess of £80 while the majority ranged in the £60 to £70 bracket.

First prize winners from R Price & Sons sold for £85 and purchased by Stone Farms Ltd; second prize winners from D Howard Farms sold for £89 and purchased by G H Dean & Co and third prize winners from W J Hurley sold for £76 and purchased by A Foulds. Thank you to Simon Phillips from Deal for judging – Hobbs Parker provided the prize money

The store lambs on offer sold at recent levels to average around £55 with the majority ranging in the £50 to £60 bracket and up to £65 for a pen of Beltex cross from S Weeks & Sons. Other top prices included smart Texels at £64.50 from Dr S W C Winchester and continental crosses at £59.80 from Miss J J Butcher and £59.20 from Didling Farms Ltd.

A sizeable entry of ewe tegs met a very difficult trade. Plenty of faces around the ring but not many participants in the bidding process. There was more interest in the Suffolk x Mules which sold to £128 for real quality tegs from L Andreozzi but generally trade levelling at £90 – £110.

North Country Mules were very difficult and several pens remained unsold. Quality was in the mid specification with few of the best and few of the very worst. Customers were very reluctant to purchase and generally prices struggling to be much over £110 at best with plenty £85 to £100. Top price £121 for a pen from HHB Raveningham Farms.

The offering of breeding ewes where mainly a flock reduction of North Country Mules from K T D Axell which sold to £88 for 1 lambers. A pen of texel; 1 & 2 lambers made £130 for J & V Weeks.

Pedigree and purebred rams and females offered included the annual South Eastern Texel Group Show and Sale with a fantastic entry of pedigree sheep forward for sale giving buyers plenty to choose from on the day. Champion of the show, which was kindly judged by Brian Baker, was awarded to a ram teg from Mr & Mrs R J Warnock which sold for £460 to the Hooker family at Maythum Wharf Farm, Rolvenden. Reserve champion was 1st prized shearling ewe from the same vendor which sold for £360 A J Lawrie, Riverhead, Sevenoaks.

Topping the trade was a ram teg from Gaynes Park Farms which sold for £560 to S W Mount & Son, Canterbury and top priced ewe teg £370 from Mr & Mrs R J Warnock again to A J Lawrie.

Overall average for pedigree Texel ram tegs was £432 and ewe tegs £271.

The first of the breeding ram sales saw the best tegs sell to £400 for Texels from E Stretton and Suffolks and Beltex x Charolais from N A Balcomb and Son.

Over 160 young rams are entered for sale on Friday 20th September!

 Principal averages – £ per head
Store LambsNoTopBottomAverage
Charollais cross15857.2045.0052.93
Crossbred ewe8161.0054.0058.45
Crossbred41359.8046.0055.30
Suffolk cross ewe764.0064.0064.00
Suffolk cross255.0055.0055.00
Suffolk x Mule ewe1,81489.0047.5065.20
Suffolk x Mule16660.0045.0056.75
Texel cross33665.0046.0055.52
Ewe tegs
North Country Mule559121.0082.0098.64
Suffolk x Mule441128.0092.00110.83
Texel94132.00106.00120.93
Breeding Ewes
Mule7187.0076.0081.86
Texel12130.00130.00130.00
Pedigree Texel28370.00150.00243.93
Rams
Charollais2450.00340.00395.00
Suffolk2400.00380.00390.00
Texel29560.0070.00348.97

Sock Lambs

0 Sold

Finished Cattle

65 Sold

Report on trade: A much bigger entry than recent weeks with increased numbers of buyers at ringside due to the attraction of the first major store sale of the season. Although the entry lacked the quality of last week the general trade was very similar with the best on offer attracting prices around 190p per kg and the majority of average grade cattle making 170p to 185p

A British Blue cross steer topped the market at £1089 (190p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons closely followed by a Limousin cross heifer at £978 (189p) from S Marsh. A run of handyweight continental cross heifers made 176p to 185p grossing around £1000 from A J Thompson & Sons while a smart Limousin cross heifer grossed well at £1120 (180p) from D W Page & Son. A heavyweight Simmental cross steer made top gross price of £1207 (172p) from E T Ledger & Son Ltd.

Top native bred cattle on offer made up to £1159 (158p) for Hereford cross steer from H G Tompsett & Sons Ltd and purebred Sussex steers made £1046 (168p) from M Moncreiffe.

OTM clean cattle made up to £1151 (165p) for a Limousin cross steer from E T Ledger & Son Ltd.

