Weekly Sales News – 12th November 2019

Top price per head – £101 – J Metianu & S Aspital: Top price per kilo – 208p – Mrs J Walker

Report on trade: A bigger entry of lambs on offer this week and an improved trade to boot. How nice it is to see well finished and well-bred sheep selling on a better trade for the first time in a couple of months which rewarded some of our long distance travellers who were up early on Tuesday to get their sheep to Ashford.

Heavier lambs were the ones who really rang the bell on the day with several sheep making in excess of £90 and even some breaking the £100 barrier with good runs from both T Holt and P Gorringe selling over £90 average. The top of the heavies were some strong Rouge lambs from J Metianu & S Aspital selling to £101. Less best export lambs were on offer this week but any that were on offer sold in excess of 200p per kg to a top of 207p from I Lucas. More lambs can be sold without any effect on this trade

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: Numbers a bit tighter in the ewe section and trade was improved due to this throughout the entry with the grazers more sought after the slightly better weather. Best meated sorts not available in any big numbers but best continentals to £90 from L Stevens and Sons. Closely followed by J A & P M Playfoot with continental ewes at £84.

Top prices include rams to £105 from J Metianu & S Aspital, continentals to £90 from L Stevens & Sons.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: A small entry of stores with about 200 leaner sorts penned but a tremendous trade for those that were on offer with genuine stores selling in excess of £70 from AW Vincent and barely any stores below £50.

Report on trade: This was a good show of finished cattle with a bigger percentage of beef bred sorts on offer as “christmas shopping” kicks into gear. We saw today cattle selling well with the majority making between 190p and 210p per kg. Top prices included a British Blue cross steer £1252 (211p), Limousin cross heifer £1211 (208p) and Blonde cross steer £1194 (198p) from W S Furnival (Brookland) and Limousin cross steer £1266 (200p) and Blonde cross heifer £1216 (200p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Smart handyweights with potential for further feeding sold readily around 200p notably Limousin cross steers £1017 (200p) and £911 (203p) from R J Husk. A run of purebred Sussex steers from C E & W S Millson were well received with the majority 178p plus and up to £913 (180p) while a run of dairy bred cattle from A J Down sold at similar levels with Limousin x Friesian steers £1119 (174p) and £1085 (180p) and Hereford x Friesian steers to £1044 (169p).

The best OTMs made up to £1053 (151p) for fleshed Friesian steers from B J Goodsell & Son.

Report on trade: Another good entry of cows but there are few of real quality coming forward generally at this time of the year. Trade very similar to recent weeks with good competition for all grades from a large number of buyers.

Averages down in plainer grades with more older, colder lightweight types including a run of lean Dexter cows in the pens. Good competition for the fleshed beef cows of all weights with demand for the younger tidier feeders remaining strong and positive.

Highlights included Hereford106p per kg (non FA) T J K & S I Purchese; Sussex 102p (Non FA) A Barr & Son Ltd; Sussex cross 105p and £663 K & P M Sinden; Aberdeen Angus cross 110p and £907 R D E Spencer; British Blue 120p and £988 M A & F W Owen and Limousin 102p (Non FA) J Farrant and115p, 118p and £940 (twice) (Non FA) B Townsend

Better fleshed dairy culls again either side of 100p with the lean steakers with carcase weight a good trade. The plain dairy culls remain difficult with boning time high and meat yield low.

Highlights again included Holstein Friesian 97p M A & F W Owen; 93p, 97p  J Leggat & Son; 97p J Gormley; Holstein cross 102p Kingcott Dairy; British Friesian 94p, 104p R & J Ledger and Dairy Shorthorn cross 94p Parrett & Son

Report on trade: This was a good competitive trade throughout with buyers possibly a bit more confident in some improvement in the finished market longer term. A run of 7-9 mths quality Limousin and Saler cross steers from Messrs Gardeners sold exceptionally well from £670 up to £735 and strong Simmental cross steers made up to £960 from D J Miles.

A relative high percentage of native bred stores were on offer with 18 mths Aberdeen Angus steers topping at £945 from R & H Vincent and 2 yr old purebred Sussex steers at £840 from J Doorey. The best of the native bred youngsters made up to £580 for 10 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers from G D K George and 8 mths Hereford steers and heifers £540 and £410 respectively from Goodfield Farming

Report on trade: G Hasemore offered 2 pedigree Hereford females. His young in calf cow made £690 and maiden 29 mths old heifer £780.

Report on trade: Another good entry with numbers continuing to hold, a similar trade to the previous fortnight in line with other regional and national outlets.

An entry lacking in top end calves this week with plenty of medium and smaller grades on offer. Continental bulls sold to £150 for a Simmental cross from F W Hamlyn & Son and also for a Limousin from W S Furnival Ltd. Continental heifers sold to £125 for a British Blue from WF Farms.

