Weekly Sales News – 14th January 2020

Top price per kilo – 240p – R T, J B & I Lockwood; Top price per head – £110 – P J Gilbert Ltd

Report on trade: A smaller entry this week as the case has been around the country. Numbers have tightened and the finished sheep are just not there in the volume we would expect at this time of year, presumably due to the dry autumn holding back the fodder crops and the wet winter holding the sheep back.

Trade lifted a little once more this week but the entry consisted of one of the largest percentages of light weight meat lambs we have seen in some time in Ashford. Not even 15% of the sheep falling into the 46kg plus weight bracket. Those who did offer heavier hoggets were certainly rewarded with a good number of sheep selling in excess of £100 with top spot taken by P J Gilbert Ltd at £110 for some super crossbred hoggets and closely followed by L Barrett at £108. In the lighter weight categories, most lambs traded from 215 to 230p per kg to a top price of 240p from R T, J B & I Lockwood with new vendor T Hill taking runner up spot with a Beltex making 238p.

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 big entry of ewes this week with 800 penned. More scanned empties were in the pens this week which are by their nature often in good condition which has increased prices. A super run of Suffolk cross ewes from T Masters sold to £100 and several pens made in excess of £90.

Top prices included Texel ewes made to £110 from K Potter, Suffolk crosses to £100 from T Masters and continentals to £99 from N A Balcomb & Son.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: Another good entry of stores with 1,200 penned this week and another flying trade for all on offer. Best stores sold regularly in excess of £80, which is dearer than some finished sheep, but we must remember they are not the same goods and do not fill the same orders. Overall the average was returned at £65.24 for all entered and top price was £86.80 from T Masters for some strong stores with D Nixon taking second place at £84.50

Please keep in contact with entries week by week so we can inform potential buyers.

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: At long last the first few positive signs that the beef trade is moving in the right direction! Notwithstanding the enormous pressure the media is placing on our sector with its irresponsible ‘ love-in’  with the vegan delusion beef demand, the world over, is strong and supplies, particularly in Europe are tight.

We saw far bigger numbers this week which were readily taken up by a stronger attendance of buyers who were prepared to pay more to secure stock of all grades. Just a handful of the best from our outstanding supporters which were readily making over 200p per kg but the commercial grades, which included a high proportion of natives, regularly made 165p to -190p. The awkward and out of spec also very much firmer this week with tidy OTM cattle sought after.

Smart handy weight Blonde cross steers from G L Boulden & Sons made to 206p and grossed to £1081. Quality Aberdeen Angus x Sussex steers from Castle Goring Estate 180 to 188p topping at £1158. Then majority of the remaining steers were dairy bred but selling well, particularly if well fleshed. British Blue x Friesians from K E Budd to 185p and £1190; Aberdeen Angus x Friesian to 178p and £1092 also from K E Budd and Hereford x Friesian to 170p and £1014 J W Drew (Non FA).

Clearly standing out in the yard today was an outstanding Bazadaise cross heifer from D W Ferguson Ltd selling at 220p and £1229 whilst quality strong Limousin cross heifers from W Alexander (Shoreham) sold to 200p(2), 198p, 190p £1167, £1147, £1116, £1100. Strong Simmental crosses from Gillshaw Farms to 194p £1142; Blondes from G L Boulden & Sons to 192p £1032; Sussex remain in strong demand with 189p £997 D W Ferguson Ltd, 187p £998 Gillshaw Farms; British Blue x Friesian heifers 187p, 186p £1136 K E Budd; Aberdeen Angus cross 179p Gillshaw Farms and Hereford cross 170p Mrs A Farris (Non FA).

Over Thirty Month Sussex steers 166p, 152p and £942 G Elliott (Non FA).

Report on trade: A very good entry in terms of numbers from far and wide with Essex well represented and cows from West and East Sussex and Surrey. Quality from best to worst which perhaps is not surprising at this time of year but with more customers around the ring competition was stronger for all grades of meat and feeding cows. Meat remains in short supply from both beef and dairy sectors. Good feeders, and some not so good, are wanted which is a very encouraging sign with the assurance status no issue to men likely to be feeding stock in excess of 90 days.

