Weekly Sales News – 19th March 2019

Top price per kilo – 254p – P Ashlee: Top price per head – £109.50 – P Ashlee

Report on trade: Another entry of just about 3,000 finished hoggets were on offer this week with the trade improving steadily week on week at the moment. Quality sheep sold on a tremendous trade as nationally these smarter sorts are in shorter supply, with the majority of the national entry of sheep falling into heavyweight bracket this week.

Top spot in all codes this week was taken by P & Mrs D Ashlee with some superb shaped hoggets selling to 254p per kg (37kg) and £109.50 (50kg). Heavier sheep on offer were sold on a slightly improved trade but a number of Romney wethers in this category have had a negative impact on the averages. Most finished hoggets are now selling between £75-90 and the overall average price for all sold was £84.12 which is one of the best figures we have seen this year.

Dagging service is available on all Monday afternoons, please advise us of the number you wish to send.

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: A small entry of ewes this week but once again a slightly improved trade for the sheep that were on offer. Numbers always dictate the price of the ewes on offer and this has most certainly had an impact on trade but as always a lift in the hoggets price has most certainly had a part in this too. Best ewes made in excess of £90 to a top of £99 and grazing ewes traded between £35 and £45.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £88 from D J & K J Tester, Crossbreds to £88 from P N & C Burden, Mules to £79 from Leconfield Farms and Romneys to £72 from G L Boulden & Sons

Report on trade: This was an exceptional trade to average £68.50 overall and best stores selling readily around £75 with strong Charollais crosses topping the market at £79.50 from J Worsfold. Only small long term sorts were below £65.  Averages 652 sold to £79.50 and aver’ £68.50

If you have stores to sell you are well advised to take advantage of current prices while finishers have time to fatten before end of season.                .

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Report on trade: More lambs forward than previous weeks with a top price of £43 for a wether from D T & K J Tester. Ewe lambs topped at £32 from K T D Axell.

Sock lambs will be sold at 10.30am every week from now through the lambing season.

Report on trade: A large entry but quality in short supply with a high percentage of dairy bred and second quality sorts. Although the general trade continues to be under pressure the liveweight returns are holding relatively well and in line with the deadweight returns.

A handy weight Limousin cross heifer topped the market at £1015 (200p per kg) from S Marsh while other top prices included a Blonde cross heifer at £1116 (190p) from G L Boulden & Sons and Limousin cross steer at £1131 (186p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). A run of British Blue x Friesian steers topped at £1212 (174p) with the majority grossing in excess of £1100 from K E Budd and black and white steers sold up to £1053 (146p) from R Price & Son.

Several native bred cattle were on offer which sold relatively well on the trade with an Aberdeen Angus cross steer to £1107 (185p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and purebred Sussex steer well sold at £1137 (181p) from Gillshaw Farms Ltd.

Report on trade: Another decent entry of cows for the time of year and trade remains positive. We are in strange times at the moment and with the clean beef trade under so much pressure it is perhaps not surprising that more of the cheaper cuts are finding their way into the processing sector and affecting the firmness of the cow trade. They are different products but with the older heavyweight cattle taking such a battering from cheap imports, from Ireland largely, there is bound to be an effect as processors look for margin. Feeding and grazing cows found another excellent trade with ground conditions improving and prospects still looking good despite the current political uncertainties.

Meat beef cows were a little less on the week and feeders very similar. Highlights included Charolais crosses 136p, 122p, 120p (2) Non FA from G D Venner; Simmental cross 133p, 127p M J Ashworth and 129p (Non FA) G D Venner; Sussex 125p(2) P T & S J Beale, 117p, 116p H W Richards and 117p(3) (Non FA) I Strang; Hereford cross 125p M J Ashworth and 114p (Non FA) Alpha Farms; Beef Shorthorn 120p, 117p(3) J Howie and Aberdeen Angus crosses 119p (Non FA) G F Hawkins. A Sussex steer, 5yrs 130p.

Dairy culls were a little easier but plenty of weight on offer with best cows grossing £850 to £950 and generally 110-115p per kg. Top calls were Holstein Friesian 114p, 111p P J Forknall; 112p, 110p, 106p, 105p Hall Place Farms; 110p, 108p W F Farms; 110p D Murdoch & Sons and 109p J W Boyd & Sons.

A Limousin stock bull made 135p and grossed £1330.

More Wanted – Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.               

Report on trade: The biggest entry of the year so far comprised a full range of breeds and ages from the very best beef bred continental crosses, quality Aberdeen Angus stores and the less popular black and whites. The sale was well attended by potential customers and prices were competitive throughout with an exceptional trade for the better bred stores on offer.

In the continental section a top quality run of yearling continental cross heifers from G Bates Ltd took the pick of the trade with majority £900 plus and up to £1000 while very smart 15 mths British Blue cross heifers sold exceptionally well at £1035 from F S Husk and 18 mths purebred Charolais heifers topped at £1170 from Highfields Park Farms.

