Weekly Sales News – 19 Apr 2016
Sheep sales reports
Finished Sheep – 2,197 Sold
Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903
Top price per head – £103 – D & K Taylor, Top price per kilo – 217p – M & T Britton.
Report on trade: Today saw a bigger entry in the pens than was expected and a strong trade throughout. Several pens of leaner, yet finished, hoggets in the market sold particularly well as they were popular with the wholesale buyers. The best meat end of the marketplace was also strong, with several pens of export grade sheep selling in excess of 200p per kg to a top price of 217p from M & T Britton Farms, closely followed by Mrs D Ashlee at 210p (36kgs @ £75.50). The middle weight category was dominated in the headlines by Tilley Farm Partnership, with the top price per head for the 43 to 46kgs weight categories between 203p and 210p. Heavy weights sold to £103 from D & K Taylor, but these sheep would be in less demand due to larger number of heavy weights being available around the country in recent weeks.
We saw one of the biggest entries of new season lambs on offer this year with 150 in the pens and some smart, fresh lambs that had been outdoor reared and looked a picture. These better lambs sold well to a top price of 250p per kg for some 37kgs from J Howie (£92.50) and some 35kgs from the same vendor made £88. Heavier lambs sold to 217p from M Critcher & Ptnrs (43kgs @ £93.50). Long may it last!
| New season lamb prices | ||||||||||
| Kgs | Top Price | Ave Price | Top Vendor | p per kg | ||||||
| 35 | 88.00 | 84.55 | J Howie | 251.0 | ||||||
| 36 | 85.00 | 83.52 | M J Ashworth | 236.0 | ||||||
| 37 | 92.50 | 88.04 | J Howie | 250.0 | ||||||
| 38 | 80.50 | 80.56 | M J Ashworth | 212.0 | ||||||
| 39 | 90.20 | 87.82 | Mr J Farrant | 231.0 | ||||||
| 40 | 91.50 | 91.60 | Mr S Pearson | 229.0 | ||||||
| New season lambs – pence per kg | ||||||||||
| Weight Range | Number | Top | Bottom | Average | National Averages | |||||
| Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs | 118 | 251.0 | 196.0 | 232.2 | 230.2 | |||||
| Medium | 22 | 229.0 | 212.0 | 220.1 | 232.0 | |||||
| Hogget prices | ||||||||||
| Kgs | Top Price | Ave Price | Top Vendor | p per kg | ||||||
| 38 | 75.00 | 71.51 | Summerdown Farm | 197.0 | ||||||
| 39 | 78.00 | 73.84 | S B & A E Martin | 200.0 | ||||||
| 40 | 78.00 | 72.61 | R G Gibson & Son | 195.0 | ||||||
| 41 | 89.50 | 73.34 | Mr A Head | 218.0 | ||||||
| 42 | 83.00 | 77.51 | M & T Britton Farms | 198.0 | ||||||
| 43 | 90.50 | 80.13 | Tilley Farm Partnership | 210.0 | ||||||
| 44 | 92.50 | 78.49 | Tilley Farm Partnership | 210.0 | ||||||
| 45 | 92.50 | 85.11 | Tilley Farm Partnership | 206.0 | ||||||
| 46 | 93.50 | 85.39 | Tilley Farm Partnership | 203.0 | ||||||
| 47 | 97.50 | 83.40 | P Lingham & Partners | 207.0 | ||||||
| 48 | 90.00 | 83.52 | R G Gibson & Son | 188.0 | ||||||
| 49 | 91.00 | 86.13 | Summerdown Farm | 186.0 | ||||||
| 50 | 92.00 | 83.27 | Mr M R Woodroofe | 184.0 | ||||||
| Hogget averages – pence per kg | ||||||||||
| Weight Range | Number | Top | Bottom | Average | National Averages | |||||
| Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs | 341 | 211.0 | 54.00 | 190.6 | 180.0 | |||||
| Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs | 862 | 218.0 | 50.00 | 183.1 | 181.1 | |||||
| Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs | 620 | 207.0 | 135.0 | 176.3 | 170.1 | |||||
| Others 52.1kg + | 197 | 182.0 | 125.0 | 163.9 | 162.2 | |||||
Cull Ewes and Rams – 562 Sold
Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903
Report on trade: These were a similar trade to last week with the best breaking £100, but it must be said, there were less of them on offer this week following the strong show of sheep we saw last week. Our entry included several “stale” sheep that had clearly been lambing rejects and therefore not the most commercially desirable product. Saying this, the better end of the sheep looked well sold to £107 from Mr J A Cox, and £100 from L Steven & Sons for some Beltex and Texels respectively.
