Weekly Sales News – 18th September 2018

Top price per head – £100 – C R & G Daws; Top price per kilo – 205p – G H Dean & Co

Report on trade: A similar number of lambs on offer this week and a similar level of trade was seen, which maintained the lead on the rest of the country with averages about 4p ahead of the nationally reported figures. Quality was high with a good number of well fleshed, concentrate fed lambs and with these types in short supply nationally it pushed the prices upwards in excess of 180p per kg and over 200p for the best continentals from G H Dean & Co. Heavier lambs sold up to £100 from C R & G Daws with A C Hulme and Son’s run of well finished lambs breaking the £90 barrier four times and up to 192p. Grass finished lambs are certainly discounted at current levels which is creating a two tiered market place but the best of these sorts sold in excess of £80, still considerably ahead store prices.

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: Another good sized entry of ewes this week but once again we saw a huge proportion being on the leaner side and finding more customers for further finishing than for the wholesale market. The best end of the ewes sold to £90 from P Taylor with the majority of the grazing sorts selling between £35 and £50.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £90 from P Taylor, crossbred ewes to £79.50 from M Hooker and Romney ewes to £70 from M & D Prebble.

Report on trade: A better quality entry of cattle met a similar strong trade to last week with smart handy weight sorts selling readily in excess of 215p per kg notably Limousin cross heifers at £1168 (221p) and £1097 (220p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and a Limousin cross steer at £1259 (214p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Other top prices included a Limousin cross heifer at £1205 (207p) from R F & E A Simmons and a Blonde cross steer with weight grossed well at £1331 (206p) again from W Alexander (Shoreham).

More commercial sorts were making around 190p with a run of British Blue x Friesians topping at £1291 (195p) from regular vendor A J Down.

A small entry of native bred cattle sold exceptionally well with purebred Sussex steers to £1130 (205p) and £1114 (205p) from C D & J Bishop and the pick of the OTM’s made up to £1093 (140p) for South Devon cross steer from J E Wickens and Sussex steer £1023 (188p) from A H Hoad & Son.

Please notify us of entries to enable us to achieve consistent numbers

Report on trade: This week saw similar numbers overall but there was a very different complexion to the entry with just the one farm assured Friesian cow forward. Some very good fed beef cows met a first class trade but there were certainly more aged, non assured, culls from the beef sector. Feeders were still active but more selective looking for the younger better types carrying some flesh to set them on their way.

Trade is still very good for the time of the year and highlights included Limousin crosses 148p and £1003 from R M & J Penny (Non FA); Simmental cross 146p, 145p, £1192, £1096 C & J Georgetti & Sons; 146p, 145p, £966 W J Hurley and 138p, £1030 G Hosmer & Son (Non FA); Aberdeen Angus cross 137p, 133 (2), 128p, £1092 W S Furnival (Brookland) and 122p, £1033 R Carr Ptns (Non FA); British Blue 143p, £1076 W S Furnival (Brookland) and 122p J Wickens (Non FA) and Dexter 106p, £371 P Goddard.

Holstein steers made 147p (2), 143p, 142p, 140p, 139p and grossed £1078, £1053, £1045, £1013 from E T Ledger & Son; Holstein cow, lean 116p; Holstein cow (Non FA) 119p £876 and Jerseys to 87p, £397 S E Lane & Ptns

Report on trade: A large entry of store cattle were penned comprising a complete range of breed, age and quality with a big percentage of dairy bred lean sorts on offer. Overall trade was selective and while quality and better fleshed cattle sold at competitive strong prices, second and third quality cattle, particularly the leaner sorts, proved more difficult to place and reflected the increased costs and shortage of winter feed.

Quality of all ages were in demand with a run of smart Limousin cross youngsters selling exceptionally well from D G & J W Gore. Good prices were also achieved for strong sorts to finish short term notably from Hawkfibre Ltd and J E Berryman.

A good selection of Aberdeen Angus cross cattle were on offer and again the better quality sorts attracted plenty of interest and premium prices.

Principal prices include:  

Report on trade: There was plenty of interest in the stock offered but prices are reflecting the time of year and the expected tight fodder situation.

