Weekly Sales News – 12th March 2019

Top price per kilo – 238p – Hayley Dent: Top price per head – £107 – P Ashlee

Report on trade: The biggest entry of hoggets this year with 3,600 sheep penned and despite these big numbers coming forward the trade improved and in particular for the lighter weights. These were in short supply which has pushed the 38-43kg hoggets up and over the 200p per kg price range. Some very good quality lambs were on offer in this weight range from a number of vendors this week with three staff members being Paul Ashlee, Jim Lukehurst and Hayley Dent all selling sheep in excess of 225p with Hayley Dent at the top of the tree at 238p.

The heavier sheep on offer this week were sold on a similar trade to last, with this weight bracket being a more difficult trade as numbers nationally have grown week on week as more and more finishers bring sheep back from winter keep. The best offerings in the heavy category were selling from £85-95 with the average 50kg sheep selling at £82 to a top price of £107 from P Ashlee for some very smart 49kg hoggets.

Dagging service is available on all Monday afternoons, please advise us of the number you wish to send.

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: Another smaller entry of cull ewes this week but trade has just begun to show a slight sign of improvement with the average price coming up by £7 with all grades of sheep improved on the week.

Overall this was a better quality entry of sheep with more meated sorts on offer. Best ewes sold to £110 from D C Foy with several more pens in excess of £80 than we have seen in recent weeks.

Top prices included continental ewes to £110 from D C Foy, Suffolk crosses to £80 from S T Phillips and Romney ewes to £71 from N C & C G Hedges

Report on trade: Absolute flyer with best stores £70 plus and only very small long term sorts below £65.  Averages 406 sold to £78 and aver’ £68.60

If you have store hoggets to sell you are well advised to take advantage of these favourable prices.               .

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Report on trade: Demand was high for a smaller entry than last week seeing a top price of £36 for a ewe lamb from S W Mount & Sons Ltd. Wethers topped at £31 from K T D Axell.

Sock lambs will be sold at 10.30am every week from now through the lambing season.

Report on trade: The beef trade continues to be under pressure short term due to Irish imported beef and prices have eased accordingly compared to returns available earlier in the year.

Smart butcher type cattle however are holding their value better than others with a Limousin cross steer topping the market at £1334 (214p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and a handy weight Limousin cross heifer well sold at £1067 (200p) from S J M Evans. Other cattle with weight made up to £1228 (188p) for a Blonde cross steer from G L Boulden & Sons while a native bred South Devon cross steer sold well at £1275 (164p) from  P W & P Sim and an Aberdeen Angus cross heifer to £1107 (176p) from M A & F W Owen.

Report on trade: Disappointingly few cows were forward today after several weeks when we have penned close to 100 head! This was perhaps to be expected with calving right upon us in the beef sector and with the dairy farmers having kept herds tidy through the winter period. Trade was very similar to last week with all grades in strong competition as buyers seek flesh for today and potential for tomorrow.

Highlights included British Blue crosses to 135p and £1060 from Birt Bros, 126p F Sole & Sons, 126p (Non FA) A J Britton, 123p £1029 (Non FA) R A Lucas and 118p £981 (Non FA) Mrs G West; Limousin cross 125p £928 (Non FA) Mrs G West; Sussex 124p, 123p (2) £839 Raveningham Farms; South Devon cross 120p G L Boulden & Sons and Charolais cross 117p £1033 (Non FA) Mrs G West.

British Friesian 124p, 121p, 119p (3), 118p (2) £895 Debden Court and 118p, 117p(3) PHR Farms.

Stock bull demand was firm  with Simmentals 134p, £1462; Blonde 117p, £1101 and Aberdeen Angus 90p, £1066.

More Wanted  – Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.              

Report on trade: This week saw a top quality show of store cattle comprising mainly single suckled beef bred continental crosses. These attracted a good attendance of buyers and trade was exceptionally brisk throughout.

Top run of the day was 49 Limousin cross steers from G Bates Ltd which all attracted prices in excess of £1000 and up to £1150 while other top prices from regular vendors are listed below.

A small entry of native bred cattle saw strong Sussex steers making to £1010 from Raveningham Farms, Norfolk.

Many more cattle to be sold over the coming weeks. Please contact with entries to ensure orderly marketing and cataloguing.

Hobbs Parker Property Consultants News

Hobbs Parker Property Consultants is pleased to welcome a new Director to its team.

Vicky Phillips, whose career started as a graduate at Hobbs Parker, has more than ten years of experience in valuation, estate strategy and tax planning, compulsory purchase and compensation.

Having reached the position of Partner in her previous role at a national firm, Vicky has a wealth of experience in farm, land and estate valuations in the south east and nationally, for private client, high street and private wealth banks. She has been heavily involved in compulsory purchase and compensation working for landowners and occupiers affected by High Speed 2, petitioning parliament and representing clients at the House of Lords Select Committee.

Sam Snart, Managing Director of Hobbs Parker Property Consultants, said: “It’s always gratifying to see how well graduate employees progress in their careers, so it’s with great pleasure that we welcome Vicky back to the team, as a Director. Many years ago we saw promise in her and we are pleased to see her potential realised as part of our team.”

Vicky, who has an MSc in Rural Land and Business Management, rejoined the Hobbs Parker team at the beginning of March. In her free time she enjoys spending time on the family farm in Herefordshire and exploring the world.

She said: “It’s great to be back and focused on Kent and the South East, working with farming clients and using my experience to add to the growing Property Consultants team.”

