Weekly Sales News – 18th July 2017
The livestock trade “is in a good place” with supplies of cattle, sheep and pigs not matching demand from the meat trade and subsequently prices on the open market are good. Finishers are looking for stock to maintain supplies they have contracted to provide and this adds to the demand in the cattle sales rings, both finished and store. This weeks reports are below ….
Finished Sheep
2755 Sold
Top price per head – £116- W G Watkins & Sons : Top price per kilo – 250p – A Town
Report on trade: Another strong lamb trade this week with over 2,500 in the pens once again. The level of demand is staying buoyant despite more lambs coming on offer nationally and the heavier the lambs, the better the price per kilo which is certainly not the norm for this point in the season. Many lambs on offer again breaking the £100 price barrier with a super run of 300 lambs from C & J Georgetti & Sons returning an average price per head of slightly over £102. The top continental lambs on offer sold to 250p (£115) from A Town for some heavier sorts with the handier weight continentals selling to 239p from G P King. Overall average on the day was returned at 208.6p with all lambs included despite a number of leaner sheep in the entry which did bring the average back in comparison to last week but the best meated sheep were sold on a similar trade to last week.
A smaller entry of hoggets this week with about 200 on offer, with most trading between £65 to £80 to a top price of £84.
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.
New Season Lamb prices | ||||||||||||||||
Kgs | Top Price | Ave Price | Top Vendor | p per kg | ||||||||||||
32 | 59.00 | 58.30 | I Hobden | 184.0 | ||||||||||||
33 | 79.00 | 60.53 | G P King | 239.0 | ||||||||||||
34 | 75.50 | 64.77 | D C Foy | 222.0 | ||||||||||||
35 | 76.00 | 68.13 | D C Foy | 217.0 | ||||||||||||
36 | 77.00 | 69.38 | M A Piper & Son Farms | 214.0 | ||||||||||||
37 | 87.00 | 74.83 | C A Worley Farming Ltd | 235.0 | ||||||||||||
38 | 89.20 | 80.05 | G H Dean & Co | 235.0 | ||||||||||||
39 | 90.00 | 83.47 | Ms H V Link | 231.0 | ||||||||||||
40 | 92.00 | 84.44 | G H Dean & Co | 230.0 | ||||||||||||
41 | 97.00 | 87.91 | A Town | 237.0 | ||||||||||||
42 | 98.00 | 89.81 | A A Palmer & Sons | 233.0 | ||||||||||||
43 | 99.50 | 95.62 | C & J Georgetti & Sons | 231.0 | ||||||||||||
44 | 103.50 | 100.03 | C & J Georgetti & Sons | 235.0 | ||||||||||||
New Season Lamb – pence per kg | ||||||||||||||||
Weight Range | Number | Top | Bottom | Average | National Av | |||||||||||
Light 25.5 to 32 kgs | 51 | 187.0 | 150.0 | 178.5 | 179.9 | |||||||||||
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs | 1367 | 239.0 | 143.0 | 200.4 | 204.9 | |||||||||||
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs | 1006 | 241.0 | 181.0 | 219.2 | 211.8 | |||||||||||
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs | 124 | 250.0 | 175.0 | 223.4 | 210.15 | |||||||||||
Other 52kgs + | 3 | 200.0 | 200.0 | 200.0 | 197.3 | |||||||||||
Hoggets – pence per kg | ||||||||||||||||
Weight Range | Number | Top | Bottom | Average | National Av | |||||||||||
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs | 25 | 158.0 | 15.0 | 133.3 | 123.9 | |||||||||||
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs | 23 | 160.0 | 112.0 | 153.3 | 135.8 | |||||||||||
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs | 41 | 171.0 | 139.0 | 154.8 | 143.9 | |||||||||||
Cull Ewes and Rams
720 sold
Report on trade: A good entry of ewes on offer this week with some good quality runs on penned from some of the early lamb vendors who have now weaned most lambs and are bringing forward their culls. These are as a whole are in good condition for the time of year and the best ewes are selling in excess of £90 to a top price of £97.50 from Maythum Wharf Farms. The ewes on offer as a whole would not be quite on a par in terms of quality in comparison to last week and this was reflected in the drop in the overall average price per head.
Top prices included crossbred ewes to £97.50 form Maythum Wharf Farm, Suffolk crosses to £93 from D Isaac, Mules to £74.50 from A J Thompson & Sons and Romneys to £83.50 from R & S L M Smith.