A good entry of yearling Aberdeen Angus crosses were well received topping at £855 for smart steers from L A Charman & Ptns while a run of lighter hard coaty steers from R Brown & Daughter sold exceptionally well up to £785. Other top prices included 18 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers to £1145 from J Prior & Son and hard out wintered Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers and heifers to £780 and £740 respectively from J G Jenkins & Sons.

Many more cattle will be sold over the coming weeks so please contact us with entries to ensure orderly marketing and cataloguing.

Report on trade: Two herd reductions / dispersals saw the native breeds of Hereford and Beef Shorthorn feature. David Mellish offered hard farmed and outwintered Beef Shorthorn cows with autumn calves and scanned again in calf which sold to £940 and then £900 with 10 couples averaging £797 while In calf cows made to £680.

Alpha Farms offering were 1^st calved Hereford cows, all 5 to 6 mths in calf again to a Hereford bull, which made to £790 twice and 9 averaging £754. There 2016 born polled Hereford bull made £980.

Already entered for Tuesday 2^nd April are up to 10 young breeding bulls including Limousins, Simmentals and other beef breeds

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Report on trade: A more mixed trade than the previous fortnight with top call £340. Strong well sized calves seeing plenty of demand however smaller less well fleshed types harder work.

Continental bulls were in demand with most selling over the £200 mark and the best over £300. Topping trade at £340 was a cracking British Blue from Squerryes Estate Dairy and Simmentals also selling well to £260 from H O Champneys Ltd. Continental heifers sold to £310 for a British Blue again from Squerryes Estate Dairy and H O Champneys Ltd also deserve a mention for their run of Simmental cross heifers which topped at £290. On the whole anything with size and shape was £250 plus, smaller and younger types were £140 – £170.

Good numbers of native sired calves with many on the younger side and size and fleshing certainly the order of the day. Native sired bulls sold to £200 with honours being shared between T K & S I Purchese for a young suckler bred Hereford and an Aberdeen Angus cross from H O Champneys Ltd. Most native bulls were £130 – £150 with a handful of smaller types below this. Native heifers reached £150 (x2) for H O Champneys Ltd. Generally a younger and smaller selection of native heifers which sold between £100 and £150.

Dairy sired bulls topped at £160 for a black and white with plenty of age from J Gormley, most sold in the £20 – £50 region and anything with a bit of fleshing and potential most sought after.

Vendors please do try to make every effort to register the sire of your native bred calves. Calves that do not have registered sires are at a disadvantage!

We remind all calf sellers and buyers of the information below

Calf sellers and buyers should be aware that welfare regulations state that while an animal can be sold at 7 days old if they are offered at under 10 days old they cannot be transported more than 100km from the market. Buyers are notified from the rostrum when these calves are offered.

From a sellers view it is best not to present calves at under 10 days old to avoid possibly restricting the number of potential bidders for your stock.

Report on trade: In summary the finished trade was maintained at close to recent sales despite a mixed entry in terms of quality while the sow trade was back on recent sales and only a small entry of stores were penned

In the finished pig pens the best sold from 84p to 110p per kg with B G & M A Tomsett selling 94kg pig at 110p and grossing just over £100. S Scott & Son best made 108p with the remainder 36p to 82p.

The cull pigs traded at less money than we have seen recently with the best heavy sows 35p and again a huge variation in size and quality in the pens. Boars made to 30p and £75.

Good feeding store pigs made to £37.

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 i.e. slap mark or ear tag. Please ensure you comply with this regulation.

Hobbs Parker Property Consultants News

Hobbs Parker Property Consultants is pleased to welcome a new Director to its team.

Vicky Phillips, whose career started as a graduate at Hobbs Parker, has more than ten years of experience in valuation, estate strategy and tax planning, compulsory purchase and compensation.

Having reached the position of Partner in her previous role at a national firm, Vicky has a wealth of experience in farm, land and estate valuations in the south east and nationally, for private client, high street and private wealth banks. She has been heavily involved in compulsory purchase and compensation working for landowners and occupiers affected by High Speed 2, petitioning parliament and representing clients at the House of Lords Select Committee.

Sam Snart, Managing Director of Hobbs Parker Property Consultants, said: “It’s always gratifying to see how well graduate employees progress in their careers, so it’s with great pleasure that we welcome Vicky back to the team, as a Director. Many years ago we saw promise in her and we are pleased to see her potential realised as part of our team.”

Vicky, who has an MSc in Rural Land and Business Management, rejoined the Hobbs Parker team at the beginning of March. In her free time she enjoys spending time on the family farm in Herefordshire and exploring the world.

She said: “It’s great to be back and focused on Kent and the South East, working with farming clients and using my experience to add to the growing Property Consultants team.”

To find out more about property consultancy services, Vicky can be contacted on 01233 506263 or 07799 099457, alternatively email her at vicky.phillips@hobbsparker.co.uk

Ashford Livestock Market has its own Facebook page where news and reports are now being posted on a regular basis www.facebook.com/AshfordLivestockMarket/

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers email a livestock market short report on the afternoon of every livestock sale day. To receive this email report you need to log on to the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk and click the link to email alerts.