Top prices on the day included continentals to £107 from Mr J A Cox, Suffolk crosses to £92 from W J Waters, Romneys to £85 and Mules to £69.50 from D G Millen.
Store and Breeding Sheep – 304 Sold
Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903
Report on trade: A small entry of stores were penned again this late in the season but they met a firm level of demand throughout. Good stores sold £68.50 and £63.50 from K Wheeler and Sons.
Ewes and lambs offered were a small show selling to £48 per life for some Charollais ewes with purebred lambs from D J Morphett.
Sock Lambs – 60 Sold
Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688
Report on trade: There was a smaller entry this week and demand dropped off too from the “stand on” position we have seen for about a month now. 20 made £10 plus to a top call of £18 with the remainder £2 to £9.Averages £18 to £2 Av £8.60.
Vendors please note – please ensure when bringing lambs to market your stock are all fit, healthy, not scouring and have dry navels.
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For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact
Elwyn Davies (Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263
Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357
Martin Crowhurst (Sheep & Cattle) 07710 803903 or 01797 343936
Simon Husk (Sheep & Cattle) 07885 968077 or 01304 842393
Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07748 202688
John Rossiter (Cull ewes & store sheep plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903
Cattle sales reports
Finished Cattle – 59 Sold
Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901
Report on trade: This was again a similar trade on the week with the majority of the best cattle making 175p to 185p per kg with a smart Limousin cross heifers topping the market at 199p and 197p from D W Ferguson Ltd and L E Humphreys & Son respectively.
Only a few heavy cattle were on offer this week with a South Devon cross steer grossing £1136 (155.5p) from F Sole & Sons, a British Blue cross steer at £1128 (183.5p) from W Alexander (Shoreham), and a Charolais cross steer £1089 (155.5p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons.
| Finished cattle averages – pence per kg | ||||||||||
| Classification | No | Top | Bottom | Average | ||||||
| Light steers (370-550 kgs) | 4 | 184.5 | 153.5 | 170.8 | ||||||
| Medium steers (551-650 kgs) | 11 | 184.5 | 111.5 | 157.5 | ||||||
| Heavy steers (651+ kgs) | 6 | 161.5 | 115.5 | 144.5 | ||||||
| Light heifers (370-550 kgs) | 4 | 198.5 | 164.5 | 174.0 | ||||||
| Medium heifers (551-650 kgs) | 20 | 196.5 | 144.5 | 173.0 | ||||||
| Heavy heifers (651+ kgs) | 2 | 165.5 | 153.5 | 159.5 | ||||||
| Medium bulls (551-650 kgs) | 5 | 139.5 | 99.5 | 123.9 | ||||||
| Heavy bulls (651+ kgs) | 3 | 135.5 | 104.5 | 121.5 | ||||||
| 30 to 48 mth heifers | 1 | 124.5 | 124.5 | 124.5 | ||||||
| Leading steer prices | ||||||||||
| Vendor | Weight Kgs | Breed | P per Kg | Gross £ | ||||||
| Mr C W Jones | 564 | 25 mths Limousin | 184.5 | 1040 | ||||||
| G L Boulden & Sons | 500 | 16 mths Blonde | 184.5 | 922 | ||||||
| W Alexander (Shoreham) | 615 | 27 mths British Blue | 183.5 | 1128 | ||||||
| W Alexander (Shoreham) | 575 | 23 mths Lincoln Red | 177.5 | 1020 | ||||||
| Alastair Boyd & Co | 551 | 24 mths Limousin | 174.5 | 961 | ||||||
| Leading heifer prices | ||||||||||
| D W Ferguson Ltd | 490 | 21 mths Limousin | 198.5 | 972 | ||||||
| L E Humphreys & Son | 529 | 24 mths Limousin | 196.5 | 1039 | ||||||
| L E Humphreys & Son | 570 | 25 mths Limousin | 187.5 | 1068 | ||||||
| R F & E A Simmons | 540 | 24 mths Limousin | 184.5 | 996 | ||||||
| Mr C W Jones | 505 | 25 mths Limousin | 184.5 | 931 | ||||||
Cull Cows and Bulls – 71 Sold
Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill – 07795 200357
Report on trade: There is no problem with the demand for cows. The combination of competition for feeding/grazing stock with the underlying strength of cheap processing beef maximises potential returns for all on offer. We had a decent entry overall but generally were short of best flesh cows with some notable exceptions. The vast majority of cows from TB Low areas but no differential in cows from TB Edge or High areas with many customers unencumbered by these latest restrictions. Farm Assurance remains very important for slaughter cows with Red Tractor on the mince pack so important to our supermarkets – they are such good supporters of British agriculture!