Store and breeding Sheep
0 Sold
Sock Lambs and goat kids
0 Sold
Finished Cattle
31 Sold
Report on trade: A disappointing entry with quality in short supply and more cattle could have been sold at very decent prices. A Limousin cross heifer topped the market at £1128 (206p) from R F & E A Simmons, a lightweight Simmental heifer made £981 (205p) from M & M L Goodwin and a Simmental cross steer grossed well at £1233 (186p).
A run of Aberdeen Angus cross cattle sold well with steers to £1177 (192p) and heifers to £1114 (196p) from Mrs J Donaldson and Sussex cross steers to £1091 (187p) from Langrish Farmers.
A small selection of bulls made to £1002 (178p) for Sussex from C E & W S Millson.
Finished cattle averages – pence per kg | ||||
Classification | No | Top | Bottom | Average |
Light bulls (370-550kg) | 2 | 182.5 | 171.5 | 177.0 |
Medium bulls (551-650kg) | 2 | 177.5 | 172.5 | 175.0 |
Light steers (370-550kg) | 5 | 201.5 | 174.5 | 188.3 |
Medium steers (551-650kg) | 10 | 199.5 | 174.5 | 186.4 |
Heavy steers (over 650kg) | 1 | 185.5 | 185.5 | 185.5 |
Light heifers (330-500kg) | 6 | 204.5 | 177.5 | 187.5 |
Medium heifers (501-590kg) | 3 | 205.5 | 195.5 | 198.8 |
Leading steer prices | ||||||||
Vendor | Weight Kgs | Breed | P per Kg | Gross £ | ||||
A & S Woodford & Sons | 475 | 12 mths Aberdeen Angus | 202.0 | 960 | ||||
Gladwin Farming Part | 560 | 26 mths Simmental | 200.0 | 1120 | ||||
R F & E A Simmons | 550 | 24 mths Limousin | 196.0 | 1078 | ||||
Mrs J Donaldson | 605 | 18 mths Aberdeen Angus | 194.0 | 1174 | ||||
Mrs J Donaldson | 615 | 19 mths Aberdeen Angus | 192.0 | 1181 | ||||
Leading heifer prices | ||||||||
R F & E A Simmons | 549 | 26 mths Limousin | 206.0 | 1131 | ||||
M & M L Goodwin | 480 | 15 mths Simmental | 205.0 | 984 | ||||
Freshfield Farm | 490 | 12 mths Simmental | 199.0 | 975 | ||||
R F & E A Simmons | 515 | 28 mths Limousin | 196.0 | 1009 | ||||
Mrs J Donaldson | 570 | 26 mths Aberdeen Angus | 196.0 | 1117 | ||||
Cull Cows
58 Sold
Report on trade: A decent number for a hot harvesting day and in a good mixture with a bit more meat and some decent feeding types on offer. Trade was again outstanding for all grades and, with no numbers anywhere, there seems little change in prospect. Keep asking the question when looking at you cows at home!
No real best beef cows today but good solid meat cows made 150p per kg plus and tidy feeders regularly 140 to 170p. British Blues 169p from Exors N A Husk, 140p (Non FA) J Marshall; Limousin 159p and 151p Exors N A Husk again; Charolais 158p R Stannard and 151p £1264 A & S Woodford & Sons; Simmental 155p £1082 G Bates Ltd and 149p Maythum Wharf Farm; Aberdeen Angus 143p £1006 Exors N A Husk and 137p (Non FA) M Elphick; Sussex 142p, 139p(2) Maythum Wharf Farm again and 134p (Non FA) B J & E L Bellhouse.
A right mixture amongst the dairy culls but there is no stopping the trade for the grades on offer. Holstein Friesian 149p £1248 Goddard & Son; Holstein 139p, 137p £1150 W S Furnival Ltd; 137p, 134p £1058 G R Edgar & Son; 135p £1002 P J Forknall; British Friesian 128p E P Knight and Dairy Shorthorn 133p, 130p, 126p, £972 Chichester College.
Lean bulls a little easier but strong fleshed Aberdeen Angus to 116p £1282.
Cull cattle section – pence per kg | ||||
Classification | No | Top | Bottom | Average |
Beef cows | 21 | 168.5 | 97.5 | 137.6 |
Dairy cows | 31 | 148.5 | 49.5 | 106.2 |
Cull bulls | 6 | 115.5 | 69.5 | 97.2 |
Store Cattle
167 Sold
Report on trade: A good entry of store cattle for the time of year although quality was in short supply with a high percentage of dairy bred stock on offer. Plenty of customers were around the ring competing well for all on offer producing good prices throughout. The best of the continental crosses on offer made up to £920 for an 11 mths Simmental cross from J Lukehurst while we saw a good trade for all native breeds with the best up to £1050 for an Aberdeen Angus cross steer from J B Marshall.
