Weekly Sales News – 17th December 2019

Top Price per Kilo – 234p/kg – C A Worley Farming Ltd: Top Price per head – £99 – J Wayman

Report on trade: A few less lambs forward this week but a super trade for all on offer with many buyers keen to get some stock for the Christmas period where many markets will not be running and numbers on offer will inevitably be reduced. Some fantastic quality on offer this week with runs of quality from both J Wayman, C A Worley Farming Ltd and P Ashlee to name but a few. These vendors were well rewarded with prices regularly in excess of 200p per kg to a top price of 234p for some super Beltex from “The Queen of Shape”, Caroline Worley. James Wayman presented one of the best quality runs of nearly 200 lambs we have seen for many months and was well rewarded seeing them selling to a top price of £99 and averaging in excess of £90 head.

There will not be a livestock market on Tuesday 24^th December but we remind our sheep vendors that we will be holding a sheep only market on Friday 27^th December at 10am. There will be no livestock markets in the week 30^th -3^rd January. Please advise us of what you intend to send on Friday 27^th.

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 similar trade this week with slightly more penned. Many vendors are now wanting to clear up some ewes before the Christmas period and because of the very wet conditions we are seeing at the moment.

Best ewes were sold on a similar trade to recent weeks but there were few men wishing to buy further grazers in the current conditions. Ewes may begin to dry up in the coming weeks before any larger numbers of scanned ewes come out to the market place.

Ewes will be offered for sale on December 27^th, but there will be no sales in the week before Christmas or on Tuesday 30^th December.

Top prices today included best Texel ewes to £100 from Martletts Farm and Kingswood Farmers at £92, Suffolk’s to £83 from J Wayman, Mules to £75 from The John Graham Centre with Romneys to £70 from Langrish Farmers

Report on trade: A mixed entry of stores were penned with all sorts on offer. Best stores made in excess of £70 to a top of £72.50 from Westerlands Stud, longer term lambs sold from £45 to  £55 and all strong stores £60 plus.

Store lambs now sold every Tuesday following sale of finished lambs. If you have store to sell you would be advised to take advantage of the current strong prices.

Report on trade: Despite a small pre Christmas entry trade was good with a British Blue cross heifer topping at £1,119 (204p per kg) from F S Husk and Blonde cross steer at £1,076 (191p) from G L Boulden & Sons.

Next Finished Cattle Market will be on Tuesday 7^th January 2020, cattle will be wanted after the festive period. Please keep in touch regarding likely prices and demand.

Report on trade: A small entry on the last cattle sale of the year and only dairy culls were penned with the full range of qualities on offer. We saw another bright competitive trade with the fleshed heavyweights certainly firmer and plainer cows look well sold considering their condition.

Highlights include British Friesians 121p, 115p, 111p, £982, £829, £819 from Debden Court; Holstein Friesian 109p £803 Falconhurst Estate, 107p £904 Oncoland Ltd, 100p, 97p £735, £719 J W Boyd & Sons and 96p £692 W P Hope & Son. Brown Swiss 96p D Murdoch & Sons and Dairy Shorthorn 84p Falconhurst Estate.

Next cattle sale Tuesday 7^th January 2020

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.

Report on trade: Very few forward but buyers as always ringside. A 29mths Friesain steer made £595 and a 19mths Limousin bull £720.

Store and breeding cattle are already being entered for Tuesday 14^th January. As always keep in touch with our auctioneers and fieldsmen for updates on numbers coming forward and likely demand.

Report on trade: A little bit of festive spirit in the air as trade firms slightly for the last sale of 2019! Some good quality continental’s were on offer this week with a wide selection of buyers to match. Bulls sold to £200 for a Simmental cross from Falconhurst Estate and heifers looked well sold and topped at £245 for a Limousin from T Castle & Son who also sold British Blue heifers to £200.

One of each sex sold today in the native section with the Aberdeen Angus bull from W F Farms selling to £105 and an Aberdeen Angus heifer from J E Scutt & Sons to £80.