A similar story with the natives again with an entry of predominantly medium and small grade calves on offer. Native bulls topped at £160 for a Hereford cross from Mrs A P Offen, Native heifers sold to £120 for an Aberdeen Angus cross from the same vendor.

A larger than anticipated entry of 74 dairy sired calves sold on a stand on trade to the previous fortnight with the store and fat trade continuing to have a significant impact upon these types of calves. Trade topped at £60 for a Fleckvieh cross from G R Edgar & Son. More meated and better framed calves were sold at £30 plus, larger processing types £15 – £30 and the bobbies mainly around the £5 – £8 mark.

Please note the next sale of calves will be in three weeks on Tuesday 3^rd December to avoid clashing with the Ashford Cattle Show.

The weanling section continues to defy the general trend with a strong run of mainly British Blue steers and heifers from the John Graham Centre topping at £425. G R Edgar & Son sold an Aberdeen Angus bull to £170 with new vendors J & J Binnington selling Aberdeen Angus bulls to £150. A couple of Fleckvieh bulls from G R Edgar sold to £160 to complete the entry. If you have weanlings to sell, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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.

Report on trade: Demand pre-Christmas is good in this section with our local wholesalers looking for good pigs and national demand firming for all qualities of live pigs. Culls look a good trade for the mixed quality on offer and stores look value to the buyer for the well-bred sorts offered.

In the finished pig pens the best met a very good demand. Mrs P Banks topped the sale with 124p per kg closely followed by B Roberts at 123p with both pens grossing just over 100p. N Dance sold heavier pigs at slightly less per kg but to gross again either side of £100. This strong demand help lift values for the rest offered which made mainly between 56p and 100p.

In the cull pig pens the heavy sows made to 55p with others a 48p to 53p. Best boars made to 45p.

A selection of store pigs were again forward but demand was again a little limited bar for the best. Young white pigs made £30 from D J Cole.

Please note: – we will be offering finished and cull pigs on Tuesday 26^th December (Show Tuesday) and then again on the 3^rd December.

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

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

Tuesday 3^rd December 6 for 6.30pm – live nativity service here in the market. More details soon

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.

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

Tonbridge Young Farmers – Debbie Broad and friends in the area have reopened this club.

For all details of plans for the future please contact the Broads through Debbie’s Facebook page or email tonbridgeyfc19@gmail.com

Please remember it is essential we have an early indication from all sellers of stock numbers you wish to sell week by week – we phone and send text messages to buyers and agents every Monday evening and an accurate indication of numbers coming forward is essential with many buyers travelling substantial distances to attend.

Hay, Straw, Fodder and Forage Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – Dry barn stored big round and square bales of wheat, oat and barley straw from £10 per bale ex farm Etchingham. Hay, silage and bulk whole oats also available. Transport arranged if required. 07768 771933.

For Sale – 100 2019 Haylage bales from a Kent farm. Contact 01303 893183 or 07775 794556

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

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

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.

Livestock for sale by private treaty – ex farm

For Sale – 2 pedigree polled Hereford bulls, 17 mths on a West Kent farm.

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

For Sale – Collie puppies from working parents, ready mid-November – phone 01797 230394, 07703 743567 or 07761 732664.

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

National Sheep Association South East Conference Sheep health, wealth and production on the 20th November at Surrey Veterinary School. 12.30 -7 pm. There is a comprehensive list of guest speakers, all with a view to helping to improve your knowledge and business. Cost is £18 plus vat.

If anyone is interested in a car pool arrangement, email Ian Lockwood on hello@duckpitvalley.co.uk

Ashford Cattle Show – It is Christmas Show time!!!

Monday and Tuesday 25th and 26th November

Annual show of livestock, crops, carcases and much much more. All details from Julie Coney 07887 643002 or email ashfordcattleshow@gmail.co.uk

A full show catalogue will be available soon

Show dinner – don’t miss this traditional pre Christmas event

Hosted by President George Horne this traditional Rib of Beef dinner at the Ashford International Hotel on the Tuesday evening is not to be missed. Tickets £34.50

Full booking details are available from the NFU Tenterden 01580 766174 or dinner steward George Ashby.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Special Sports and High Performance Vehicle sale

Wednesday 27^th November at 5pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale sports and high performance cars with the normal car auction to follow

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.

Disabled bays – please would market users please respectfully only use these bays if displaying the recognized blue badge

Please remember it is essential we have an early indication from all sellers of stock numbers you wish to sell week by week – we phone and send text messages to buyers and agents every Monday evening and an accurate indication of numbers coming forward is essential with many buyers travelling substantial distances to attend.

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 (Rams, Calves & Weanlings) 07966 104532