Principal prices not already mentioned above included:
9 mths Charolais cross heifers | £720 | M Goodsell |
8 mths Simmental cross steers | £795 | J Lukehurst |
18 mths Blonde x Friesian steers | £975 | P R Lanham |
8 mths Aberdeen Angus cross bull | £610 | Ms L A Burgess |
8 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers | £780 | Hill House Farm |
9 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers | £770 | North School YFC |
9 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers | £805 | Ms L A Burgess |
12 mths Hereford steers | £720 | Mrs S E Ginger |
15 mths Hereford heifers | £680 | Mrs S E Ginger |
15 mths Friesian steers | £560 | N J Tiller |
20 mths Friesian steers | £880 | J B S M Marshall |
Breeding Cattle
16 females Sold
Report on trade: This sale was principally a herd reduction for the Exors N A Husk which sold well for a mixed age run of in calf cows due from late summer and through the autumn to Limousin and British Blue bulls. 2 freshly calved cows from the same home made 1040 and £980 while the young in calvers made £720 to £850 and mid aged models £680 to £800.
Breeding cattle will be offered in substantial numbers on Tuesday 8th August and entries include 2 herd dispersals / reductions – see front page for details.
Calves
59 Sold
Report on trade: We saw good demand again without any fireworks for the medium sized entry in the pens today. Reared stirks also found buyers again keen to secure stock.
Highlights through the sale included
Beef shorthorn bulls to £282 and then £262 and £252 with heifers to £140 and an Aberdeen Angus bull £280 and all 6 to 10 weeks old from A L Betts Ltd.
Aberdeen Angus bulls to £255 at 2 weeks with 4 averaging £227 from P J Forknall
Aberdeen Angus heifers to £198 and 4 averaging £184 at 3 to 4 weeks from W F Farms
Holstein bulls to £50 twice at 2 weeks old from W P Hope & Sons
British Blue bulls to £255 and heifers £235 at 6 to 7 weeks old plus Holstein bulls to £70 twice from Ledger Farms
British Blue heifers to £270, Blonde heifers £315 and Holstein bulls £122 all 10 to 12 weeks old from W S Furnival Ltd
Simmental bulls to £355 and £350 at 2 weeks old from R L W Parrett
In the stirk pens an Aberdeen Angus bull born February made £485, Simmental steer £445, a Hereford heifer £370 and Aberdeen Angus heifer £392 with Friesian steers to £280
Please keep your entries of calves coming. At our fortnightly sales we expect to have plenty of enquiries for all shapes, sizes and ages of stock. Thank you all for texts and messages with early notice of your entries for forthcoming sales – it does help.
Calf averages – £ per head | ||||
Description | No | Top | Bottom | Average |
Continental Bulls | 8 | 445.0 | 88.0 | 285.00 |
Continental Heifers | 7 | 315.0 | 75.0 | 223.57 |
Native Bulls | 12 | 485.0 | 148.0 | 269.75 |
Friesian 1st quality | 6 | 280.0 | 122.0 | 210.50 |
Friesian Bulls 2nd quality | 1 | 110.0 | 110.0 | 110.00 |
Friesian Bulls 3rd quality | 16 | 92.0 | 10.0 | 52.13 |
Store and Finished Pigs
74 Sold
Report on trade: Demand for pigs continued again in a strong vein for the summer season and our fortnightly auction is producing fair returns for all classes. Our entry was limited in numbers and many more could have been well sold.
This week again saw a mixed quality entry but a demand for all types. Mixed bred and second quality pigs all made 40p to 110p per kg bar 2 lots and the best 138p to 144p. S Scott & Son and S J M Evans both saw their pigs in the top bracket with the heaviest grossing £120.
Cull sows made to 50p and £145 and boars also to 50p
In the store and breeding pens P & R Marshall’s regular run of well bred stores £59 twice and £55 and another good shaped pen of young pigs £45.
Our pig sales are held once a fortnight and with the summer now we are seeing plenty of competition and more confidence in the pig sector after very low levels which prevailed for about 3 months in the spring. Please keep in touch with us here in Ashford if you have pigs to sell.