A better trade for dairy sired calves than we have seen for several sales this week, helped in part by the small entry and perhaps an overall better quality calf on offer too. Nothing forward with any real size and age to hit the higher pricing brackets, however a top price of £28 from J E Scutt & Sons would certainly look stronger on the day compared to previous sales.

We would like to wish all involved with the calf department a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year and look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday 7^th January to open the account for 2020!

Report on trade: The last sale of pigs for 2019 saw plenty of stock forward but not strong demand. Buyers were fair but trade was back on sales in the last 6 weeks in the finished pens, cull values eased a little too and stores were a mixed story.

Over 100 pigs were weighed into the finished pens being a mix of good bred white pigs to a selection of coloured native breeds. 40p per kg to 72p covered the selection of coloured pigs from The Canterbury Oast Trust. S Scott & Son saw their best make 98p, Duroc’s from O Giles made to 97p and making top price of 100p were white pigs from T F Russell. C B Hope sold 20 heavy, well fed whites to 96p and to average just over £80 gross.

Cull sows made to 60p and a very heavy boar47p.

In the store pens there was value to be had. Medium weight coloured feeders made to £24 and a nice pen of coloured weaners £15 from Newham City Farm

Vehicle Parking on busy market days – Congestion in the bottom / livestock parking area

Please help us to help you. The upper car park on the top side of the market buildings is available for all cars and Land Rovers with trailers.

Disabled bays – please would market users please respectfully only use these bays if displaying the recognized blue badge

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/

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

For Sale – good home required for an 18 mths old, part trained collie dog – Maidstone area. Ring Paul on 07976 921689

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

An employment opportunity at Mole Valley Farmers, Canterbury

Are you an experienced retailer looking to take on a new challenge?  Would you like to work for a values-based organization with true spirit and heritage, then this opportunity might just be for you!

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Sales Floor Supervisor to join our retail and agricultural store in Canterbury, Kent.  This is a full-time role working 40 hours per week on a 5 out of 7 rota.  Reporting to the Countrystore Manager, you will be a key member of the store management team where you will be responsible for supervising the sales floor team.

We are looking for inspirational leaders who have a passion for retail and agriculture with at least 1 years supervisory/management experience, from a similar fast-paced retail environment.  A good broad product knowledge is also required.  You will be a real team player, driving a memorable experience for both our staff and customers.  In this role you will ensure that the store is visually merchandised to the highest standards.  You will also be involved in the daily planning, organising and following up of all sales floor activities.

You’ll need to be a positive and friendly person with an eye for accuracy and attention to detail, and the motivation to deliver outstanding customer service. If you’re interested in agriculture or the great outdoors, this could be the job for you!

If you are interested in this role and are committed to working within the values of our organisation we are keen to hear from you. You can expect to work as part of a great team with opportunities for training and development, we’re offering a competitive salary and benefits package.

Mole Country Stores will only recruit individuals who have passed the school leavers’ age due to the nature of our products sold in store.

Due to the high number of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback on your application.

 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 – Dry barn stored barley straw and hay £15/£20 per bale ex farm Etchingham. Bulk whole oats and wheat also available £85 per half tonne bag. Transport arranged if required. 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.

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

RABI – copies of a summer newsletter are available here in the market.

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club.

Sunday 12th January 2020 at 12 noon – return visit to Matt Cullen’s farm to view his cattle in their new winter quarters. Animal Farm, Mill Road, Staple, Canterbury.  CT3 1LB

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

Romney Sheep Breeders Society

Copies of the winter newsletter are available here in the market

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The December 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 Winter 2019/20, is included with this months publication and again are available hare in the market.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Monday 30th December – Special Christmas Auction with up to 200 cars on offer which starts at 4pm

Wednesday 15^th January – Special Auction of prestige cars followed by general cars which starts at 5pm

Wednesday 5th February – Special Auction of 4 x 4, MPV’s and SUV’s followed by general cars which starts at 4pm.

There is always something to look forward to from Car Auctions here in Ashford …

Friday 14^th February – Collective Machinery & Equipment Auction sale at 9.30am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

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