Weekly Sales News – 13th December 2016

Top price per kilo – 214p – Mr A Denning; Top price per head – £91.50 – Link Bros

Report on trade: A good sized entry for the time of year and the run up to the Christmas period and we saw an improved trade for all lambs on offer but most notably the heavier weights which saw an increase of almost 10p er kg in comparison to last week. Our SQQ average returned at 174.4p, 4p ahead of last weeks figures. Numbers across the country appear to have decreased last week and also in Mondays markets and buyers were keen to fill the fridges prior to the two short weeks coming up.

Best export grade lambs were selling in excess of 200p from Mr A Denning (214p), D C Foy (202p) and Mrs C Worley and Michael Keeley Agri Services (200p). Heavier sorts were in hot demand with prices making a recovery by £4 to £5 in comparison to the last two weeks. Top spot this week went to Link Bros at £91.50 for some super heavy weight 60kg Texel lambs which was closely followed by P Mills at £88 for some Texel cross 52kg sheep.

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 farm assured stock.

Report on trade: A bigger entry of over 600 ewes were offered this week and sold to a similar trade to last week with the meated ewes on offer selling on once again a slightly improved trade with several meat ewes making in excess of £80. Several lean ewes were once again on offer as has been the case throughout the autumn season but these ewes are becoming harder to sell as the grazing buyers are beginning to thin out as the weather worsens.

Top prices on the day included continental ewes to £86 form Mr J C Little, Suffolk crosses to £82 from L Andreozzi, Mules to £71.80 from Maytham Wharf Farm and Romeys to £65 from A R Dunlop.

Report on trade: Demand for prime beef remains firm and positive. A good quality entry today met a strong trade particularly for the best handy weight butchers heifers.

A small entry of steers again saw the smart butchers cattle making a good premium. Limousin steers from Burden Bros topped at 217p and 212p per kg. Aberdeen Angus and British Blue x Friesian steers from K E Budd sold to 184p and 174p respectively. Heavier Limousin steers from Gillshaw Farms made to 165p and grossed £1184.

Quality runs of smart heifers from Ellis & Gottschalk, Burden Bros and W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd were well sold in the 200 to 215p range topping with Limousins from Ellis & Gottschalk at 218p and 217p and grossing to £1267. British Blue x Friesian heifers from K E Budd made 181p twice and grossed to £1169.

Blonde bulls made 180p and grossed to  £933 from G L Boulden & Sons.

Report on trade: Excellent numbers were penned in the run up to the Christmas period. Processing beef is now very much the flavour of the month and all grades were dearer this week as retailers prepare for the New Year promotions. Flesh and Farm Assurance are the critical factors in achieving the best returns!

Best young beef cows made 130p-150p per kg with plenty of good tidy assured cows 120p-130p. Feeders were still very much wanted. Limousins made 157p, 151p and 136p from P & C Burden; Limousin crosses 131p and £900 from E Chantler & Son; Simmentals 128p and £905 W J Hurley; Aberdeen Angus 128p £835 W J Hurley; Charolais 126p R A S Pattenden; Sussex 125p, 121p, 120p and £828 W J Hurley and South Devon (Non FA) 113p.

There was more flesh amongst the dairy culls and a fierce demand from start to finish. All grades again dearer. British Friesian maiden heifers 141p and  137p from PHR Farms; cows 123p,122p, 120p,118p, etcand grossing to  £968 again from PHR Farms; Holstein Friesians 118p, 117p £1052 J Leggat & Son; Swedish Red 116p £907 B J Goodsell & Son and Dairy Shorthorns 105p from Chichester College.

Bulls better  with a Limousin 113p and £1074.

We advise cattle producers we expect a normal market entry on Tuesday 20^th December. Buyers are indicating cows will be wanted – please ring market office or Peter Kingwill with entries so buyers can be kept fully informed.

Report on trade: Just a small show on offer but a good attendance of buyers and good cattle made a good price. Awkward types were a little more difficult.

Sussex cow and calf £850; yearling British Blue x Friesian steers £580, £570 and £480 and yearling Charolais steers £760 and heifers £530.

See details in the store cattle report above

Few if any are expected for sale on Tuesday 20th December. January 3rd will be the next calf sale with a usual entry of 100 young calves

Few, if any are expected for sale on Tuesday 20th December. January 3rd will be the next pig sale with a usual entry of between 100 and 200 pigs.

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

AHDB as part of their Reaping rewards and sharing excellence programme invite interested parties their Sittingbourne Monitor Farm meeting at Bapchild and Tonge Village Hall, School Lane, Sittingbourne. ME9 9NL on Thursday 12^th January from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

The meeting will be looking at Precision Farming – is it worth it and where do I start  with 3 top speakers on the subject.

To register your to attend please phone 07964 243699 or email Paul.hill@ahdb.org.uk

From Hobbs Parker Property Consultants

Available to rent – Sheep building at Udimore near Rye available for a 1 year term from 1^st January 2017.

Steel framed 90’ x 60’ building with small paddock adjacent. *Suitable for sheep only (not bale storage) due to low eaves height*. Owner can put in chalk floor for new occupant . Spring-fed water connected with 4 troughs Viewings by appointment by contacting Sophie  on 01233 506201.

Further farm buildings may be available, please enquire

Available to rent – Approx 100 acres of grazing to let on yearly licence basis.  Bridge, Canterbury.  Suitable for sheep grazing or hay.  No services.  All enquires to Matthew Sawdon on 012330 506201.

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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.

General news

Updated 13^thDecember 2016

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

For Sale – 2 Collie puppies from working puppies, ready to go plus one 9 mth old part trained Collie dog. North kent – please ring Keith on 07850224330

For Sale – Working Collie dog pup, Tri colour and 8 weeks old. Ready to go. East Kent – please ring Cara on 07805343970 or 01227709833 (evenings).

Kent Herdsmans Club dates – Monday 10th December at 7.30pm – Christmas dinner and results of annual photographic competion.

For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Sandra Brown on 01233 502796 or Jo Masters 01580 240568

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South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The December 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 – the team and their responsibilities.

For all office enquiries on livestock and auction sales please ring 01233 502222.

Elwyn Davies (07710 803901) – Managing director, sheep auctioneer and machinery sales.

Peter Kingwill (07795 200357) – Director, cattle auctioneer and machinery sales.

Lynsey Kendall – Director and accounts.

Mark Cleverdon (07748 202688) – Calf, pig and breeding cattle auctioneer and auction sales entries and adminstration.

John Rossiter (07557 392903) – Sheep auctioneer

Simon Husk (07885 968077) – Livestock marketing and field services

Martin Crowhurst (07710 803903) – Livestock marketing and field services

Adam Leonard – Auction sales entries and administration.

Hayley Andrews and Sue Marshall – Auction sales administration.

and from all of us to all of you – the best of Seasons Greetings for a happy Christmas and good and prosperous New Year