Weekly Sales News – 15th March 2022

Top price per kilo –309p – P Ashlee: Top price per head – £133 – N & D Attwood

Report on trade: Just a shade over 2,000 finished hoggets again penned this week with a little more spark in the trade, and with better quality on offer returning an SQQ average of just about 260p kg. Almost 60% of the sheep on offer today fell in the “heavy” category which is the case across the country in recent weeks, keeping the prices of these held at a lower level than many would have anticipated. These are still breaking the £130 barrier to a top of £133 from N & D Attwood, which was closely followed by the Beslee Boys who sold two of their own Zwartble cross hoggets to £132. Trade in the handier weight categories also showed slightly more sparkle this week with P Ashlee breaking the £3 kg to a top of 309p for light weight Beltex hoggs.

Vendors Note – All consignments of sheep to Ashford must now be accompanied by a Sheep Entry Form, in addition to the AML1, to ensure we adhere to recent regulation changes. These are available to collect from the sales office, lairage and weighbridge. – Thank you

Auctioneer: James Cook O’Connell

Top price ewe: £188 from P & E Andreozzi                   Overall Average £122.00

Top price ram: £139 from C B Hope                              Overall Average £129.00

Report on trade: A superb show of sheep penned once again with another very strong competitive trade throughout and if anything, a little dearer. A large run of mainly Suffolk cross ewes from J Wayman well sold to a top price of £149. Others to particularly mention were Continentals £188, £150 and £148 from P & E Andreozzi; £180, £158 from Kingswood Farmers, a good run from R J Grover to £158; £155 from Leconfield Farms; £154 from J G & D G D White; £147 from R F & E A Simmons and £146 from S T Phillips and M J Ashworth. The prices being seen currently really are exceptional and I would advise that if you have ewes to sell then take advantage of the current trade.

Top prices included:

Charollais to £188 from P & E Andreozzi

Texel cross to £180 Kingswood Farmers

Suffolk cross to £155 from Leconfield Farms Ltd

Romneys to £138 from W T Kemp

Mules to £147 from H Heathcote

Auctioneers: John Rossiter 07557 392903 and James Cook O`Connell 07712 246474 

Report on trade: Numbers now beginning to fall away somewhat with just under 400 penned this week. Still a very competitive trade with stores selling in excess of £100 head to a top price of £106 from Mr J Wayman. Longer term lambs selling from £75-90 with only the poorest below these figures.

Report on trade: Top price of £32 twice today and returning an average of £14.53.

Please have your lambs in the pen by 10.00 am ready for a 10.30am sale.

Report on trade: A stronger trade for finished cattle. Handyweights weights with exceptional shape topping the market with Limousin cross heifer £1348 (278p) and Parthenais heifer £1237 (269p) both from S Marsh. A run of quality Limousin cross steers sold well at 250p plus and grossing in excess of £1500 and up to £1552 from W Alexander (Shoreham). Other top prices included Continental cross heifers £1654 (246p) and £1294 (247p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and Continental x Friesian steers 220p plus and up to £1436 from A J Down.

A good show of native bred cattle rang the bell with a superb run of Aberdeen Angus cross taking the pick of the trade with steers to £1571 (248p) and heifers to £1705 (257p) from R G Gibson & Son, purebred Sussex steers £1358 (225p) from A H Hoad & Son, £1513 (223p) from K & P M Sinden & Son. Well fleshed British Friesian steers looked well sold at 217 to 223p and grossing to £1337 from A J Down.

Longhorn and Shorthorn young bulls mainly attracted prices in the 205 to 212p and grossed up to £1233 from C R Cook.

Average prices

Steers up to 550kg                                2           222 to 227p          Av 224.71p

Steers 551 to 650kg                            16           212 to 255p          Av 233.15p

Steers over 651+                                   5           213 to 233p          Av223.55p

Heifers 300 to 500kg                           4            150 to 274p          Av 234.97p

Heifers 501 to 590kg                             7           225 to 248p          Av234.29p

Heifers over 591+                                  4           237 to 257p          Av 244.78

Report on trade: Excellent numbers for the time of year and another outstanding trade from start to finish. A much higher proportion this week from the dairy sector but no stopping buyers who are out to secure numbers. Competition intense and producers must take advantage and seek out those non-productive animals, save costs, sell live, and thrive.

A smaller show of beef cows as many get busy with calving. Another outstanding trade with good meat cows 160-190p, and nothing flashy on offer! Few feeders and grazers but readily to 185p kg.

Limousin cross 194p, £1316 (Non-FA) S Hutchings; 185p, 167p (2), £1100 (Non-FA) J & A Lawrence; 178p, £1092 R Scott; Sussex 188p, £1200 (Non-FA) J Taylor; 180p, £1122 (Non-FA) S Hutchings; 167p, £1156 (Non-FA) I G Pilcher; British Blue cross 185p, £1319 L Palmer & Son; Simmental cross 183p, 179p, 178p, 176p, £1322, £1316, £1303, £1287 M J Ashworth; South Devon 170p, 161p, £1228, £1212 H & S Nesfield.