Finished cattle averages – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Light bulls (370 – 550 kg)1149.5149.5149.5
Medium bulls (551 – 650 kg)1131.5131.5131.5
Light steers (370 – 550kg)4179.5163.5174.0
Medium steers (551 – 650 kg)13189.5160.5170.0
Heavy steers (over 650kg)10171.5139.5159.0
Light heifers (330 – 500 kg)3184.5169.5177.2
Medium heifers (501 – 590kg)14188.5139.5172.4
Heavy heifers (over 590kg)6179.5149.5166.7
Leading steer prices
ProducerWeightAge and breedP per kgGross £
K & P M Sinden & Sons57530 mths British Blue190.01093
R G Wood60522 mths British Blue180.01089
R G Wood52517 mths Limousin180.0945
R G Wood54519 mths Parthenaise179.0976
A J Thompson & Sons57518 mths Aberdeen Angus178.01024
Leading heifer prices
S Marsh51919 mths Limousin189.0981
S Marsh48017 mths Limousin185.0888
A J Thompson & Sons54017 mths Limousin181.0977
A J Thompson & Sons53918 mths Limousin181.0976
A J Thompson & Sons54418 mths Limousin180.0979

Cull Cows and Bulls

82 Sold

Report on trade: A terrific entry of cows and with more faces around the ring than seen for many months produced a strong competitive trade for all grades. Admittedly underlying price trends are easing, along with the prime beef, but perhaps not so rapidly! Farm Assurance continues to make a difference on the fleshed cows but we still have enough outlets that can take non assured to make them competitive. Feeding cows wanted but buyers looking at shape and age.

Some very good young Limousin cows to feed made 140 to 180p per kg; meat cows 110 to 130p with non assured a little less and plenty of half meat and older cows either side of 100p.

Highlights included Limousin 178p, 177p, 147p, 141p, 138p, 130p and £895 J Windibank; Charolais 125p £990 (Non FA) A G A Homewood; British Blue cross 118p £800 R F & E A Simmons; Sussex 119p, 118p, 117p £1019 W J Hurley; Aberdeen Angus cross 118p (Non FA) Montreal Estate; Blonde cross 110p, 109p, 107p, 106p £860 (Non FA) I D Machin and Hereford 115p £749 (Non FA) H Alexander.

Dairy culls were also a good trade again and particularly for the well fleshed heavyweights which were regularly making 100 to115p. Prices for cows direct from the dairy are conditional on flesh and waste but all sold competitively bar very leanest and lightest.

Examples included Holstein Friesian 116p and £889 Kingcott Dairy; 113p, 110p, 108p (2), 105p and £956, £930 Appleton Farms; 109p, 108p, 105p £905 W S Furnival; 107p(2) W G & T A Manford; 106p P J Forknall and 105p £825 J Leggat & Son. Guernsey’s to 106p £965 W G & T A Manford.

Cull cattle section – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Beef cows50177.519.5104.1
Dairy cows32115.539.597.4

Store Cattle

389 Sold

Report on trade: We penned the largest entry of store cattle for several months and with  the majority of our regular buyers ringside we saw good competition for all the stock on offer. As expected however prices were well back on the year with the differential very much coinciding with the reduced returns available in the finished market.

The best of the continental cross single suckled steers attracted prices in excess of £800 and topped at £925 for a pen of smart Limousin crosses from R A Wade while the majority of heifers sold around £700. As per usual several customers in attendance for strong stores to finish short term with Limousin steers topping at £1055 from J C Loveridge and quality heifers to £1030 from R A Wade.

Several runs of native bred cattle were on offer with 24 mths fleshed Sussex steers topping the market at £1065 from J C Loveridge, yearling Aberdeen Angus cross steers and heifers to £695 and £555 respectively from R Brown & Daughter and 18 mths Friesian steers made to £520 from T Watts & Son.

Principal prices included:               
10-12 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers£695R Brown & Daughter
10-12 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers£555R Brown & Daughter
9-12 mths Limousin cross steers£820D G & J W Gore
9-12 mths Limousin cross heifers£705D G & J W Gore
12 mths Limousin cross steers£925R A Wade
20 mths Limousin cross heifers£1030R A Wade
18 mths Limousin cross steers£880H & J Noakes
18 mths Limousin cross steers£1055J C Loveridge
24 mths Sussex steers£1065J C Loveridge
18 mths Continental cross heifers£940R D E Spencer
18 mths Sussex steers£850R D E Spencer
24 mths Shorthorn cross steers£1010A G Young & Sons
24 mths British Blue x Friesian steers£825Hall Place Farms
24 mths Aberdeen Angus x Friesian heifers£855Hall Place Farms
18 mths Swedish Red steers£670H C C Francis & Sons
18 mths Friesian steers£520T Watts & Son
12 mths Friesian steers£230Skinner & Son

Breeding Cattle

49 Sold

Report on trade: The main feature of this weeks offering was the dispersal of 43 in calf suckler cows for the Foster family from Tonbridge. British Blue, Simmental and Aberdeen Angus cross cows (mainly born 2014 and younger) all of which were scanned in calf to Limousin bulls to calf in early 2020 sold to fair demand making upto £940. 8 made over £900 and another 11 over £800 and averaged right through £776.

