Sheep sales reports

Finished Sheep – 3256 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

New Season Lambs

Top price per head – £98.50 – D Isaac; Top price per kilo – 244p – M B Farms

Finished Hoggets

Top price per head – £120 – R H Smith; Top price per kilo – 212p – W S Farms

Report on trade: Another bigger entry of lambs as the season progresses and the trade was on a similar level to last week with the average figures returned with little change. Top spot per kilo was 244p for some smart Beltex cross lambs from M B Farms (36kg at £88). Numbers of spring lambs are increasing week on week now with the hoggets numbers set to decline and this in turn will force the change over by major abattoirs to new season sheep.

Another good entry of late season hoggets and a flying trade was seen throughout for all classes of sheep on offer and a good number of hoggets sold in excess of £100 to a top price of £120 for R H Smith for a pen full of super Charollais cross hoggets weighing in at 57kg. These heavy sorts have been the hardest to sell over the past couple of months but with numbers dropping nationally they have lifted by £10-15 in the past week. The handy weighted sheep were also in demand with the best export sorts on offer all selling in excess of 200p.

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 only farm assured stock.

Report on trade: A big entry of ewes were penned again and trade was at a similar level to recent weeks with the best ewes trading in excess of £80. Top price on the day was a tremendous Charollais ewe from F Norman at £100. Ewes to graze are beginning to come back in to demand and traded between £40 to £50.

Continental ewes made to £100 from F Norman, Suffolk crosses to £89 from R L Goodman & Son, Mules to £70 from the same vendor and Romneys to £70 from A J Thompson & Sons.

Report on trade: A small entry before Fridays sale when nearly 3.000 sheep will be penned. Averages 40 ewes sold Top £120 and aver’ £97.38 (£44.23 per life)

Numbers forward are generally reducing each week in the store  hogget pens although we found a few more this week. Averages 294 sold – Top £64 aver’ £45.38

Report on trade: Strong lambs again made £20 to £36.  Averages 13  lambs sold to £36 and aver’ £24.53

Report on trade: A cracking trade for a similar entry of finished cattle with the best handy weight butcher type sorts selling readily in the 215p – 225p per kg bracket, more commercial types 175p – 190p and several native bred cattle attracting the interest of local butchers and selling at around 185p.

Smart handy weight continental crosses made up to £1252 (225p) for a Limousin cross steer from G L Boulden & Sons and a Limousin cross heifer grossed well at £1300 (219p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). The best of the dairy bred commercial sorts included £1250 (194p) for a Limousin cross steer from R F & E A Simmons, £1197 (185p) for a Simmental cross heifer from Oxenford Farm Ltd and  £1040 (185p) for a Limousin cross steer from A  J Down.

Several native bred cattle on offer sold well with the best including Sussex steers at £1209 (188p) from A H Hoad & Son and £1131 (186p) from Passmore Coombes. An Aberdeen Angus cross heifer made £1091 (180p) from Campbell Bros.

Friesian steers made up to £982 (145p) from R Price & Son.

Report on trade: Great numbers again for the time of year and this current level of trade should not be missed by anyone. Flesh much wanted by a processing industry desperately short of cheap beef and clearly feeders and grazers are keen to take the leaner beef cow for improvement.

Rates overall very similar with the good meat beef cows making 135-150p per kg and the best purebred continentals pushing on towards 170p. Bestr calls included Blondes at 168p and £1382 G L Boulden & Sons; Charolais 165p, 145p and £1119 J Boomaars;  Simmental 151p, 150p, 146p and £1105 Campbell Bros and 141p Lawrence & Son; British Blues 147p Exors N A Husk;  Aberdeen Angus 140p, 138p, 131p and £940 J Boomaars, 137p, 134p and £1106 (exempt) R J Saunters t/a Darwell; Sussex 136p Bowes Lyon Estate and South Devon 134p (Non FA) P Shubrook.  Longhorn steers at 39mths made 147p and £901while Simmental cross steers at 50mths 137p, 135p and £1147 from R W Jones & Son.

There was more flesh about amongst the cull dairy cows and this saw well received. British Friesian 145p, 140p, 138p, 137p (3) and £1036, £1030, £1020 15 averaging 134.8p from PHR Farms. Holstein Friesian 140p, 134p, 133p, 130p, £1059, £1011, £1008 from Goddard & Son.

Fleshed stock bulls were wanted with a: Limousin 140p and a Sussex 106p.

Store Cattle – 290 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: Another good entry of store cattle for this time of year with a similar competitive trade throughout.

A big percentage of native bred cattle were on offer with plenty of customers in attendance. 16 mth Aberdeen Angus cross steers topped the market at  £1000  from R & H Vincent and a quality run of 12 mths Sussex steers sold exceptionally well up to £835 from Bowes Lyon Estate.

Continental crosses were in relatively short supply and sold well with the best yearlings making in excess of £800 and stronger cattle approaching £1000.