A big show from the dairy sector with producers rightly questioning futures when costs are rising, and grass turn out is still a little while away. Some very good, fleshed heavyweights up over 160p but many more leaner steakers and lighter plain cows. Just one cow under 100p kg tell the truth of the trade.

Holstein Friesian heifers 212p, 193p, £1521, £1451 Appleton Farms; Cows – Montbeliarde 178p, £1447 D Murdoch & Sons; 178p Falconhurst Estate; 168p, 153p, 146p, 142p, £1481 Appleton Farms; 166p, £1498 P J Forknall; 165p, £1265 D Murdoch & Sons; 162p, 160p, 158p (2), £1292, £1189, £1100 J E Scutt & Sons; 153p, 146p, 143p, £1120, £1106 W G & T A Manford; Dairy Shorthorn 175p, 163p, £1152 Parrett & Son; Flekvieh 173p, 161p, £1277 E P Knight; Guernsey 126p, W G & T A Manford.

Overage beef tremendous – Sussex heifer 216p, £1271 W Hurley; Holstein steer 194p, £1374 R Scott.

Stock bulls – All well fleshed, shaped and assured – all sold very well. British Blue 159p, £1720; Limousin 154p, £1704; Hereford 117p, £1384.

Report on trade: A very good trade for a small selection of store cattle with 18 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer topping at £1260 and similar aged heifers to £1145 from Messrs Barton & Littlejohns.

Report on trade: A solid trade once again this week for all grades of calves with numbers starting to creep up.

Continental bulls to £400 for a British Blue from J E Scutt & Sons. Younger Blues to £275 & £270 respectively from P J Forknall. Continental heifers, all Blues this week, selling to £290 from J E Scutt & Sons and £260 from Hickson Bros.

More variety in the Native entry with both Aberdeen Angus and Herefords forward. Angus bulls topping the trade at £250 with the honours shared between Goddard & Son and Kingcott Dairy. Further Angus from Goddard & Son to £240 and £225 from Mrs Clifford-Baynes. Hereford bulls topping at £240 and £220 from Falconhurst Estate. Angus Heifers in demand and topping at £260, £250, and £230 from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd. Herefords heifers a little behind to a top of £160.

Dairy bulls a more mixed trade than of late and very much dependent upon size and shape. Best Holstein Friesians a strong trade with a top of £120, with the majority, including young calves, £70 plus. Bobbies harder work and reflecting the increased input costs in the industry.

Weanlings: – 6 Sold

A small entry selling on a mighty trade! A 3mths Charolais bull from Falconhurst Estate tops the trade at £490, with a Parthenais bull from S Marsh at 2mths looking well sold at £470. A single Limousin x steer from Homewood School YFC to £480 at 5mths. Strong demand again for black and white bulls with a top of £330 for a 3m Holstein Friesian from W G & T A Manford.

A reminder that we can offer calves from Arla vendors under 56 days old subject to a declaration being signed by the purchaser. Any questions over this matter please do get in touch.

Please note – 33% of our customers receive their prices via e-mail on sale day. If you would like to receive your prices on the day, please give our auctioneers team a call and leave the rest to us.

Cattle Passports

We remind producers that on no occasion should the details on a cattle passport be changed other than by returning it to BCMS.

If details are incorrect return and advise BCMS or advise the auctioneers on market day without writing on the passport.

Cattle Producers, Please Note – Revised Advice Inconclusive Reactors

All IRs from high risk or edge areas that have had a negative (clear) result on retesting remain restricted on their holding for the rest of their life and can only move direct to slaughter or an approved finishing unit (AFU).

In a low-risk area if there has been a TB breakdown (i.e., with reactors) then again, any IRs that subsequently have a negative test are still only allowed to go direct to slaughter or an AFU, however if only IRs are identified in a low-risk area herd test then no movement restrictions are placed on those animals if they subsequently retest negative (clear).

Should any low-risk area producer have any doubts, about the position please do not hesitate to contact Peter Kingwill.

AHDB Review

In April 2022, as a levy payer you will be able to have your say on the challenges you want AHDB to focus on and the services they deliver for you in the future. This is your chance to influence how your levy money is spent on the things that matter to you the most.  In order to vote you must first register at www.ahdb.org.uk/shapethefuture before 12 noon on 31^st March 2022. Each business will have one vote for each sector you pay levy to (beef, lamb, cereals & oilseeds, pork, and dairy). You will need to register for each one separately, using the link above.

Wanted – Abattoir lairage assistant to work approx. 20 hours per week (Tues/Thurs) with a 6 am start. To be responsible for accepting livestock into abattoir, dagging and bellying sheep and washing down and cleaning lairage area.
A knowledge of animal handling and welfare essential and an understanding of cattle passports and sheep licences preferred.

Please contact  Joanna or Sally – Office@tottingworth.co.uk or 01435 862 425

Hay and Straw register

For a small charge we are quite happy to advertise your hay, straw, and fodder for sale in this register which will now run until early May for further details please ring our auctioneers office on 01233 502222.

