Weekly Sales News – 16th February 2021

Top price per head – £149.50 – P Gorringe; Top price per kilo – 340p – P Gorringe

Report on trade: A great entry of just under 3,000 finished hoggets were penned and again sold yet again to an improved trade. With the trade lifting week on week for nearly 6 weeks now and record prices being seen every week and today was no exception with less than 50 hoggets in this section selling for less than £100. These prices are fantastic but there is definitely a little resistance to this price hike from some customers suggesting we may be at the peak and that holding off selling for better prices may not be wise. Saying this we have been surprised by the resilience of the sheep trade many times in the past 12 months!

Top of the tree today was P Gorringe with a fantastic pen of Beltex cross hoggets at 44kg making £149.50 with the same vendor topping the weight bracket prices for no less than 7 different weights. He is in strong company with consignments from M R Woodroofe, P & C Bower Ptns, J Wayman, H Rivers and others all in the over 300p per kg club this week. The very heavy hoggets were sold on a par to last week prices of £120 to £135 but the export weights and smarter lambs were the ones to see a lift in comparison to 7 days earlier.

More fleshed lambs required to satisfy requirements of current buyers. Important to contact us regarding numbers so that we can notify the buyers.

Report on trade: A small entry again this week but trade was greatly improved with the average price up by £20. Average prices in the ewe department are not an accurate representation of the trade however. Yes, the ewes this week were dearer than last, but the overall quality of the relatively small entry was greatly improved also with a £10 increase in trade more realistic.

Best ewes made in excess of £100 on many occasions with G H Dean & Co taking pole position with some smart Texel crosses at £128 with Suffolk’s from the same vendors at £115.50.

Report on trade: This was another exceptional trade and the dearest yet this season with 11 successful individual buyers competing for all on offer. Best stores sold readily in excess of £110 and topped at £117.50 for a pen of Suffolk crosses from D Heathcote. A favourable average of £96.80 and only small long term stores made below £80. If you have stores to sell you could be well advised to sell on this trade with any further improvement in price unlikely.

Breeding Ewes

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: Almost 100 in lambers sold today with an entry of half Suffolk x Mules and half Romneys. The Suffolk x Mules from M Wenham, scanned at 200% to a Texel Ram made to £158. Romneys sold to £106 from G Homewood.

Report on trade: We had a better show of cattle this week with regular vendors and quality on offer back in the market after missing last week due to adverse weather conditions. There was plenty of competition at ringside with trade brisk throughout with the best making 225p per kg plus and lessor second quality sorts around 190p.

An exceptional Parthenaise cross steer topped the market at £1472 (250p) while smart heifers of the same breed sold well at £1271 (245p) and £1190 (246p) from S Marsh. Other top prices included Bazadaise cross heifer at £1346 (241p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and Limousin cross heifer and steer £1461 (244p) and £1445 (236p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

The best of the dairy bred cattle made to £1319 (227p) for Limousin x Friesian steer from A J Down and heavier sorts grossed well at £1429 (208p) for Blonde cross steer from P W & P Sim & Son.

We had very few native bred on offer with Sussex steer grossing well at £1336 (211p) and bull £1191 (177p) from Sussex Herd Co Ltd.

OTM cattle made to £1262 (170p) for Hereford cross steer from H G Tompsett & Sons Ltd.

Report on trade: There were more customers around the ring, again, for cows with rates continuing at very high levels with cows for turning out even dearer. Empty outwintered or open yarded cows will not find a better time to be sold. Again, only a small number of fleshed cows from both beef or dairy sections and this trade, with supplies tightening, can only stay at these high rates for months to come.

Meat cows made 130p to 160p per kg, best feeding cows 140p to 190p and little under 110p bar the very oldest and plainest.