Principal prices not already mentioned above included:        

Continental crosses                                                                                                                         

Report on trade: Bulls sold well again in the Ashford ring for the 3^rd time this season and Limousins again dominated the sale. M A Piper & Son Farms sold 2 born in 2014 at £2000 and £2500 with W A Ketley & Sons following with a pedigree at £2500 and Limousin x British Blue £2500 as well.

Plenty of bidders were on hand for the couples on offer and all looked well sold. Young Limousin, Aberdeen Angus and Sussex crosses with Limousin calves made from £1060 to £1300 from M Goodsell; big Charolais cross cows and December calves (not the youngest) made to £1420 from G Venner and an Aberdeen Angus cross cow (2009) with Limousin heifer calf £1240 from L J Osbourne & Son.

Romney Sheep Breeders News

Open day – Thursday 1^st June at 2.30pm – Rushfield, Giggars Green Road, Aldington. More details from 07392 319813 and in next weeks market report.

Notices – Violet (Vi) Link

The family have asked us to advise that Vi passed away on the farm at Pickney Bush, Newchurch, Romney Marsh on May 9^th. Vi and the Link family have always been highly respected as good farmers and high quality livestock breeders supplying the market here in Ashford with well bred sheep from a principally Romney flock of ewes.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday 25^th May at 3pm at ST Peter and St Paul Church in Newchurch.

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Breeding Cattle for sale ex farm

6 Pedigree Sussex bulls – 3 in West Sussex and 3 in Kent. All well bred and from high health herds here in the South East. TB Low. Mark Cleverdon can provide further details – 07748 202688

2 Pedigree Limousin bulls, 18 mths from a Welsh farm

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For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact

Elwyn Davies (Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263

Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357

Martin Crowhurst (Sheep & Cattle) 07710 803903 or 01797 343936

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

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07748 202688

John Rossiter (Cull ewes & store sheep plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

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South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

TheJune May edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

In addition our Property Consultants Outlook for Summer 2017, is included with this months publication and again are available hare in the market. Articles from our Property Consultants team and James Hickman’s commentary on the agricultural land market  make interesting reading for all landowners and occupiers.

Ashford Cattle show summer competitions

Flocks Entries are now welcome for this event. Forms will be sent to regular exhibitors but new faces are always welcome. For all information please ring Edward Langrish on 07973 977074. Judge will be confirmed and entries close on 28^th May with judging to take palce in the 2^nd week of June.

Beef herds and Crops Details will be published shortly. Charles Bull 07825665498 and Tim Porter 07919 196068 have all information on these 2 competitions.

Entry forms for all competitions are now available here in the market

Sheepdogs for sale

2  Border terrier puppies. Eight weeks old. One bitch and one dog. Fully vaccinated, wormed and microchiped. East Kent . Contact 07885 968077 for more information

5 Collie puppies (3 dogs) – farm bred, well socialised and nicely marked. 07814 972010. Essex.

15mth old registered well bred collie bitch. Just broken sides and a stop and easy to handle video available. Also 3 5mth old registered collie dog pups whose breeding includes Ross Games Roy and Kevin Evans Sawmill Jess . Microchipped, vaccinated and very keen. Please ring 01403 864361 or 07718902953. West Sussex

Notice from Trading Standards on Sheep tags

Sheep producers are reminded that all sheep now require electronic tags, either single, double or re replacements. Please refer to Defra guidelines for the necessary type of tag required depending on the sheep you are presenting for sale.

RABI, FCN and Kent Herdsmans Club News

RABI Fund raising events over the next few months include:

Kart Racing – April or May, date TBC. Buckmore Park. Ring Charles Tassell 01622 858733

Elmley Bird Sanctuary private tour and barbeque  – Sunday 14^th May. Emley, Isle of Sheppey. ME12 3RW. Ring Roger Pickard 01227 832045 for full details

Watch this space for details of more events next week and ongoing

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 12th June 2017 at 7.30pm – visit to Robert Hank’s and his families farm – Islingham Farm, Wainscott, Rochester. ME3 8BP to view his cattle and sheep enterprise.

For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Alan Jull 07708283220 or Jo Masters 01580 240568

Shearing course

A British Wool Marketing Board shearing course will be held at Rye on Monday 22^nd and Tuesday 23^rd May. This is for all standards, beginners to advanced. Please contact Alison Gould on 01647 24804 or Charles Fuggle on 07885 226428 or email agould@britishwool.org.uk for details

NSA Eastern Region Youthful Shepherds Day

Saturday 10^th June 2017 at the Rutland Stud, Saxon Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 9RS. Open to all NSA members and friends from 11am with catering available through the day.

A range of practical demonstrations will be going on for visitors to view, with the opportunity to quiz the mentor at each. 

Incorporated into the day will be the option to compete in the Next Generation Shepherd competition, open to young shepherds aged 26 and under.