Cows and calves made to £950 a couple for an Aberdeen Angus cow (born 2011) with Limousin corss calf (born May) from K J Lukehurst.

Calves

0 Sold

Report on trade: A varied entry all round this week with calves to suit all tastes and budgets!

A total of 21 continental sired calves forward and sold this week with the best types most certainly highest in demand. Bulls topped at £260 for a Limousin from T Castle & Son with a British Blue from the same vendor to £240. Heifers topped at £250 for a British Blue from J E Scutt & Sons.

Native sired calves were the best sold on the day with trade remaining fairly consistent through the 18 sold. Calves with size, fleshing and particularly registered sires were most in demand. Bulls topped at £180 for an Aberdeen Angus from P J Forknall with heifers to £200 for an Aberdeen Angus from J E Scutt & Sons.

A mixed bag in terms of quality for the dairy sired section this week with 54 sold. Strong calves with rearing potential were well sold with trade for these topping at £80 from J E Scutt & Sons. Second quality calves topped at £65 from Hadlow College with bobbies generally £14 – £25.

Despite only having a small number of weanlings entered, there was plenty of buyers looking to own some. Two excellent suckler bred Charolais heifers sold away to £450 from R Stannard anda run of Aberdeen Angus steers from C Kearl topped at £310.

Vendors: Please do make every effort to enter stock as early as possible to enable proper advertising! This allows both us and them to plan better for the days sale. Please do try to make every effort to register the sire of your native bred (principally Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cross) calves. Calves that do not have registered sires are at a disadvantage when offered for sale!

We remind all calf sellers and buyers of the information below

Calf sellers and buyers should be aware that welfare regulations state that while an animal can be sold at 7 days old if they are offered at under 10 days old they cannot be transported more than 100km from the market. Buyers are notified from the rostrum when these calves are offered.

From a sellers view it is best not to present calves at under 10 days old to avoid possibly restricting the number of potential bidders for your stock.

Store and Finished Pigs

0 Sold

General information

Ashford Market Lairage arrangements

Please note our official time for delivery of stock on Monday’s is 3pm to 6pm. Please advise the auctioneer’s office or any of the livestock team if you require this facility.

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs, 91 Club, Kent Herdsmans Club and FCN news

RABI – copies of a summer newsletter are available here in the market.

Saturday 5th October – Harvest Supper in the Amos Hall, Ashford Market. 6.30pm for 7pm

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.

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

Ashford Young Farmers – copies of their August / September newsletter are available here in the market.

Wednesday 19th September – Farm walk at P Sargent, White House Farm. TN27 8LN at 7.30.

For all details on Ashford Young Farmers please contact Amy Langdon at amy.langdon1234@hotmail.co.uk

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

In addition our Property Consultants Outlook for Autumn 2019, is included with this months publication and again are available hare in the market.

Forthcoming store and breeding sheep sales

Friday 20th September

This sale will include the annual show and sale of Central Beltex breeding females and rams plus commercial rams

Friday 27th September

Romney Day sale of ewe lambs, ewe tegs and breeding ewes together with Romney Sheep Breeders Society show and sale of pedigree rams

Friday 4th October

Store lambs, breeding sheep and catalogued ram sale

All sales commence at 11am with ram sales at 10am

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales include……

Special Auction Sale of Main Dealer Part Exchange Vehicles

Monday 16th September at 4.00pm

Special sale of vehicles from many of the regions main dealerships with the normal car auction to follow

Chilli Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 28th September at 9.30am

Large entries of tractors, trailers, vehicles, arable equipment, haymaking equipment, tractor attachments & spares, livestock kit, garden machinery, workshop tools and a large and varied selection of rural bygones are expected

Up to 500 lots of shrubs and garden plants and hedging and trees will also be offered.

We need your entries for this sale immediately please.

Romney Sheepbreeders News

Friday 15th November – Romney Sheep Breeders Dinner at The Swan, Chapel Down Vineyard, Tenterden. TN30 7NG at 7pm for 7.30. £39.50 per ticket. Places are limited.

The recent edition of the breeders Society newsletter, produced by breed secretary Julie Lukehurst, is available here in the market. For all society information Julie can be contacted on 07538 938425

Notices – John Rye, Wittersham

Family and friends have asked to advise that John sadly passed away last Friday (6th September). John, a livestock farmer on Romney Marsh and Wittersham all his life and one of the markets most regular attenders, will be missed by all who met and knew him.

Funeral service arrangements will be advised as soon as available

For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact

Elwyn Davies (Cattle & Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263

Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357

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

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

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle and Pigs) 07741 845230

John Rossiter (Sheep, Machinery plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

Tom Hamplett (Calves & Weanlings) 07966 104532

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match – Saturday 14th September at Poplars Farm, Churn lane, Horsmonden. TN12 8HN. Full details available from secretary Liz Copping 07872 501951or on www.wkpma.co.uk.