Best beef included Limousin cross 187p 169p 161p £1123 £1082 J Loveridge, 159p 158p 151p 149p 148p 146p 145p £1084 £982 £976 Burden Bros and 153p £1121 (Non FA) I G Pilcher; Charolais cross 166p £1150 Seymour Stevens Ltd and 140p £997 (Non FA) A J Strand & Sons; Aberdeen Angus cross 154p £1028 (Non FA) K Bugden, 146p £1199 (Non FA) A J Strand & Sons and 139p 138p £1024 J Loveridge; Saler cross 150p 144p 137p 134p £911 Seymour Stevens Ltd; South Devon 143p £1140 J S Tilley; Sussex 137p £853 F Sole & Son, 134p 123p £861 Raveningham Farms and 124p £989 (Non FA) B W Kemsley & Son with Simmental cross 123p £979 J & A Lyon.

We saw more of a mixed show in the black and white department trade remains at exceptional levels. Best young cows made up over 160p, older best cows 120p to135p, plain steakers 90p to110p and plain lightweights 70p to 90p.

Best calls included British Friesian 162p 160p £1045, 133p £967 Debden Court Ltd; Holstein Friesian 128p £1090 M A & F W Owen and 123p 120p 117p (2) £1019 £986 Huddlestone Farmers Ltd with Brown Swiss 117p £856 D Murdoch & Sons

An Aberdeen Angus bull (Non FA) made £1200 and 95p.

Report on trade: Increased numbers of store cattle this week and with a good attendance of keen buyers at ringside trade was bullish throughout. The best of the yearling continental cross cattle sold readily in excess of £800 and stronger stores to finish short term attracted prices around £1000.

Smart 10mths Blonde cross steers topped the youngsters at £850 from A & H Edmonds and runs of dairy bred 18mths stores from both R Winstone and A L Betts Ltd sold well with the majority in the £850 to £1000 bracket and Beef Shorthorn crosses selling particularly well up to £930.

We have customers keen to buy store cattle over the coming months and if you have cattle to sell please contact regarding future entries.

Principal prices include:

• A & H Edmonds: 10mths Blonde cross steers £850, heifers £800
• N A Vincent: 10mths Limousin cross heifers £795
• I Machin: 15mths Beef Shorthorn x Limousin heifers £930, 15mths British Blue x Friesian heifers £795
• B W Kemsley & Son: 15mths Sussex steers £930
• T Castle & Son: 15mths Limousin x Friesian heifers £750
• Saw Lodge Farm: 18mths Hereford x Friesian heifers £730
• P & G & J Carden: 18mths British Blue x Friesian heifers £930
• R Winstone: 18mths Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers £1060, 18mths Hereford x
• Friesian steers £960, 18mths Beef Shorthorn cross steers £930, 18mths Beef Shorthorn cross heifers £910
• A L Betts Ltd: 18mths Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers £910
• C Kearl: 20mths Hereford cross steers £1060

We have customers keen to buy store cattle over the coming months and if you have cattle to sell please contact regarding future entries.

Report on trade: A solid trade again today for all types of calves with a ringside of keen buyers, more calves needed to fill orders!

In the sale continental calves were a solid trade for the entry with a top of £300 for a British Blue bull from T Castle & Son. Hickson Bros British Blues look very well sold at a top of £275 for bulls and £255 for heifers. Simmental bulls from R & J Ledger sold to a top of £205. Continental heifers were well sought after with highlights including Limousin’s to £250 from T Castle & Son and Simmentals from D Murdoch & Sons to £245.

A nice choice of native calves today saw Aberdeen Angus bulls topping at £270 from North Kent College. A & W J Hitchcock sold a lovely run of Aberdeen Angus bulls to £260. The same vendor topped the heifer section with Aberdeen Angus’ to £210. A smart heifer from P J Forknall sold for £205 at the top end of the native heifer section.

Dairy sired calves look well enough sold on the day although it must be said buyers are very much looking for flesh and frame in these types of calves. Best of these was a Fleckvieh from J Gormley at £130 with stronger types generally £60 plus. The less well fleshed types harder to place and generally a little easier trade wise around the £30 mark.