To find out more about property consultancy services, Vicky can be contacted on 01233 506263 or 07799 099457, alternatively email her at vicky.phillips@hobbsparker.co.uk

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The March editions of these popular regional farming magazines are now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

In addition our Property Consultants Outlook for Spring 2019 is included with this months publication and again are available here in the market. Articles from our Property Consultants team makes interesting reading for all landowners and occupiers.

Ashford Livestock Market has its own Facebook page where news and reports are now being posted on a regular basis www.facebook.com/AshfordLivestockMarket/

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers email a livestock market short report on the afternoon of every livestock sale day. To receive this email report you need to log on to the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk and click the link to email alerts.

To ensure you continue to receive the email it should be opened on a regular basis.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers livestock sales catalogues are always available online on the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk All entries are listed on these regularly updated pages.

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Essex Young Farmers County Show at Boyton Hall Farm, Roxwell, nr Chelmsford – Sunday 19^th May – “A great one day Show with something for all the family”. Full details available from Show Secretary on 01245 360442 or email: essexyfc@btconnect.com

Heathfield Show – Saturday 27^th May – For all other show enquiries please ring Show secretary, Nicola Magill, on 01435 864587 or visit www.heathfieldshow.org

** Visit us on our stand – we are pleased again to be sponsoring both Sussex and commercial beef classes in the cattle section **

Surrey County Show – 27^th May – All show enquiries please ring Show secretary, 01483 890810 or visit surreycountyshow.co.uk

South of England Show – 6^th, 7^th and 8^th June – All show enquiries please ring 01444 892700 or visit seas.org.uk

Competition schedules are available for Heathfield and South of England shows here in the market

The Kent County Agricultural Society are introducing a new offering for livestock supply and service stands exhibiting at the 2019 Kent County Show. The Show is host to over 200 cattle, sheep, wool and goat competitions and will take place on the 05, 06 & 07 July in 2019. There will be a limited number of 3m x 3m marquee stands available in a prominent location directly opposite the cattle judging rings and cattle marquee. These are available for £215 for the three Show days and will be promoted to all livestock competitors in the lead up to the Show. For further information please contact Rosie in the office on 01622 633051 or email rosie@kentshowground.co.uk

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

Please see website for further details.

Saturday 16^th March – Parham, Storrington, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Sunday 24^th March – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Sunday 7^th April – Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB

Saturday 13^th April – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Saturday 20^th April – Charing, Kent. TN27 0JS

Monday 22^nd April – Aldington, Kent. TN25 7EJ

Saturday 27^th April – Parham, Storrington, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Saturday 11^th May – Peper Harrow, Godalming, Surrey. GU8 6LA

Notices – John Hooker, Woodchurch

The family have advised that John very sadly passed away recently. A regular market user  for all of his long life he will be missed by his family and all who knew him.

Funeral arrangements will be published when available

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

For Sale – pedigree Charolais bull, 8 yrs old – West Kent. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information.

For Sale – selection of pedigree Limousin young bulls and cows and calves on an Essex farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information

For Sale – 300 Romney mainly 2 lamb ewes which have run with Charollais rams and are due early April on an East Anglian farm. Ring Simon Husk for more information.

For Sale – selection of British Blue and Limousin x British Blue young bulls on a Suffolk farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information

Wanted – general farm worker for a mixed farm in Sellindge, Ashford – Work will include feeding cattle. Ring 07774 408059 for more information

Wanted – Cattle grazing wanted for 50 store cattle or 30 cows and calves anywhere in Kent. Any grazing considered but marsh grazing preferred. References available and good rates of rent paid. Please contact either Richard 07889882422 or Roger 07933229030.

Wanted – general farm worker for a mixed farm in the Reigate area. Work will include supporting a beef calf rearing unit and accommodation is available. Please ring 07885 649666

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

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) On Monday 25^th February 2019 273 guests tuned out to support the third RABI race day on a gloriously sunny day at Plumpton Race course East Sussex. Guests were welcomed by a glass of sparkling fizz a delicious two course lunch followed by afternoon tea and cake.

Dave Cross professional jockey and tipster entertained those gathered with his expert knowledge on the runners, and the “best bets”, whit and Irish humour plus a trip on the race course to the final fence!

Betty Chantler very kindly again sponsored a race in memory of her late sister for RABI. It was Bettys idea 3 years ago to arrange a race day in aid of RABI and I can’t believe how enjoyable and successful it has become for all those involved. A huge thank you to all those that sponsored our event, provided auction lots and supported us on the day.

I couldn’t have pulled the day off without the help of friend Michelle Nudds from BASC, Charles Tassell, Kent RABI Chairman, Sue Lister, RABI Trustee auctioneer Alan Mummery from Lambert and Foster, Sheila Adams and Jane Cowans plus support from Allison and Dan (CEO) from the race course.

The day raised over £7000 for RABI which was amazing!!

Kent Herdsmans Club

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

2019 Calendars

We still have 2019 Hobbs Parker calendars available for you, your friends or family. If you have not received your copy or would like a calendar please call in or give us a call and we can send one out to you.

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – Up to 50 4’ 2018 silage bales on a Kent farm. Ring 01233 756468

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are……

Commercial Vehicle sales

Thursday 21^st March at 3.00pm

Commercial vehicle sale to include special sale of leisure vehicles

Auction of Boats and Marine Items

Saturday 30^th March

At Ramsgate Marina – Please contact Jon Chapman for further details

Commercial Vehicle sales

Thursday 4^th April at 3.00pm

Commercial vehicle sale

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 12^th April at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

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

Pedigree Sussex Spring Show & Sale

Friday 26^th April

This is the Sussex Cattle Society Show and Sale of Pedigree cattle – entry forms available from the office