Weekly Sales News – 18th August 2020

Top Price per kilo – 259p – C A Worley Farming Ltd

Top price per head – £109.50 – C & J Georgetti & Sons

Report on trade: A smaller entry this week as numbers of finished lambs start to tighten around the country with a lack of keep and as many of the creep feeders come to the end of this year’s crop. There appears to a be a little resistance coming through the wholesale trade after the prices we have been achieving in recent weeks which has pulled the averages back  a little bit.  We must however stand back and consider the prices we would generally see in August and reflect that today’s averages are up almost £12 on the corresponding week last year.

Best lambs were still able to break the £100 barrier from C & J Georgetti & Sons and A R Dunlop.  The best quality have once again topped the charts with some superb lambs from C A Worley Farming Ltd, selling to 259p per kg for some 37kg Beltex lambs.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could “help us to help you” by arriving earlier to assist with appropriate sorting and penning of sheep. Lairage facilities are available from 2 to 6pm every Monday and we can accept stock from 6am every Tuesday.

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: We also saw less of these on offer this week and again the entry made up of predominantly leaner sorts which is a fair representation of the dry weather conditions we are currently seeing. Some smart Texel rams from J Warnock & Son sold to £119 with the best ewes making around £80. Grazing sorts well competed for and made from £45 to £60.

Report on trade: Another cracking trade for an increased number of finished cattle saw the best handy weight sorts making around 220p per kg and best heavy weights around 190p. A smart Limousin cross steer topped the market at £1340 (225p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) while other top prices included Limousin cross heifer at £1083 (224P) from  D W Page & Son and a run of quality Limousin cross heifers from W S Furnival (Brookland) selling well around 220p and up to £1370 (224p). Heavier cattle made 180p to 190p with the better prices including a Simmental cross steer £1460 (189p) from P M Thomas, Simmental cross heifer £1306 (197p) from Hendon Manor Estate and a Limousin cross steer £1301 (184p) from F Sole & Sons.

A small percentage of native bred cattle were on offer with the best making around 220p, notably Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £1235 (203p) from J S Tilley and pure bred Sussex steer £1248 (199p) from The Montreal Estate.

Report on trade: There is no doubting the strength of the trade for all grades of processing cattle. A very ordinary quality entry met furious competition from start to finish.

A smart Limousin cow from L E Humphreys & Sons sold at 168p and grossed £1432 whilst good Sussex cows made 153p and147p from The Sussex Herd Company. Lean shady feeding Piemontese cattle made to 161p kg but overall we were short of numbers, short of flesh and short of quality.

Highlights included Limousin cows to 168p £1432 L E Humphreys & Sons; Piemontese cross161p, 138p (non FA) T Curtis; Sussex 153p, 147p £1045 The Sussex Herd Company; Hereford 140p £872 S Purchese (non FA); Charolais cross (non FA) 136p, 127p £874 D M Brown; Aberdeen Angus cross 126p £953 (non FA) M J Osenton and 123p (non FA) D M Brown with Dexters 122p, 118p (non FA) £497, £441 Mrs J Fuller and 101p, 98p, 90p (non FA) £327, £322, £318 Mrs M Hunter.

IN the dairy section Holstein Friesian heifer 168p £970 and cows 135p, 127p £1096, £917 J E Scutt & Sons and Jerseys 118p £635 S E Lane & Ptnrs.

Bulls were a good trade and  more were wanted with a British Blue cross 124p £1228, Hereford 123p £873, Limousin 115p £1093 and Aberdeen Angus 99p £754.

Store Cattle – 377 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A good entry of store cattle for this time of year with the continuously dry weather in the south east encouraging producers to market cattle earlier than usual. Sellers were well rewarded with strong prices as specialist feeders, keen to restock empty yards and with a plentiful supply of keep away from the south east  giving them encouragement.

Best continental crosses attracted prices in excess of £1000 with smart Limousin cross yearling steers topping at £1075 from R A Wade and stronger cattle to finish short term up to £1125 for Charolais cross steer from D M Brown and Bazadaise cross steer from Mrs J Latham. A good selection of native bred cattle were well received with a quality run of Aberdeen Angus and Sussex cross from Oxenford Farm Ltd and Bob Luck Ltd taking the pick of the trade while a strong Aberdeen Angus cross steer topped the market at £1320 from G Stokes.

Please contact if you have store cattle to sell, customers keen to purchase and favourable prices available

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A superb show of continental cross beef cows and calves from The Hendon Manor Estate attracted lots of interest and prices to match with an overall average of £1900 and the best up to £2350 for Simmental cows with the February born twin calves at foot and £2160 for young Limousin cross cow with February born heifer calf and Simmental cow with March born steer calf at foot. Prices held well throughout the run with all but a very few purchased to stay locally in the South East

Calves – 80Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Report on trade A few more calves about than was expected this week which was good to see particularly after such a busy previous sale! Prices  for the continental calves was a little easier on the fortnight but never the less still solid trade. Bulls sold to £355 for a British Blue from J E Scutt & Sons who also had others to £350 and £270. P J Forknall sold a strong British Blue to £320 and some younger Limousin’s from B J Goodsell & Son topped at £190. Continental heifers would have not been quite as strong as previous weeks but looked well enough sold on the trade with a top price of £220 for British Blues from J W Boyd & Sons with the hammer falling on most around the £180 to £200 mark.

A more mixed entry in the native section this week saw an entry of generally younger bulls sold to a top of £270 from J E Scutt & Sons for a run of Aberdeen Angus. The smaller types were a little easier in the £150 to £200 region generally. Only two native heifers forward this week selling to £170 for an Aberdeen Angus from J E Scutt & Sons.

A similar trade for the first and second grade dairy’s this week with a top of £100 from W G & T A Manford and bobbies a little easier on the week.

With effect from 1^st September 2020 calf sales will commence at the earlier than advertised time of 11.00

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

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

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

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

Do you farm in Kent near Bethersden and Pluckley

You are invited to join the Upper Beult Farmer Cluster! This is a group of farmers who live and farm along the river Beult. The Cluster is free to join, and farmers can benefit from capital grants and money off Ferric phosphate with Southern Water sponsorship. Contact rory.harding@kentwildlife.org.uk or 07761 507242

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

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

Wanted – a secure barn / unit to store agricultural equipment, for the management of the Natural England National Nature Reserves, in Wye, Hamstreet, Ashford or surrounding areas. Contact Piers Griffin on 07881037704 or piers.griffin@naturalengland.org.uk

Relief farm worker required – for general livestock duties including milking, feeding, calf rearing and general husbandry. Would suit a self-employed person but position is flexible located near Dartford. Please call Iain on 07738 445530 for more information.

Wanted – experienced Herdsperson for suckler herd – West Kent.  Ring Suzanne 01732 750758 or 07966399115

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

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.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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