Pig averages | ||||
Description | No | Top | Bottom | Average |
1st Quality finished – p per kg | 15 | 144.0 | 134.0 | 139.1 |
– £ per head | 115.20 | 99.75 | 105.44 | |
Finished others – p per kg | 12 | 110.0 | 40.0 | 70.8 |
– £ per head | 92.12 | 29.28 | 59.97 | |
Sows-p per kg | 9 | 50.0 | 5.0 | 38.9 |
£ per head | 145.00 | 6.75 | 70.04 | |
Boars-p per kg | 3 | 50.0 | 38.0 | 42.1 |
-£ per head | 130.00 | 0.00 | 94.67 | |
Strong stores – £ per head | 8 | 59.00 | 48.00 | 56.83 |
Small stores – £ per head | 18 | 45.00 | 20.00 | 41.88 |
We remind all pig farmers of the information below
Identification of pigs – again we draw your attention to the fact that it is essential all pigs have permanent identification when offered for sale in a market ie slap mark or ear tag. Please ensure you comply with this regulation.
General information
Vacancy at the Romney Sheep Breeders Society
We are looking for a keen, motivated, enthusiastic secretary to get involved in and help run the Romney Sheep Breeders Society. The position will suit someone who has some knowledge of sheep, is media savvy and can communicate well with farmers. This is a part time role consisting of two/three days per month based in the Kent/Sussex area.
Please contact Alan Barr on 07881654513 or alan@barrfarms.co.uk for further details.
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Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market
We are the South East’s principle livestock market selling around 264,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2016.
Weekly sales throughout the year of all classes of stock, principally on Tuesdays, run by a fully professional team of auctioneers and support staff, they provide an unmatched level of service and commitment to the livestock farmers in the area. Come and see us on market day soon and bring your livestock for us to sell.
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.
Local Agricultural Show and event dates
Sunday and Monday 27th and 28th August – Edenbridge & Oxted Show, Ardenrun Showground, Tandridge Lane, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LL. For more information contact show office 01737 645843 or visit www.edenbridge-show.co.uk
Monday 28th August – Aylesham, Norfolk. www.theaylshamshow.co.uk
Saturday 2nd September – Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire. www.moretonshow.co.uk
RABI, FCN and Kent Herdsmans Club News
RABI – Forthcoming were they will be represented or are promoting events include:
Saturday 16th September – Weald of Kent Ploughing Match, Gatehouse Farm, Marden TN12 9SG
Saturday 23rd September – Gravesend Rochester Ploughing Match, Newlands Farm, Station Road, Cliffe, Rochester ME3 7RU
Wednesday 27th September – East Kent Ploughing Match, Quex Park, Manston Road, Birchington CT7 0HR
Saturday 14th October – Harvest Supper, Amos Hall Ashford Market
Sunday in October (date to be confirmed) – County Harvest Thanksgiving Service, Faversham church
Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th November – Ashford Cattle Show
Saturday 2nd December – Maidstone Symphony Orchestra, charity evening in connection with George Jessel, High Sheriff. More details to follow.
Tuesday 5th December – Live Nativity Carol Evening, 6pm in the auction ring at Ashford Market
Kent Herdsmans Club
The Herdmans club say “well done” to Mark Cleverdon for winning the Jack Hales memorial trophy for stockjudging (Dairy and Beef cattle, pigs and breeding sheep). Thanks also to Brookside Garden Centre (Terry Shead) for sponsoring the prizes.
Monday 14th August at 7.30pm. Visit to the Goddard family and their Guston Holsteins and Solar Farm. Guston Court Farm, East Langdon Rd, Dover. CT15 5EX
For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Alan Jull 07708283220 or Jo Masters 01580 240568
Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions
run over 200 auction sales every year
Our next Auction Sales are …..
First store lamb sale
Friday 28th July at 3.00pm
Collective Machinery & Equipment sale
Friday 4th August 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.
Horse & Saddlery Sale
Thursday 10th August 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
Special Auction Sale of all classes of motor vehicles- our August bank holiday event
Monday 28th August at 10am
This auction of cars will include a special sales of 4 X 4, Diesel, sports and high performance, commercial and general vehicles. Upto 500 vehicles will be on site and in the sale.
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Ashford Cattle show summer competitions
Flocks This competition has now been judged by Larry Cooke (Rye). Results soon
Beef herds This competition has now been judged by Richard Georgetti and Don Masters. Results will be circulated to competitors and then published.
Crops For up to date information please ring Tim Porter 07919 196068.
South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines
The July edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.
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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.
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.
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Livestock for sale
2 Purebred Limousin Bulls available, ex farm. TB Low. Contact Mark Cleverdon for details – 07748 202688
Sheepdogs for sale
4 Border Collie puppies, black and white and tricolour, from working parents. North Kent – please ring 07789 197236 (evenings and weekends).