Highlights included – Simmental cross 161p per kg, 123p and grossing to £971, £851 from A J Thompson & Sons, 119p £828 L J Osborne & Son (Non FA), 115p £977 P W & P Sim (Non FA) and 115p £860 W J Hurley; Limousin cross 140p, 138p £942 A Boyd & Co (Non FA) and 128p (2) £987, £924 L Colbourne; Charolais cross 127p £922 A J Thompson & Sons; Hereford 126p, 118p £759(2) (Non FA) Southwood Farms; 117p £833 (Non FA) G J Ostridge; Sussex 126p Gillshaw Farms and 119p £959 W J Hurley; South Devon 118p £956 Gillshaw Farms; British Blue cross 126p £786 G R Orpin and 118p £889 L J Osborne & Son (Non FA) and Aberdeen Angus x Friesian 119p, 118p, 115p(2) £945, £911 M A & F W Owen.

All grades wanted from the dairy sector but clearly more interest in the dry bagged fed cows with the lean types straight from the parlour well sold at lower rates. Several empty heifers after scanning and depending on flesh and age these were pushing well past 145p.

Headlines – Holstein Friesian heifers 145p, 142p, 139p £1026, £928, £906 R Torrance & Son and 142p £863 M A & F W Owen; Holstein cows 121p £886 J W Boyd & Sons; 114p, 110p £936 W S Furnival; 114p £874 M A & F W Owen and 112p, 107p £909, £904 Huddlestone Farmers.

British White steers 6-7 yrs 83p to 112p £808 and a British Blue cross bull, lean 86p £923.

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: Something of a mixed offering on show for the first reasonable entry of the year. Buyers were in attendance but it would be wrong to be excited about the trade just yet with recent beef price improvements yet to filter through into confidence. Good cattle are finding their price but the poor, the awkward, the aged for size and the out of spec just are not going to be risked by feeders who have taken a fair hammering during 2019.

Some excellent Aberdeen Angus cross steers and heifers, 10 mths from G Hosmer & Son were exactly what is wanted by the industry. Shape and growth, with a good coat of hair – the steers sold to £735, £695, & £630, the heifers to £545.

Amongst the 12-16 month cattle buyers were looking for stretch and coat and the right types could be up over £800 but plenty of lesser indoor  types more generally £500 to £700. A Charolais cross steer made £845 from H F Brown & Son and Limousin cross heifers from L J Osborne & Son made £ 815.

The best of the entry were the stronger Aberdeen Angus sired cattle and finding competition, depending on shape, with plenty from making £800 to £950. Smart steers, 20mths from K P Vincent £950; Aberdeen Angus cross steers 20mths £920, £870, £760 and Blonde cross steers 20mths £920 from R & H Vincent; Aberdeen Angus cross steers 22mths £920, 18mths £770 and heifers 24mths £835 M A & F W Owen with Aberdeen Angus cross steer 30mths £900 (non FA) F Henderson.

Amongst the older cattle British Blue cross steers 29m (Non FA) £880, Simmental cross heifers 29m (Non FA) £840 and Aberdeen Angus cross 29mths (Non FA) £795 all from Collum Securities – a decent trade while  a pair of good stretchy Simmental cross heifers 22mths sold well at £930.

OTM British Friesian and Norwegian Red steers with a bit of shape found a good price at £770.

Report on trade: 2 Consignments of young cows, all scanned in calf caught buyers attention and with good demand for feeding cows in the cull ring prices achieved were satisfactory. The Bower / Osbourne team from Essex sold 5 cows to £950 for a 2014 born British Blue with two others at £800 and all 6 mths plus in calf to a Limousin x British Blue bull. Southwood Farm (W Langley) offered young pure Hereford cows back to a Hereford bull at up to £790 and back to a Simmental £720 with their nine in total averaging £723.

Editor’s note: Those who follow the heavy horse show circuit will recognise both vendors for the quantity of the stock they breed in that field as well!!

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.

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.

British Wool News

Trevor Richards, Westwell has asked we make you aware he has put himself forward for re-election to the main board of this national body representing wool producers in the Southern region.

His pre-election statement says “As a sheep farmer from Ashford in Kent, I have been involved in the British wool industry for many years. After representing Kent on the Southern Regional Committee, I was voted to the main Board in 2011, and was honoured to be elected chairman in 2018.