A small (excuse the pun) dispersal of Dexters for Paul Goddard saw cows and summer calves make to £475 and then £425 and £370 with the youngstock making to £290 for steers and £250 for heifers. M Gibb (Rugmer Hill herd) offered Sussex cows and calves which made to £920 and incalf cows to £860.

Next Tuesdays (25^th September) sale will include up to 60 beef cows, in calf and/or with calves. See elsewhere for details of consignments

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

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

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

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07741 845230

John Rossiter (Sheep, Machinery plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

AHDB Better Returns programme and the NSA

Wednesday 26^th September 4 to 7pm, at Springfield Farm, Ansdore, Waltham, Canterbury. CT4 5QB (by kind permission of the Lockwood family) – an afternoon / evening meeting to focus on Minimising carcase losses in the lamb supply chain. Supper will be provided but please register to attend 01904 771212 or email: ke.events@ahdb.org.uk

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For sale – Large quantity of maize silage available in the Cranbrook area, excellent analyse and quick loading. Please ring 07860623196/01580 240479.

For sale – 50 2018 and 40 2017 season wrapped 4’ round bales of hayledge in West Sussex. Ring 07718 532971

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principal livestock market selling around 250,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2017.

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.

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

For Sale – 6 Black and white Collie pups ready for new homes in the second week in October in East Sussex. Ring 07795 195435

For Sale – 300 Suffolk x Mule 1 & 2 lamb ewes on a Kent farm. Ring Elwyn Davies for more details

For Sale – 20 Beef cross cows, mainly 2^nd to 6^th calvers, due to calve again from December onwards to a Parthenaise bull – East Kent. Ring Simon Husk 07885 968077

Farm job opportunity

Wanted – a general assistant on a livestock and arable farm in North Kent. The job can be full or part time and will be principally working with sheep and cattle. Ring 07976 921689

Next Tuesdays (25^th September) sale will include up to 60 beef cows, in calf and/or with calves. See elsewhere for details of consignments

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs and Kent Herdsmans Club news

RABI – Future fundraising events

Saturday 29^th September – Annual Harvest Supper – Amos Hall, Ashford Market, Ashford. TN24 0HB

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

Ashford Young Farmers Club

Saturday 29th September at 7.30pm – The club celebrate their 75th anniversary with a special dinner dance at the Weald of Kent Golf course, Headcorn. Dress code – Black tie and evening dresses with an added sparkle. Tickets £35

For more information or to buy tickets contact Callum 07933 213617 or Amy 07733 481473

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 8th October at 7.30pm – a talk by Stephen Skinner about his life in farming and other pursuits, at the Conningbrook Hotel, Canterbury Road, Ashford. TN24 9QR.

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

Something different ……

Saturday 22^nd September – Gravesend & Rochester Ploughing Match at Tudor Farm, Stoke Road, Upper Stoke, Rochester. ME9 3SF. Full details available from secretary Tom French  01233740077 or Tom.French@btfpartneraship.co.uk

Wednesday 26^th September – East Kent Ploughing Match -, Malmains Farm, Waldershare, Dover CT15 5BG by kind permission of E.I Overy & Sons. For more information www.ekpma.co.uk or 07802 974 838

Saturday 29^th September – East Sussex Ploughing Match – Church Farm, Guestling, East Sussex TN35 4HS by kind permission of P Elliot and the Bellhouse family. For more information www.espms.co.uk or 07752 247469

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

Our next Auction Sales include……..

Chilli Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 29^th September at 9.30am

Large entries of tractors, trailers, vehicles, arable equipment, haymaking equipment, tractor attachments & spares, livestock kit, garden machinery, workshop tools and a large and varied selection of rural bygones. Entries close Saturday 8^t.

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 10^th November 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 a large selection of miscellaneous items.

4 x 4, Diesel and MPV Vehicle sale

Wednesday 8^th November at 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale of 4 X 4, Diesel and MPV with the normal car auction to follow

Special Sports and High Performance Vehicle sale

Wednesday 29^th November at 6.30pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale sports and high performance cars with the normal car auction to follow

Ashford Cattle Show

Monday and Tuesday 27^th and 28^th November

Competition schedules are now available