Quality purebred Blonde cows from GL Boulden & Sons to 163p, 160p, 159p & 146p grossing to £1029; Limousins 129p (£880) R F & E A Simmons; Simmental 127p (£1070) C & J Georgetti & Sons; Sussex 123p (£840) J C & C Lewis and feeding Simmentals 127p Siggs Farm. Older lean beef cows generally made 80-100p but as soon as youth comes forward one can be soon up over 120p. This was a good trade for all forward this week.
Some very good cows from the dairy but vastly more lean types straight from the parlour. Some massive Holstein Friesians from Goddard & Son sold to 114p grossing to an amazing £1129 and then £1123, £942 and £839; British Friesians 114p (£885) from Debden Court Ltd; Ayrshire 93p (£675) S H Gribble; Guernsey 81p W G & T A Manford and Jerseys 67p(2) Hickson Bros. The half meat cows are a very good trade indeed though the plainest still hard work.
Stock bull trade showed improvement with a superb Limousin to 130p (£1379) from M J Ashworth.
| Cull cattle section – pence per kg | ||||
| Classification | No | Top | Bottom | Average |
| Beef cows | 38 | 162.5 | 29.5 | 108.5 |
| Dairy cows | 32 | 113.5 | 45.5 | 78.9 |
Store Cattle – 490 Sold
Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901
Report on trade: Another large entry of store cattle attracted a good attendance of potential customers and while trade was competitive overall, prices are back compared to those achieved earlier in the year. The reduced returns available for finished cattle are having an understandable impact on confidence around the store cattle ring. The majority of beef bred steers nevertheless attracted prices between £800 to £900 with a pen of superb Limousin steers topping at £940 from L E Humphreys & Sons and heifers around £700.
Strong cattle to finish short-term ranged mainly from £900 to £1000 with a 24 mth Aberdeen Angus Cross steer topping the market at £1052 from S W Squier while 24 mth hard out-wintered Hereford cross steers sold well at £980 from D R Miles. A few pens of purebred Sussex steers attracted strong prices, notably the 24 mths to £900 from Passmore Coombes and 16mth to £800 from J Jordan.
Several pens of Friesian steers on offer with the pick of the trade being 10 mth old sorts to £455 from K I Lingham & Son.