To ensure you continue to receive the email it should be opened on a regular basis.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers livestock sales catalogues are always available online on the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk All entries are listed on these regularly updated pages

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Essex Young Farmers County Show at Boyton Hall Farm, Roxwell, nr Chelmsford – Sunday 19^th May – “A great one day Show with something for all the family”. Full details available from Show Secretary on 01245 360442 or email: essexyfc@btconnect.com

Heathfield Show – Saturday 27^th May – For all other show enquiries please ring Show secretary, Nicola Magill, on 01435 864587 or visit www.heathfieldshow.org

** Visit us on our stand – we are pleased again to be sponsoring both Sussex and commercial beef classes in the cattle section **

Surrey County Show – 27^th May – All show enquiries please ring Show secretary, 01483 890810 or visit surreycountyshow.co.uk

South of England Show – 6^th, 7^th and 8^th June – All show enquiries please ring 01444 892700 or visit seas.org.uk

Competition schedules are available for Heathfield and South of England shows here in the market

The Kent County Agricultural Society are introducing a new offering for livestock supply and service stands exhibiting at the 2019 Kent County Show. The Show is host to over 200 cattle, sheep, wool and goat competitions and will take place on the 05, 06 & 07 July in 2019. There will be a limited number of 3m x 3m marquee stands available in a prominent location directly opposite the cattle judging rings and cattle marquee. These are available for £215 for the three Show days and will be promoted to all livestock competitors in the lead up to the Show. For further information please contact Rosie in the office on 01622 633051 or email rosie@kentshowground.co.uk

South East Point to Point Meetings (www.pointingse.com)

Please see website for further details.

Sunday 24^th March – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Sunday 7^th April – Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB

Saturday 13^th April – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Saturday 20^th April – Charing, Kent. TN27 0JS

Monday 22^nd April – Aldington, Kent. TN25 7EJ

Saturday 27^th April – Parham, Storrington, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Saturday 11^th May – Peper Harrow, Godalming, Surrey. GU8 6LA

Notices – John Hooker, Woodchurch

The family have advised that John very sadly passed away recently. A regular market user for all of his long life he will be missed by his family and all who knew him.

Funeral arrangements will be published when available

Notices – Lindsay Pierce (nee Howard)

It is with much sadness that, following a relentless illness, family and friends have asked us  to inform you of the death of Lindsay Pierce (nee Howard), much loved wife of Trevor and mother to Ethan, on 25^th February aged 51 years. A celebration of her life will be held at St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden on 30^th March 2019 at 2.30pm and all who knew her will be welcome to attend.

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

For Sale – pedigree Charolais bull, 8 yrs old – West Kent. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information.

For Sale – selection of pedigree Limousin young bulls and cows and calves on an Essex farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information

For Sale – selection of British Blue and Limousin x British Blue young bulls on a Suffolk farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information

Wanted – general farm worker for a mixed farm in Sellindge, Ashford – Work will include feeding cattle. Ring 07774 408059 for more information

For Sale – good home wanted for a working sheepdog as owner is retiring. Ring 07973 145498

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs, Kent Herdsmans Club and FCN news

Ashford YFC lambing day Sunday 28^th April at Hope Farm, Wittersham, TN30 7NP from 10am until 4pm by kind permission of The Lovejoy family, £2 per adult and £1 per child. Lots to see and do including live lambing, cuddle corner, sheep shearing demo, a BBQ and many others.

Ashford YFC welcomes new members every Wednesday and to all social events. Whether you’re on your own or come with a friend to a meeting anyone is welcome. Find us on Facebook or for more information contact Amy 07733 481473.

Kent Herdsmans Club

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

Monday 8th April at 7pm (Please note early start) – Visit to Willesborough Windmill, Mill Lane, Ashford. TN24 0QG

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – Up to 50 4’ 2018 silage bales on a Kent farm. Ring 01233 756468

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The March editions of these popular regional farming magazines are now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

In addition our Property Consultants Outlook for Spring 2019 is included with this months publication and again are available here in the market. Articles from our Property Consultants team makes interesting reading for all landowners and occupiers.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are……

Auction of Boats and Marine Items

Saturday 30^th March

At Ramsgate Marina – Please contact Jon Chapman for further details

Commercial Vehicle sales

Thursday 4^th April at 3.00pm

Commercial vehicle sale

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 12^th April at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Lots will include new & newly near mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large selection of miscellaneous items.

Pedigree Sussex Spring Show & Sale

Friday 26^th April

This is the Sussex Cattle Society Show and Sale of Pedigree cattle – entry forms available from the office

Headcorn Farm Machinery Sale

Saturday 11^th May at 9.30am

Lots will include tractors, trailers, vehicles, arable equipment, haymaking equipment, tractor attachments & spares, livestock kit, garden machinery, workshop tools, a large and varied selection of rural bygones.

Up to 500 lots of shrubs and garden plants and hedging and trees will also be offered