Visitors will also get the chance to take in the surroundings at Godolphin Stud with a farm walk, looking at the how the commercial flock operates within the working stud.  Interested? Contact NSA Eastern Region Manager Jonathan Barber for entry forms and more information on 01973 607860 or office@ceressoultions.co.uk

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DEFRA and our Local Authority trading standards officers regularly remind us of our responsibilities regarding unfit animals. No unfit animal should be exposed for sale in a market.

We have been reminded by the Local Authority that it is against current Welfare and Market Regulations to move stock to market, or any other holding, in the final stages of pregnancy (final 4 weeks). Please be careful with dates on breeding stock and cull stock that might turn out to be in lamb or in calf.

All animals should be fit to travel. All in milk cows should to be milked out prior to movement to market. Do not present lame sheep or those, for any reason, which are not fit to be transported. Thanks for your attention to these matters.

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Hay, Straw and fodder

For Sale – 60 Round wrapped bales of 2016 season madehayledge, stored undercover . East Kent. 07775 794556

For Sale – 400 4ft round bales of 2016 season made hay on a West Kent dairy farm. Ring 07769 697934.

For Sale – Large quantities of hay. Ring 07860 623196.

For Sale – Large quantity Quadrant rectangular bales of 2016 season made threshed ryegrass hay. Good quality. Romney Marsh. Ring 07885703458

For Sale – Large quantities of 2016 made and gathered organic hay, haylage and silage. Buckhurst Park, East Sussex. Ring 01892 770220 or email:

For Sale – 100 Mini Hesston 4 string bales of oat straw, 60 Mini Hesston 4 string and 200 4’ round bales of exceptional hay. Transport can be arranged get at cost. East Sussex. Ring 01580 819000 or 07768 771933

For Sale – 157 Massey Ferguson 8’ x 4’ 6 string bales of 2016 season gathered winter barley straw, stored dry. East Kent. Ring 07703 130575

For Sale – 2000 Conventional bales of 2016 season made meadow hay. East Kent. Ring 07885 305520.

For Sale – 150 Claas Quadrant 2016 season gathered winter barley straw, stored dry. Ashford area. Ring 07850 789113.

For Sale – upto 500 Conventional bales of 2016 season made hay. West Kent. Ring 07905 269113.

For Sale – 200 Round bales of 2016 season made meadow hay. Maidstone area. Ring 07813 741636

For Sale – 50 Round wrapped bales of 2016 season made haylage from organically farmed grassland. Mid Kent. Ring 01233 756468.

For Sale – 500 bales of 5` long mini Hesston bales of July 2016 meadow grass haylage with delivery available at cost. Chiddingfold, Surrey. Ring 01428 654695 or 07966 452256.

For Sale – 300 to 400 wrapped 4 string bales of 2016 season haylage and 50 7’ long 6 string bales of meadow hay. Kent / Sussex borders. Ring 07773 384271 or 07973 634519.

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Local Agricultural Show dates

Saturday 20^th May – Hadleigh Farmers Agricultural Association Annual Show at Holbecks Park, Hadleigh, Suffolk. IP7 5PE – Full details available from Show Secretary on 07584 568055 or email: secretary@hadleighshow.co.uk

Sunday 21^st May – Essex Young Farmers County Show at Boyton Hall Farm, Roxwell, nr Chelmsford – “A great one day Show with something for all the family”. Full details available from Show Secretary on 01245 360442 or email: essexyfc@btconnect.com

Saturday 27^th May – Heathfield Show.. For all other show enquiries please ring Show secretary, Nicola Magill, on 01435 864587 or visit www.heathfieldshow.org.

Monday 29^th May – Surrey County Show. All show enquiries please ring Show secretary, 01483 890810 or visit www.surreycountyshow.co.uk

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Commercial Vehicles

Thursday 25^th May at 3.00pm

Commercial vehicle sale

Horse & Saddlery Sale

Thursday 1^st June at 10am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Entries expected of riding ponies, event horses and youngstock

New & nearly new saddlery & tack, grooming kit, yard equipment, rugs, harness Riding boots, show jackets, jodhpurs, body protectors, yard clothing & boots

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 16^th June at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Lots will include new & newly near mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large selection of miscellaneous items.

Special Auction Sale of Convertible Cars

Wednesday 14^th June at 6.30am

Special sale of convertible cars with the normal car auction to follow

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Kent Young Farmers Clubs News

A Dairy Stock judging competition was recently held at Court Farm, Thurnham and  45 members from 7 clubs participated in 4 age categories.  The winners were Freya of Cobtree YFC in the Mini Juniors, Louisa of Homewood School YFC in the Maxi Juniors, Frank Reynolds of Weald of Kent YFC in the Intermediates, and Emma Stewart of SWAN YFC in the Seniors.  The next round is the national final at the Great Yorkshire Show in July. Many thanks to judges Trevor Warren and Colin Leggat.

South East Charolais Cattle Club

Open day – Saturday 27^th May – Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. More details from 02476 697222 or sue @charolais.co.uk