Weekly Sales News – 19th January 2021

Top price per head – £126.50 – R Tilley; Top price per kilo – 292p – Brockhill Park YFC

Report on trade: We penned a bigger entry this week in the hogget section being more like the number we would expect at this time of year. The entry was quite mixed with all types of hoggets on offer. The very best Beltex crosses from R Tilley sold up to £126.50 (281p per kg for 45kgs) and some lighter offerings from Brockhill Park YFC topping the pence per kg charts at 292p for Beltex as well.

The mid quality sheep were selling from 240p to 260p with the SQQ average returned at 258p which was a little down on last week’s peak. The average per head through the whole entry was only £4 down on last week and this figure of £108 is £23 up on last year’s figures. Given the turbulent last 12 months we have had, we should all be appreciative of the values we are currently seeing.

More fleshed lambs required to satisfy requirements of current buyers. Important to contact us regarding numbers so that we can notify the buyers.

Report on trade: The ewe section showed a different trade to what we have been seeing for the past few weeks. The initial period, since Christmas, of panic buying in the wholesale sector has died out and with the catering outlets under restrictions, demand has inevitably declined quite rapidly. Supply and demand is the main factor which dictates the prices we see in this section and with several bigger and often well finished ewes coming out due to the scanning period being in full swing, we have seen a drop off in demand nationally for these types. National averages were down by £8 to £10 on Monday and we were in line with this level.

The top quality purebred offerings from Miss K Tucker still rang the bell this week with Beltex and Charollais ewes selling to £131 and £120 respectively. Best offerings in the more commercial types came from C & J Georgetti & Sons with strong Suffolk crosses to £95 and some rams from the same vendor to £100.

A few Boer goats on offer sold to £125 from RL Goodman & Son.

Report on trade: We saw a trade which was an absolute flyer for store hoggets with the best selling readily in excess of £95 and up to £102.50 with an overall average of £86 for an entry comprising a big percentage of small, long term hoggets. Only the smallest to finish late in the season made below £80.

Report on trade: We saw a larger entry of finished cattle with a few fresh vendors attracted back to this live auction following our recent strong trade. Again, the best handyweight cattle made 220p plus with a superb Limousin cross heifer topping at £1246 (243p) from S Marsh and smart Limousin crosses topping the steer section at £1342 (230p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Other top prices included continental cross heifers £1398 (240p) S Marsh, £1316 (236p) W Alexander (Shoreham), £1117 (224p) and £1112 (223p) D W Ferguson Ltd, £1350 (226p) L E Humphreys & Sons, £1231 (220p) G L Boulden & Sons, £1196 (220p) G Bates Ltd and Simmental cross steer £1262 (220p) Gillshaw Farms Ltd.

Heavy sorts made slightly less per kg but grossed well with Limousin cross heifers £1430 (214p) L E Humphreys & Sons and £1376 (200p) from G Bates Ltd and Blonde cross £1376 (209p) from P W & P Sim & Son.

A small selection of native bred cattle saw the best make in excess of 200p with Sussex steers £1109 (216p) from A H Hoad & Son and £1084 (207p) Gillshaw Farms Ltd and Hereford cross steer £1191 (206p) from the same vendor.

Top of the market was a superb British Blue bull £1576 (259p) from A Price.

Report on trade: Not quite the numbers of last week when Ashford registered the second highest entry of cull cows in the country – well done the South East! This week was again, another significant entry and trade, once again was superb with competition intense and rates showing no sign of diminishing. The quality of the beef cows overall was a little better with more flesh on offer whilst the dairy cows were more mixed with certainly less flesh and more straight from the parlour.

Meat cows were wanted for home and abroad with slaughter types regularly making 140p to 160p and again plenty of good cows grossing over £1100 to a top of £1292 from G Bates Ltd. Feeders of all ages were a tremendous trade and if you are short of feed, space, straw or patience this is the time to make those decisions over question mark cows!

Highlights included Limousin cross 159p 147p £1084 L E Humphreys & Sons, 158p £1038 M J Ashworth, 155p 142p 137p £1054 £1004 J Berryman, 151p £1189 Geoffrey Bates Ltd and 144p £1055 Boyes & New; Simmental cross 154p 146p 134p £1230 M J Ashworth,, 150p Gillshaw Farms Ltd, 145p £1127 H J Emery & Son and 144p £1292 G Bates Ltd; Charolais cross 137p £968 Boyes & New, 133p M J Ashworth and 128p £919 (Non FA) N Morgan; Sussex 132p 129p £977 (Non FA) A H Hoad & Son and 128p 124p 123p £902 W Hurley with Aberdeen Angus cross 132p 128p J Berryman and 125p £964 (Non FA) Mrs C Wickens.

IN the dairy lines fleshed cows, dry and empty, are a real trade with best making 125p to 130p and younger maiden heifers up to 163p. Plenty of cows again grossing up over £1000.

Headliners were British Friesian 128p (3) £950 Debden Court Ltd; Holstein Friesian heifers 163p 140p £813 Falconhurst Estate and 140p Goddard & Son with cows 127p 117p £1056 Leggat Farming Ltd, 125p 116p £1096 P J Forkanll, 123p (2) 119p £1096 Appleton Farms Ltd, 119p £1083 WF Farms and 118p £946 Oncoland Ltd; Ayrshire 116p 114p £906 J Howie with Dairy Shorthorn 126p £872 J Howie.

A Hereford bull made 92p £1071.

Report on trade: An improved entry from the previous sale with a flying trade seen from the off today! More could have been well sold to vendors advantage!