In the last four years prices have been trending downwards, in part due to the uncertainty over Brexit, and the ongoing trade war between China and the USA. During my time as chairman I am proud to have led the team in putting new strategies in place which have improved relative returns and the service to you, including: 1) Cost savings in excess of £800, 000 in the business; 2) The opening of more drop-off points and external depot opening times; 3) Sourced additional partners in China to buy British wool, to manufacture clothing, bedding, and rugs; 4) Developed a new entrants’ scheme, attracting over 800 new members; 5) Achieving a 4% premium over New Zealand wools, previously sold at a 20% discount; and 6) Recruited new buyers to the wool auctions, increasing competition and demand.

Now 2 years into our 5 year plan, none of this would have been possible without the cooperation of our employees, with whom I have developed strong working relationships. We need to build on these improvements, but continuity and stability is vital. I therefore seek your support in electing me as your Board member for the next 3 years, so I may continue to deliver our plans to increase returns for you.

Thank you for your past support, which is appreciated.”

Notices – Richard Price Snr, Sellindge

Family and friends have asked to advise that Richard sadly passed away recently after a long battle with illness. Richard was a highly respected farmer in the Ashford area and a familiar face to all market users. He was a great supporter of the Ashford Cattle Show and for many years served as chief cattle steward. He will be missed by all who met and knew him within the market, agricultural and rural community in the area.

A funeral service will be held at Sellindge Church on Thursday 23^rd January at 1pm.

Notices – John Wickens, Sevenoaks

Family and friends have asked us to advise that John sadly passed away recently after a long battle with illness. John was a respected livestock farmer in the Sevenoaks area and a familiar face to many market users. He will be missed by all who met and knew him within the market and rural community in the area.

A service will be held at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium on Thursday 30^th January at 3.15pm.

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

For Sale – 2,000 Conventional bales of 2019 made meadow hay. Barn stored and local delivery available. East Kent Ring 07802 636427.

For Sale – Top notch barn stored round and mini-hesston bales 2019 hay. Bulk whole oats in half tonne bags also available. Delivery arranged. East Sussex. 07768 771933.

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

Livestock for sale by private treaty – ex farm

For Sale – fresh calved Holstein Friesian heifers by known sires from a recorded herd – available when calved. East Kent

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

Wanted – experienced livestock farmer requires a small quantity of large rectangular bale feeders. Maidstone area. Ring Paul on 07976 92168

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

RABI

Farmhouse Breakfast Season

Tuesday 14^th January – Poacher & Partridge, Tudeley TN11 0PH

Wednesday 22^nd January – Greenfields Shooting Grounds, Canterbury CT2 0NG

Thursday 23^rd January – The Alma, Forstall, Faversham ME13 0DU

Wednesday 29^th January – The Dirty Habit, Hollingbourne ME17 1UW

Thursday 30^th January – Chiddingstone Castle, Chiddingstone TN8 7AD

Saturday 1^st February – Juddwood Farm, Hayesden Lane, Tonbridge TN11 8AB

Wednesday 5^th February – Macknades Fine Foods, Faversham ME13 8XF

Thursday 6^th February – Dartford and Rochester NFU Branches Medway Yacht Club ME2 4XB

Thursday 6^th February – Elham Vineyard Elham Valley Vineyard, Elham CT4 6LN

Wednesday 12^th February – Stockpot, Ashford Market, Ashford TN24 0HB

Thursday 20^th February – Dog & Duck, Plucks Gutter, Canterbury CT3 1JB

Thursday 27^th February – Kent Showground, Detling ME14 3JF

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179, email charles@tassell.co.uk or contact the regional co-ordinator Sally Field on 07799 798441 or email sally.field@rabi.org.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

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

T Denne & Sons are holding a “Making Forage work for you” workshop on Wednesday 26^th February in the Amos Hall, Ashford Market, TN24 0HB at 9.30. Speakers will be Nick Green and Andrew Bourne (T Denne), Alan West (Sheep Farmer) and David Gurney (Corteva). Lunch will be provided at approx 12.30. Please RSVP by 21^st February to nickgreen@tdenneandsons.co.uk or ring 01233 720871.

Ashford Cattle Show News

Congratulations to all trophy winners who attended the presentation evening on Friday.

We are looking for a copy of a book published locally marking the 50^th Ashford Show in the early 1900’s – can anyone help from family archives?? Please speak to Mark Cleverdon 01233 502222