Please note Covid-19 regulations mean we will be again implementing a “Drop and go Policy” and no vendors will be permitted to attend the market other than to deliver stock.

Please help us to ensure your market remains open and operational.

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Lambing season supplies – Just a reminder that Barkers Animal Health retail store, here in the market, is open for collections on a Tuesdays. Please pre order with Mossy, who is available 24/7 on 07739 723623, so goods are ready for you.

Notices – Richard Thompson – Warehorne, Ashford

It is with sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Richard. He was always known as the “dairy man” in the Thompson family of farmers on Romney Marsh and in the Ashford area, who have been great market supporters for many, many years. He will always be remembered as the man who hand milked young dairy cattle in the sales ring when offered for sale on a very regular basis. The thoughts and best wishes go out to family and friends from the whole of the Ashford market community.

Notices – Alan Hitchcock – Shoreham, Sevenoaks

It is with sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Alan. He was active on the farm until his very final hours – a farmer right up until the finish line! The thoughts and best wishes go out to family and friends from the whole of the Ashford market community.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

Bovine TB Test Dates

It is very important that the date (first part of test) is recorded on cattle entry forms for all cattle sold from TB1holdings. Any recent whole herd test dates from TB4 holdings must also be recorded. This information is critical to purchasers who may be required to test animals again and who will wish to avoid the risk of a false positive by testing again within the 60-day period.

Please advise of test dates when making cattle entries for cataloguing from TB1 Holdings.

Please note if you don’t wash out at Ashford

Drivers of vehicles leaving Ashford empty without cleansing and disinfecting MUST complete a declaration form obtainable from the Market Office.

You must then cleanse and disinfect as soon as possible and within 24 hours, or before using again for livestock.

This is a LEGAL responsibility and are subject to checks by Local Authority Animal Health and Welfare Officers

Hay, Straw and fodder

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 auctioneer’s office on 01233 502222 or Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

For Sale – 120 5’ Round bales of 2020 hay. Rolvenden area 07860 469597

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

Farm manager and farm worker (growing vegetables and Fruit) required for a diverse farming and retail business (including livestock, PYO, farmshop, Christmas trees) based on an 80 acre estate on Pevensey in East Sussex. Please contact Donna for more information donna@wylands.co.uk for full details

Wanted – veterinary student (2^nd year) looking for lambing experience (28^th March to 16^th April). Please contact Oliver on 07763 688510

News from the East Sussex Farmers’ Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund charity was created in 1935 by a local farmer and its purpose is to support farmers, farm staff and those involved in the wider land-based industries. Support can also be given to family dependants.  Beneficiaries are normally resident in East Sussex or neighbouring counties.

Income from property and investment legacies help to finance the fund in addition to generous donations. The fund is overseen by five local trustees with strong agricultural connections.

Help can be for those currently in work, or who have retired or who are unable to work due to illness or disability. The fund can also assist those entering land-based education and help with relevant CPD for furthering their land-based careers.

If you feel that we can help you or you are aware of someone who might benefit from help, please let us know and we will be pleased to support. To contact the Honorary Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Des Lambert – 07912 464746, 01273 890841 or email des.lambert@btinternet.com.

Help and support from The Farming Community Network

Farming Community Network (FCN) volunteers regularly attend local livestock markets and whilst we cannot be present at sales currently, our helpline is still open from 7am to 11pm every day, staffed by people who understand farming.

FCN is a charity and voluntary organisation that helps farmers to stay resilient. We provide practical and pastoral support to those experiencing difficulties in England and Wales.

During these challenging times we are encouraging everyone to think about their own physical and mental health and that of their families and staff.

We can help with contingency planning against the backdrop of the Corona virus outbreak and our FarmWell website (www.farmwell.org.uk) offers a wealth of free information about managing change and maintaining personal wellbeing.

The FCN helpline can be reached on 03000 111 999 or via email at help@fcn.org.uk. Confidentiality is assured.