For Sale – 1,000 Conventional bales of good quality meadow hay, barn stores in the Ashford area. Ring 07812 111130

For Sale – Freshly dug fodder beet available in large quantities in the Ashford area. Can be delivered. Ring 07764 273798

For Sale – 3,000 conventional wheat straw bales from the Ashford area. 07876273254

For Sale – Conventional baled and 4 string big bales meadow hay on a farm in the Ashford area. Can be delivered. Ring Michael on 07715651766 or 01233 820261

For Sale – large quantities of hay, haylage and straw in the Ashford area. Ring 07707 879642

For Sale – large quantities of top-notch feed and bedding – Round bale naked hay, Round bale wrapped haylage, Mini Hesston bales naked hay, Round bale wrapped silage, Round bale naked wheat straw, Round bale naked barley straw, Round bale naked oat straw, Whole Wheat and barley in crane bags, Logs of all varieties, shapes, sizes and prices.

All from our own Red Tractor certified farms (with full field traceability) and keenly priced ex farm or delivered locally or nationwide. Richard Barnes (Farms) Ltd, Etchingham, TN19 7AZ.

01580 819000, 07768 771933

For Sale – 1500 Second quality conventional baled meadow hay, clean and thistle free, £2 per bale, ideal for cattle. Genuine enquiries only please, from a farm around the Tenterden area 07805847071.

For Sale – 200 8’ Meadow hay bales from a Kent farm. Ring 07787 150165

For Sale – 900 1^st cut, 4 string, 6-layer wrap haylage from a Kent farm. Ring 07787 150165

FCN News

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a national voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times.

Since its founding in 1995, FCN has helped thousands of people with a wide range of issues – including financial difficulties, animal disease, mental health, and family disputes. During this period of immense change in British agriculture, FCN would like to remind everyone that they’re here to listen, support and help you to find a positive way through any problems you might be experiencing.

FCN has over 400 volunteers, located throughout England and Wales, many of whom are involved in farming, or have close links with agriculture and therefore have a great understanding of the issues farm workers and farming families regularly face. FCN’s volunteers provide free, confidential, pastoral, and practical support to anyone who seeks help, regardless of whether the issue is personal or business-related.

In addition to local groups of volunteers, FCN runs a free confidential national Helpline (03000 111 999) which is open every day of the year from 7am-11pm and an e-Helpline (help@fcn.org.uk). Speaking to FCN is confidential and non-judgemental.

FCN also provides practical and pastoral support to the agricultural community to build resilience and access help at difficult times. Visit its Farm Well website at www.farmwell.org.uk for a wealth of free information about personal and business resilience, mental and physical wellbeing, planning for the future, and successfully managing through change.

FCN relies solely on donations and grants to continue supporting the farming community. With British farming facing deep uncertainty in the coming years, the workload of FCN volunteers is expected to increase significantly.

For further information on FCN or you would like to help and get involved please contact:
Sally Field, FCN Regional Support Officer (South East)

Tel: 07702563385 Email: sallyfield.fcn@gmail.com  Website: fcn.org.uk

Date for your diary from RABI

Charity Clay Shoot – Friday 25^th March at West Kent Shooting School which includes a charity auction. Please see advert later in report or for more information contact charles@tassell.co.uk or 07973 412179

Heathfield Show News

Show celebrates 75th anniversary

With the Heathfield Show day looming we are excited to announce that there will be a £500 prize, kindly donated by PJ Skips, for the Champion of Champions in the Horse Section of the Heathfield Agricultural Show on Saturday 28th May. An opportunity not to be missed!

Entries are now live on the new Show web site for all Cattle, Sheep, Pig and Horse classes.

The past two Shows have had to be cancelled because of the pandemic so to the comeback for our 75th anniversary is even more poignant. The Showing scene has been in hibernation, so we are expecting high exhibitor numbers as people dust off their showing kit boxes and start getting their livestock back into Show ready condition.

Closing date for livestock entries is 1st April, and Horse classes 14th April.

There will be a full showing schedule and exciting events going on around the Showground

throughout the day, including a fly past by a Hurricane (subject to weather conditions) and the launch of the Queen’s Green Canopy Jubilee appeal for East Sussex.

As Show day approaches more announcements will be made, so keep an eye on www.heathfieldshow.org.

The Show will definitely be living up to its new strap line “A Real Look At Country Life”.

Press enquiries: Nicola Magill: Secretary@heathfieldshow.org . 07799 846299

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The March edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker is a regular contributor to the editorial content

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

The fixture list for the season has been circulated with this report recently. Further copies are available here in the market

Sunday 20^th March – Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent; Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Saturday 26^th March – Crawley & Horsham, Parnham, Surrey. RH20 2ER

Sunday 10^th April – Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent; Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Saturday 16^th April – Ashford Valley Tickham, Charing, Kent. TN27 0JD

Monday 18^th April – Aldington Races, Aldington, Kent. TN25 7EJ

Saturday 23^rd April – Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray; Parham, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Sunday 1^st May – Mid Surrey Farmers Draghounds, Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB

Saturday 14^th May – Peper Harrow, Peper Harrow, Surrey. GU8 6TE