Weekly Sales News – 15th September 2020

Top price per kilo – 249p – C A Worley Farming Ltd: Top price per head – £106 – Mike Keeley (Agri Services)

Report on trade: A smaller entry this week and quite a variance in the quality on offer which made for a big variance in the price. Best lambs are still in short supply nationally and regardless of weight all meated sorts are selling in excess of 200p per kg and many of the heavier types over £100. Top export grade sheep topped out at just under 250p from CA Worley Farming Ltd once again with heavies from Mrs J Walker, Michael Keeley (Agri Services), P N & C Burden and R & S L M Smith all selling over £100.

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: A decent sized entry of ewes this week on what would historically be a busy time for the cull ewe department, however we have sold the bigger numbers earlier this year. We also saw as many cull ewes purchased to graze yesterday as were sold for the meat trade which shows confidence in the long-term prospects for the meat ewes.

Averages would be up on the week with the best meat slightly dearer and topping at £100 from T Lyle and Ptnrs.

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: This week saw a terrific show of quality and fleshed cattle. The overall trade national has just eased a little in recent weeks after the height of promotional activity but with retail sales holding firm, as people eat well at home, the beef industry remains in a good place. Whether suckler bred or out of the dairy herd cattle carried flesh and producers can be complimented for the standard on offer at Ashford.

Best beef bred steers readily made 210p to 220p per kg topping twice at 223p and grossing to £1267 from R F & E A Simmons. Dairy bred Limousins from A J Down made to 204p £1262 and their Hereford cross to 188p £1158. Sussex to 191p A H Hoad & Son whilst Wagyu cross from the dairy made to175p £1110 from M W Goddard.

Quality medium weight heifers met keen demand with Limousin cross from A J Thompson & Sons to 228p and 224p £1184 with a smart Aberdeen Angus to 223p £1146. W S Furnival (Brookland) sold Limousin cross to 227p, 226p, 220p, and 218p (3) £1335, £1285, £1223. Best of the dairy bred heifers saw a Limousin x British Friesian from A J Down at 209p £1113.

A few young Sussex bulls well sold to 165p and £915.

Report on trade: Another excellent entry of barren cows, stock bulls and overage steers came through the cull ring. Trade has just taken a little notch backwards as we approach decision time for the approaching winter. Not much of a change however in the well fleshed cows from dairy or beef sectors, and certainly no slowing up with the younger feeders which rose to 175p per kg. Not surprisingly it is the lean dairy culls and older beef types that have eased a little as processing costs hit home and more numbers are expected.

We were short of beef cows today, but feeders made to 175p and 169p whilst some strong non assured cows readily made 140p to 158p giving best returns up over £1100. Limousin crosses made 175p, 169p, £951 (Non FA) M Goodsell and 144p 139p, £1134, £1053 (Non FA) Mrs G West; Sussex 158p, 131p, 129p, 124p, £984, £944, £933, £907 (Non FA) Latters Toll Farm and Simmental cross 142p, £959 J Hooker & Son.

More dairy culls were on offer this week with a strong contrast between the dried-up fed cows and those straight from the dairy. Competition was still excellent for all grades and returns for the season remain impressive. Holstein Friesian 126p, 125p, 122p, 120p, 119p, £1149, £1114, £1067, £1061 Appleton Farms; 125p, £929 H O Champneys Ltd; 123p, £1029 J E Scutt & Sons; 123p, £956 J Warnock & Son; Ayrshire 96p, £580 J Howie; Guernsey 94p, £552 J Howie and Dexter 75p.

A few more aged Holstein Friesian steers in good order and between 30-36 mths 167p, 160p, 157p, 155p, 154p (3), £1051 (2), £1049, £981 etc and Older 3 yrs+ 129p, 126p, 121p, £1073.

Stock bulls hold a decent trade and flesh helps. Beef Shorthorn 111p, £988; Charolais 105p, £1186 and Hereford 104p, £887.

Report on trade: Something of a tale of two halves with some very notable exceptions. A J Britton’s outstanding British Blue cross suckled calves (6-8 mths) sold to £720 and £660 for steers and £510 for heifers. Otherwise the young cattle were not of the best quality and prices reflected a nervousness amongst farmers with a difficult winter ahead.

We saw strong cattle on the other hand an excellent trade and anything to fatten this winter was in demand. A good attendance of buyers for cattle with size but an opportunity exists for those looking to winter younger cattle.

Report on trade: One cow and calf outfit sold this week being a 2013 Hereford cross cow with nicely shaped Charolais steer calf at foot sold for £1,000.

