Weekly Sales News – 18th October 2016

Top price per kilo – 179p – A Body:  Top price per head – £95 – J Metianu & S Aspital

Report on trade: The trade has taken a slide and it is difficult to really understand why it has done so as nationally overall numbers are in decline, the exchange rate is in the favour of export and best meated lambs are in the minority however the overall average across the country was returned at £158p per kg. Ashford figures were a little better than this at 161p and the best lambs sold on the day certainly were the heavier sorts which sold to a top price of £95 from J Metianu & S Aspital. Lighter sorts were still well sold as long as they were well finished, with some of the leaner sorts on a par with store prices. Best handy weights from Mr A Body sold to 179p (38kgs).

Report on trade: A very lean entry of ewes in the pens this week with a lot of these types going on to homes for further farming instead of going to the meat trade. Best Ewes to £85/hd from RJ Warnock and the majority of the leaner sorts sold between £35 and £55/hd. The ewe trade appears to be following the current situation with the lambs and is experiencing a lack of demand at the wholesale level.

Top Prices were as follows: Texels to £85 from Mr & Mrs R J Warnock, Suffolk crosses to £65 from S J M Evans and Romneys to £64 from A & A Barr Farms

Report on trade: An increased entry met a very similar trade to recent weeks with the best butcher type cattle at 210p plus and a majority of commercial sorts in the 170p to 190p bracket.

A superb run of well fed Limousin crosses from M B Farms sold exceptionally well with a steer up to £1365 (230p) and a heifer to £1278 (230p).Other top prices included a lightweight Limousin heifer at £1100 (225p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and a Limousin cross steer at £1267 (210p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

The best of the native breeds sold well with the pick of the prices including Sussex steers at £1160 (164p) from S Griffiths and J Brown, and £112 (168p) from D J Miles. Aberdeen Angus steers up to £1140 (166p) from J Leggat & Son and a heavy British Blue bull grossed £1138 from Birt Bros.

Report on trade: Cows again a little easier overall but particularly for the plain dairy culls. Meat is what is wanted and the best beef cows can still get up over 130p whilst the best of the dairy culls are just over 110p. Feeder demand was steadier with the outdoor days now over. Foreign cows offered are finding it very difficult with the major processors unable to handle them on account of non compliance under  the Red Tractor protocol. With many cows now on a winter silage diet plenty of weight was on offer but not yet any more finish on the carcases!

Top prices included South Devons 135p, 134p £920(2) from Gardners; British Blues 134p L Palmer & Sons; Blonde 132p £999 R M & J Penny( Non FA); Sussex 123p M B Burgess (Non FA) and 120p D J Miles; Charolais 118p and £875 R Husk, 118p £870 Foyle Farmers and Aberdeen Angus 116p from D Blowey.

A few fleshed cows but in the main a lot of plain cows from the dairy herds were penned. Good Friesians from Debden Court made 114p,113p and grossed to £908; Holstein Friesians from J S & M D Antrum & Son 110p,109p,108p and £912. Generally it took a good cow to get to 100p, half meat 80-90p and  plain cows 50-70p with wasteful types and lightweights penalised.

Report on trade: A very mixed entry of cattle with a shortage of beef breed sorts and a bigger percentage of second grade stores were offered today. Several runs of cattle showed signs of losing condition and perhaps would have been better sold a month ago and this reflected in some of the prices achieved. Nevertheless the best cattle held their values with the majority in the £700 to £950 bracket and the stronger stores to think short term selling in excess of £1000 as reflected in the top prices below.

Early arrival of cattle is appreciated, particularly between 8am – 10am, to ensure proper sorting and penning prior to sale. Lairage facilities available every Monday evening. Please help us to help you.

Report on trade: A strong Aberdeen Angus bull amd £1080 and summer calved beef cross cows with Simmental calves made to £910. Mrs C S Hayes run of pedigree maiden heifers made to £790.

Market sponsorship

We are very gratrfeful to Elanco Animal Health, the Farmers Guardian and AgriLloyd for their support of Romney and Sussex Day competitions.

The Farmers Guardian website has about 50 photographs from market on that day in their Photo Gallery which many of you may wish to look at.

Correction: Published results for Romney Day ewe lambs should have read 3rd prize – W T Kemp, Brook, Wye £108 purchased by G H Stirling & Son. 4^th prize – Torry Hill Farms, Sittingbourne £107 purchased by G H Stirling & Son

Notices – Jesse Reeve.

We have been asked by Jesse’s family and friends to advise that he recently, very tragically, passed away. Jesse was true countryman having been brought up in a farming family and as a family man, livestock farmer and market supporter well have been known to many people and will be greatly missed.

There will be a memorial service at Playden Church near Rye on Wednesday 2^nd November at 2pm.