Gravesend & Rochester Agricultural Association Ploughing Match & Gymkhana – Saturday 21st September – Paddlesworth Farm, Snodland. ME6 5DR by kind permission of D S & M Lingham. Events commence at 9.30. Lots to see and do including steam and horse ploughing, gymkhana, local produce, craft and trade stands, competitions tent, laser clay shooting, duck herding and more. Car entry £5 plus £1 per passenger, foot entry £2. For more information please visit graa.org.uk or for gymkhana entries please contact sue.batchelor@me.com

East Kent Ploughing Match – Wednesday 25th September – West Court Farm, Shepherdswell, Dover CT15 5PZ by kind permission of J Weir & Sons. For more information www.ekpma.co.uk or ring Sarah ledger on 07802 974 838

East Sussex Ploughing Match – Saturday 28th September – Broad Farm, Hellingly, East Sussex by kind permission of Richard Mortimore-Lee. For more information www.espms.co.uk or 07752 247469

RABI and FCN would like to invite you to a County Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday 6th October at Ashford Cattle Market at 17.30 in support of RABI and FCN, followed by a reception. For more information please contact Karen Adams at kadams@diocant.org

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

For Sale – Border Collie puppies from excellent working parents. 3 Boys, tri coloured and black/white – Call Holly on 07850524206

National Farming Awards 2019

Farmers Weekly Awards 2019 – we congratulate 3 nominees, who have connections with the market and Hobbs Parker, who have reached the final stages of these competitions (top 3).

Michael and Ian Sturmer, Lewes for Beef farmer of the year;

British Farming Awards promoted by the Farmers Guardian – we congratulate 3 nominees, who have connections with British Farming the market and Hobbs Parker, who have reached the final stages of these competitions (top 4).

Ryan McCormack, Burden Bros for Arable innovator of the year;

Richard Bartle, Herefordshire for Beef innovator of the year;

Charlie Fermor, Wye for Diversification Innovator of the year (Large) and

Sharinda Lockwood, Canterbury for Sheep innovator of the year.

Good luck to nominees and their supporters – we look for to reporting final results when available

Livestock Hauliers who regularly use Ashford Market

H G Allen & Sons                Ninfield, Bexhill                       07774 654404                                

Beer E (Ted) & J                Dover, Kent                                01304 853174/ 07850 518330

Beesley Tim                        Cranbrook, Kent                        01580 715415/ 07790 273805

Bowens S & A Ltd             Sevenoaks, Kent                       01959 532117/ 07836 793837

Bowers C & Sons              Turners Hills, Sussex               01342 715225/ 07802 358761

Brightling David                 Rye, Sussex                               01797 280552/ 07850 906888

Buxton L J & Sons            Brentwood, Essex                     01277 812674/ 07711 204702

Black David (Lampshire) Hartfield, Sussex                      07759 419844

Cobden Roy                        Chichester, Sussex                  01243 573358/ 07860 587058

Croft P                                  Brightling, Sussex                     01424 838278/ 07885 090331

Drury Kevin                         Wadhurst, Sussex                     01580 860546/ 07860 728204

Gilders Transport Ltd       Cheltenham, Glous                  01242 620311

Gooding R H & Son           Ottery St Mary, Devon              01404 812371                

Appleby Paul                       Hailsham, Sussex                    01323 833720/ 832354
(Harris Bros)                                                                            or 07831 554392

Langrish & Sons                Rye, Sussex                               01424 882250/ 07973 977074

Legg John                            Bookham, Surrey                      07831 446409

Macer Sid                            Billericay, Essex                        01277 622844

Parrett M & S                      Colchester, Essex                     01206 761703/ 07721 901242

Rivers Harvey                    Farnham, Surrey                       01252 723058/07761 554903

Rumens Alan                      Goudhurst, Kent                        01580 211413/ 07860 842098

Sargent Chris                     Catsfield, Sussex                      01424 892620/ 07866 716188

Sheridon UK Ltd                Leicestershire                            01509 881522/07967 399978

or 07739 717154

Standing Transport           West Sussex                              07764 765521/ 01798 873010

Thornby R J & K                 Bethersden, Kent                      01233 820297/ 07860 611439

Wareham’s                          Heathfield, Sussex                   07941 979901/ 01435 863471

Wickens Shaun                  Maidstone, Kent                        01622 850640/ 07860 437027

Wright Harry                       Cromer, Norfolk                        07860 524120

Wright John                         Cromer, Norfolk                        07920 098930

Yeoell David                        Caterham, Surrey                     01883 345819/ 07966 152684

Any alterations or additions to this list should be given to Mark Cleverdon or any of our auctioneer’s team