Report on trade: Fantastic numbers once again this week with the 100 mark being reached for the first time in a while! Buyers were on here to handle these numbers and more.

Continentals remain a strong trade particularly for the better end of the market. Top price bull went to D Murdoch & Sons for a British Blue bull at £340. J W Boyd & Sons Ltd also deserve a mention for their British Blue bull which topped their run at £300. Simmentals from H O Champneys Ltd sold to £270 for a change of colour away from the British Blue! Heifers also a stand on trade with a little bit more of a mixed entry. Top end calves to £305 from R & J Ledger again with the British blue heifer. More run of the mill types a little easier and often around the £150 mark.

A mixed entry of natives saw strong calves a serious trade and smaller less fleshy types a little easier on the fortnight. Top priced bull was an Aberdeen Angus from J E Scutt & Sons to £285 with heifers topping at £165 for a Beef Shorthorn from J B Howie.

A strong trade again this week for dairy sired bull calves with another new buyer round the ring. Top price dairy calf was £160 for a Flekvieh from the Falconhurst Estate with larger framed Holstein Friesians £70 to £80, second graders look well sold from £40 to £60  and bobbies generally £20-£30.

A small mixed bag of weanlings this week with a few suckler bred calves straight from cows and a couple of others. Top price of £375 went to Stones Throw Farm for an April born Limousin Bull and continental heifers sold to £330 from Alastair Boyd & Co.

Important Announcement – Ram Sales 2020.

Due to the current and ongoing restrictions, imposed on livestock markets and shows throughout the country, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic please note the following amendments to our advertised ram sales.

Monday 28^th September – Sale of all breeds, with MV & Non MV facilities, to commence at 3pm. This sale will include the South East Texel Groups annual show and sale of pedigree breeding sheep- see full details under forthcoming sale lists

Friday 2^nd October – Romney Day including show and sale of Romney rams.

Friday 30^th October – Sale of all breeds, Non MV only, at 11am.

A catalogue will be produced for each sale, please enter rams as soon as possible.

Please note: Rams will not be accepted for sale on any other day, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

For all queries regarding ram sales and to enter rams, please contact either Tom Hamplett (07966 104532) or Mark Cleverdon (07741 845230).

Hobbs Parker Car Auctions news – We are back in business!!

Vehicles are being traded in substantial numbers in our weekly online sales. For all details please long onto the Hobbs Parker website and select Car Auctions or pick up the phone 01233 506266 and speak to John Chapman or James Johnson

Farm Dispersal Sale

We are pleased to confirm instructions from Mr C Peach to conduct a sale of farm machinery and equipment on

Thursday 1^st October at 11am – In all we will offer approximately 200 lots and a full catalogue with photographs has now been published.

Covid 19 control guidelines will need to be followed – this will not be a “Social” event

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Barkers Animal Health retail store here in the market will be open on Tuesday and also on Fridays through the sheep sale season. If possible, please pre order so goods are ready for your collection. New local representative Mossy is available 24/7 on 07739 723623 to discuss your requirements

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

In addition, our Property Consultants Outlook for Autumn 2020 is included with this month’s publication. Articles looking at current issues affecting many aspects of land ownership make interesting reading for all landowners and occupiers.

Mole Valley Farmers will be here in the market on Friday 18^th September

The Mole Country Stores team from Canterbury will be here with a representative from Elanco who produce Zolvix wormer.

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

For Sale – 9 Holstein x Friesian heifers, 24 mths and in calf to an Aberdeen Angus bull – East Kent. Ring Peter Kingwill on 07795 200357

For Sale – ready for work Limousin bull. East Sussex. Ring Mark Cleverdon for details 07741 845230

Ashford Cattle Show news

It is with huge regret the committee of the show association have decided that this year’s Show (and also dinner) will not take place.

The 150^th Ashford Cattle Show will now be held in 2021.

Covid-19 Protocol at Ashford Market – updated July 2020 2020

In common with the Livestock Auctioneers Association’s recommendations to its members Hobbs Parker Auctioneers ask that their customers wear a face covering whilst at market.

Social distancing, high standards of hygiene and responsible behaviour to others is also recommended.

Strict control of the numbers attending market is asked for and both buyers and sellers should not bring additional people with them to market.

We still recommend a ‘Drop and Go’ policy for vendors but if a vendor has a need to attend, they should always be on their own and respect social distancing.

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

Simon Husk (Cattle & sheep) 07885 968077 or 01304 842393

Mark Cleverdon (Pigs) 07741 845230

John Rossiter (Sheep, machinery plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

Tom Hamplett (Calves, weanlings, breeding cattle & rams) 07966 104532