Who is the Vicar ?? – our new Rural Business Chaplin

Many regular livestock market users have asked this question in recent weeks since Rev. Chris Hodkgins started attending the market on Tuesdays. Chris has been appointed Rural Business Chaplin for the South East, alongside his role as vicar for Rolvenden, by the Church of England, to provide spiritual support for those living and working in our rural community.

Chris has a farming and agricultural background and understands many of the problems faced by those living and working in the rural community. Please do not be afraid to say “hello” to him and make him feel welcome in Ashford.

His appointment is supported by FCN, the Farming Community Network, who also provide support to individuals and families again living and working in the rural community. This bodies Helpline number is 03000 111 999.

Locally FCN is always looking for volunteers to help with their work and Anthony Hyde on 01795 830355 will be pleased to hear from anyone prepared to help. Visit www.fcn.org.uk to help understand the work done by FCN.

Kent Farmers Ball and Farming Awards 2016

This event, promoted by Pitchfork events and RAMSAK, was held at The Kent Showground last Saturday with nearly 300 people sitting down to dinner.

During the evening the Kent Farming awards were presented to M B Farms, Stockbury as Beef farmers of the year; A A Clifton, Romney Marsh as best Arable farmers; Hickson Bros, Dover as best Dairy farmers; Mrs J Seath and family as best Family farming business; Edward and Robert Hanks as Sheep farmers of the year and the Pascells of Clockhouse Farm, Coxheath were best Fruit farmers.

The event was a fundraiser to support young people who are seeking a career in farming by support training costs. More information on this project is available from the AGRENA (Ramsak) team on 01622 815356

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

News from Kent / South East RABI

The South East RABI would like to say “Thank you for supporting the recent harvest supper here in the market. Over 160 people attended and we all had a wonderful meal prepared by the Stock Pot and over £6,000 was raised in aid of R.A.B.I.

Dates for your diary include

Tuesday 13^th December at 6pm for 6.30pm – Carols at Christmas will be held again in the Cattle Sales ring here in Ashford Market.

Farmers Weekly Awards 2016

We congratulate from the 3 nominees, who have connections with the market and Hobbs Parker, Gordon Wyeth from Ropley, Hampshire on winning the Sheep Farmer of the Year award.

General news

Updated 11th Ocotber 2016

Wanted – teaser ram for a Romney marsh farm. Ring 01303 873160 .

Wanted – grazing / mowing grass within 10 miles radius of Charing. Ring 07714292024 or 07730496037.

For Sale – up to 70 acres of standing maize (estimated 20 tonne per acre crop) which was direct drilled and with good access in West Kent. Contact Elwyn Davies on 07710 803901 for details

Wanted – winter stock housing. Have you the buildings, the food and the time to have up to 200 beef cattle this winter in ideally a TB4 area? Enquiries will be treated in confidence. Please contact Peter Kingwill.

Grass keep available – 12 month grazings near Andover for smart shorn Romney ewe lambs third week Sept start. Will accept multiples of 200 but would prefer 600 as a lot. Contact Ted Sclater 07785793450 or 01264736420 to discuss.

Kent Herdsmans Club – For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Sandra Brown on 01233 502796 or Jo Masters 01580 240568. Meetings at the Conningbrook Hotel, Ashford.

Monday 20th October 7.30pm – Dianne Quested from Mid Kent Training to give a talk about the training programmes and courses available.

Monday 14th November at 7.30pm – a talk by John Arthur Boyd about his travels around the UK and his book.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Collective Machinery & Equipment auction

Friday 11^th November at  9.30am. Catalogues will be available shortly

New & nearly new mowers & garden machinery

New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large items of plant and farm machinery.

This sale will include a dispersal of farm machinery and vehicles on behalf of the Late Trevor Ashdown. On offer will be a 2006 Mercedes 815 lorry with 7.5tonne livestock body, a 2004 John Deere 5820 tractor with 631 power loader, a 1962 Massey Ferguson 35X tractor, an Ifor Williams 6PE livestock trailer and other livestock farming miscellany.

Further consignments of good quality near new and used tools are also already entered including 100 lots of professional mechanics tools for Executors; 38 ladders and other equipment on behalf of Kent Fire and Rescue and 70 ex-demo professional power tools.

Special Vehicle auction

Wednesday 9^th November from 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sales of 4 X 4, Diesel, sports and MPV vehicles.

This is an extremely popular auction commanding huge interest. Up to 200 vehicles will be offered in this auction

Ashford Cattle Show and Sale of Christmas stock

Monday and Tuesday 28^th and 29^th November. Entries close on Tuesday 25^th October. Schedules and entry forms are available her in the market

Annual show of livestock, crops, carcases and much much more. All details from Julie Coney 07887 643002 or email ashfordcattleshow@gmail.co.uk