A fantastic entry of continental calves was well rewarded by the trade seen here today! Bulls sold to a top of £375 for a British Blue from T Castle & Son. Following closely behind were Simmentals from R & J Ledger which topped at £300. Continental heifers would look a royal trade with a top price of £295 from Hickson Bros from their run of British Blues. A Limousin from T Castle & Son sold to £230, Charolais from Falconhurst Estate sold to £215 and £210 respectively and a run of Simmentals from R & J Ledger topped at £250.

Plenty of choice in the native department this week with buyers keen to fill orders helping to strengthen the trade further! Bulls sold topped at £265 for an Aberdeen Angus from Goddard & Son. Sussex bulls well represented with a run from North Kent College to £185 and Herefords topped at £205 from Falconhurst Estate. A smaller entry of native heifers sold to £200 for an Aberdeen Angus from Kingcott Dairy.

Dairy calves were a stand on trade with a top of £100 for a Brown Swiss from Goddard and Son. Stronger calves were generally around the £70 mark, second graders around £40 and a handful of bobbies £20 to £30.

A mixed entry of weanlings comprising of a run of black and white bulls with plenty of age selling to a top of £150, a nice Hereford heifer from D A Dark sold to £300 and top of the trade was an older bull from Betchworth Estate selling for £350

Please note Covid-19 regulations mean we will be again implementing a “Drop and go Policy” and no vendors will be permitted to attend the market other than to deliver stock.

Please help us to ensure your market remains open and operational

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

Hobbs Parker calendars for 2021

We would advise that because of uncertainties over arrangements for auctions for the coming year, due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, the Hobbs Parker calendar has not been published.

Livestock auctions will continue, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, on Tuesdays. Seasonal Friday sales, for sheep, will be confirmed in due course as will dates for farm machinery and collective auctions, both on farm and on site in the market.

Bovine TB Test Dates

It is very important that the date (first part of test) is recorded on cattle entry forms for all cattle sold from TB1holdings. Any recent whole herd test dates from TB4 holdings must also be recorded. This information is critical to purchasers who may be required to test animals again and who will wish to avoid the risk of a false positive by testing again within the 60-day period.

Please advise of test dates when making cattle entries for cataloguing from TB1 Holdings.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The January edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker is a regular contributor to the editorial content.

Hay, Straw and fodder

For a small charge we are quite happy to advertise your hay, straw and fodder for sale in this register which will now run until early May for further details please ring our auctioneer’s office on 01233 502222 or Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

News from our regional RABI regional manager Sally Field

Happy new year to those I’ve not spoken to. This morning RABI launched its “Big Farming Survey” and now we need to gather at least 26,000 responses from the farming community across England and Wales. This will be the largest survey of its kind ever undertaken. It’s an ambitious target that requires everyone’s support if it is going to succeed.

The research aims to deliver an invaluable insight into the challenges that a generation of farming people face and improve our understanding of how farming today is impacting physical and mental wellbeing, in addition to the health of farm businesses. The data collected will enable RABI to work with our partners to understand how we develop our services to help empower farming people to overcome challenges and increase farmer resilience now and into the future.

A page on our website links directly in to the survey the page will give more info and the link through to the online version is : www.rabi.org.uk/bigfarmingsurvey. Alternatively, the straight online version itself is at: http://ex.ac.uk/BigFarmingSurvey. For those who’d like to request a printed copy to be sent to them please email FarmSurvey@exeter.ac.uk. This comes with a stamped addressed envelope to return responses.

The survey takes 15 minutes and will be a great opportunity for farmers to be heard

Please stay safe and well – Very best wishes Sally – 07799 798441 or email sally.field@rabi.org.uk

News from the East Sussex Farmers’ Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund charity was created in 1935 by a local farmer and its purpose is to support farmers, farm staff and those involved in the wider land-based industries. Support can also be given to family dependants.  Beneficiaries are normally resident in East Sussex or neighbouring counties.

Income from property and investment legacies help to finance the fund in addition to generous donations. The fund is overseen by five local trustees with strong agricultural connections.

Help can be for those currently in work, or who have retired or who are unable to work due to illness or disability. The fund can also assist those entering land-based education and help with relevant CPD for furthering their land-based careers.

If you feel that we can help you or you are aware of someone who might benefit from help, please let us know and we will be pleased to support. To contact the Honorary Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Des Lambert – 07912 464746, 01273 890841 or email des.lambert@btinternet.com.

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

For Sale – 15 plate Mitsubishi L200 Challenger pickup – very tidy with 1 yrs MOT, 64k miles, service history, tow bar, locking roller shutter top etc. Guide £11,000. Ring 07787 566080. Kent

Wanted – a pedigree Red Aberdeen Angus bull to run with Sussex cows on a Kent farm. Details of availability to Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Help and support from The Farming Community Network

Farming Community Network (FCN) volunteers regularly attend local livestock markets and whilst we cannot be present at sales currently, our helpline is still open from 7am to 11pm every day, staffed by people who understand farming.

FCN is a charity and voluntary organisation that helps farmers to stay resilient. We provide practical and pastoral support to those experiencing difficulties in England and Wales.

During these challenging times we are encouraging everyone to think about their own physical and mental health and that of their families and staff.

We can help with contingency planning against the backdrop of the Corona virus outbreak and our FarmWell website (www.farmwell.org.uk) offers a wealth of free information about managing change and maintaining personal wellbeing.

The FCN helpline can be reached on 03000 111 999 or via email at help@fcn.org.uk. Confidentiality is assured.

Please note if you don’t wash out at Ashford

Drivers of vehicles leaving Ashford empty without cleansing and disinfecting MUST complete a declaration form obtainable from the Market Office.

You must then cleanse and disinfect as soon as possible and within 24 hours, or before using again for livestock.

This is a LEGAL responsibility and are subject to checks by Local Authority Animal Health and Welfare Officers