| Principle prices in addition to those mentioned aboveNative breeds | ||
| 12 mths Beef Shorthorn steers | £800 | J Saunders |
| 12 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers | £848 | R G Nash & Sons |
| 12 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers | £680 | H & S Nesfield |
| 14 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifers | £780 | Barfrestone Court Farms |
| 12-14 mths Hereford cross steers | £735 | A Bird |
| 22 mths Hereford cross heifers | £780 | B C Ginger |
Continental cross beef bred
| 12 mths Limousin cross steers | £920 | L Smith |
| 12 mths Limousin cross steers | £890 | P T & S J A Beale |
| 12 mths Limousin cross steers | £870 | M J Ashworth |
| 12 mths Limousin cross steers | £870 | F G S Agri Ltd |
| 12 mths Limousin cross steers | £845 | R A Wade |
| 12 mths Limousin cross steers | £840 | B E & D M Ashbee |
| 12 mths British Blue cross steers | £810 | N J & A M Howlett |
| 14 mths Charolais cross steers | £890 | H & S Nesfield |
| 14 mths Charolais cross steers | £880 | J E Berryman |
| 14 mths Limousin cross steers | £840 | K Marchant |
| 12 mths Limousin cross heifers | £730 | J Jordan |
| 12 mths Limousin cross heifers | £690 | M J Goodsell |
| 12-14 mths British Blue cross heifers | £790 | M G Izard |
| 14 mths Limousin cross heifers | £815 | P J & S J A Beale |
| 14 mths Charolais cross heifers | £805 | J E Berryman |
| 14 mths British Blue cross heifers | £740 | J Prior & Son |
Stop press
Wanted by clients – a naturally polled Hereford bull and a Sussex bull. Both required by local farmers with relatively small numbers of cows. Older bulls would be considered. Details if you have a suitable bull to sell to Mark Cleverdon please
Sussex Cattle Societies spring show and sale of pedigree Breeding Cattle – 7 Bulls and 49 Females Sold
Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688
Report on trade: The smallest entry of stock for many years in the twice a year fixture followed a trend seen with many of the native breeds in their sales this year. The stock offered however readily found buyers and the trade for both the bulls and females was very respectable.
The show element of the day saw David Spanton and Flic Paterson, Mayfield win the only bull cclass and championship with April 2014 bull Maygate Poll Regent 2nd while C E & W S Millson, Goudhurst took the honours in the female classes with Trottenden heifers by Wellington 3rd Goldstone. Mr D A Innes, Titsey Estate, Oxted took reserve chapmpion male spot and John Ford of Priors Byne Farm was runner up in the female classes.
Four bulls made £3,000 gns plus with the 3400gns mark being hit 3 times for Chandler and Dunns Goldstone Poll Stargazer 2nd bought by Mr Thomas Baezley, Bedfordshire, Phillip Ashbys Southview Poll Stargazer 4th bought by Clem Somerset, Worthing and the champion bull from the Spanton / Paterson Partnership bought by the Bowes Lyon Estate, Hertfordshire. The two pure Sussex (*) bulls from Torry Hill Farms made 3350 and 2000 gns purchased by Lord de la Warrs Buckhurst Estate and Alan Parkhurst, Blackmore, Essex..
Females offered found plenty of customers in spending mood. Raveningham Farms, Norfolk secured the 5 calved heifers from Torry Hill Farms, Sittingbourne for between 1120 and 1460 gns while the Millsons maidens made from 1000 to 1050 gns . J C & C Lewis, Sheerness saw the best of their maidens make 1060 gns with 3 others over 1000gns and Mr D A Innes sold one of his four for 1000 gns.
Averages: 7 calved heifers and calves 1194 gns; 7 bulls 2850 gns; and 35 senior maiden heifers 905 gns and 7 juniors 520gns.
Breeders consignment averages. Torry hill Farms 5 calved heifers to 1460 gns ave 1264; C E & W S Millsons 5 maiden heifers to 1050 gns ave D A Innes 5 to 1000 ave 938; Prior Byne Farm 9 to 960 ave 847; J C & C Lewis 7 to 1090 ave 973; Mr & Mrs K Watts 7 seniors to 950 ave 892 and 7 juniors 540 ave 520
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National Beef Association sponsored prizes will be awarded to the vendors of top priced pens of 4 or more native and continental bred 10 to 14 mth old steers and heifers within Tuesdays store cattle sale (26th April).
Chris Mallon, Chief Executive of the NBA will be here in the market on this sale day to support their sponsorship of the day and will be happy to talk to farmers on topical matters affecting beef producers. Visit their website for more details on the association – www.nationalbeefassociation.com
Finished Sheep
Report Detail to go here
Finished Cattle
Report to go here