Weekly Sales News – 19th May 2020

Top price per kilo – 291p – D Isaac, Holly Chandler & Sons; Top price per head – D Isaac, Holly Chandler & Sons

Report on trade: A big entry this week of over 850 new season lambs penned as larger numbers are coming forward now as they are really doing in the nice weather after a slow start. The overall average was down today slightly but this was really only due to the overall quality of the lambs on offer with the best sheep still selling on the same trade as last week. Top call was 291p per kg and £116 from D Isaac and Family. Other top spots were taken by Friday Street Farmers, C Moss and D J Morphett at £115, £115 and £113 respectively. Trade talk is  of a slight changeover taking place to the new season lambs which in no doubt has helping the trade.

A very mixed entry of sheep this week with hoggets selling from £15 up to £120 and the entry included several sheep with erupted teeth and also leaner end of the run sheep. Having said all of this, the best meat hoggets with lamb’s teeth are very much in demand and selling just as well as we have seen at any point of the season.  Good quality sheep from M A Piper and Son Farms, G A Mitchell, Langrish Farmers and L J & J P Bolton were all ringers of the proverbial bell and selling over £110 and to £120 for M A Piper and Langrish Farmers. Best of the handy weights were from by Brockhill Park Performing Arts College YFC at 249p with P R & H R Vellacott a close second at 245p.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could “help us to help you” by arriving earlier to assist with appropriate sorting and penning of sheep. Lairage facilities are available from 2 to 6pm every Monday and we can accept stock from 6am every Tuesday.

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 big number out today with over 800 penned which was slightly unexpected but talks of festivals and end of Ramadan may have encouraged a few extra. These events however do not attract the high prices we have seen in the past and most certainly not this year as the celebrations within these communities will most certainly be limited. Best ewes still selling to £100 from P Ashlee.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £92 from E Boyes & W V New, Texel cross to £100 from P Ashlee, crossbred to £81 from Brockhill Park Performing Arts College and Romneys to £83 from M J Ashworth.

Report on trade: This was “stand on” to last week with the best in excess of 190p per kg and heavier commercial sorts making 170p to 180p .A Blonde cross steer topped the market at £1198 (199p) from G L Boulden & Sons while the best of the heavier sorts attracted prices around 190p, notably a Limousin cross steer £1264 (195p) and Limousin cross heifers £1184 (190p), £1137 (190p) and £1127 (190p) from regular consignor W Alexander (Shoreham).

A small selection of native bred cattle saw a purebred Sussex heifer £903 (176p) from J G & D G D White and a run of Friesian heifers up to £951 (146p) from R Torrance & Son.

Report on trade: Another strong competitive trade for cull cows and more could be sold at very favourable prices.

The best of the beef cows were making 140p per kg plus notably Simmental cross £1157 (153p) and £1097 (148p) from Henden Manor Estate, purebred Sussex £1018 (145p) from J G & D G D White, Hereford cross £1031 (139p) from Dan Mackelden Ltd, Charolais £1043 (140p) from Langdon Farms and Sussex cross grossed well at £1192 (125p) from M Palmer.

Exceptional for the dairy cows with the pick including Holstein Friesian at £1160 (137p) and £1139 (137p) from P J Forknall and £1136 (140p) from R Torrance & Son.

A small selection of bulls sold well with Limousin £1286 (126p) from Priors Byne Farm and Aberdeen Angus £1160 (134p) from Burden Bros.

Report on trade: A medium sized entry and again no store pigs even though we have plenty of enquiries for you pigs to feed on for the summer. Trade in this sector has become difficult, the sow trade in freefall and now about 50% down on recent highs, and a drop in local wholesale demand saw the trade for finished pigs drop by 8p per kg and £8 a head for the best and more for second quality.

The best finished pigs made up to 119p per kg for a pen of 4 from S Scott & Son who saw their pigs still gross to £108 while a good shaped heavy pig from Brooker & Son grossed 136.6p. The rest of the offering generally made 50 to 85p.

Cull sows made to 40p for 3 young models that will breed again and 37p for others with no real heavy models on offer. Boars made to 18p. Huge disruption to processing in Germany in particular has affected this trade.

Next pig sales – Tuesdays 2^nd and 16^th June at 9am with stores immediately following the finished and cull.

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principle livestock market selling over 255,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2019.

Weekly sales throughout the year of all classes of stock, principally on Tuesdays, run by a fully professional team of auctioneers and support staff provide an unmatched level of service and commitment to the livestock farmer 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

Relief farm worker required – for general livestock duties including milking, feeding, calf rearing and general husbandry. Would suit a self-employed person but position is flexible located near Dartford. Please call Iain on 07738 445530 for more information.

Wanted – 2 Male farm kittens, any colour bar white. Ashford area. Ring 07710803902

Wanted – Sheepdog puppy required. Ashford area. 01303 812775 (evenings only)

For Sale – 5 working collie puppies, 4 dogs and 1 bitch, ready end of May. North Kent. Ring 07979 802044

Wanted – All types of fencing work which will be carried out to a high standard at very competitive prices. Small family run company based near Maidstone. For a free quote please phone 07710567395

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates and news

Agricultural shows in the region which are now cancelled include Royal Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey County, Kent County, South of England, Heathfield, Singleton Rare Breeds and Aylsham (Norfolk). At present Moreton in Marsh (Gloucestershire) are still planning to run but The Bath and West and Royal Cornwall have both now cancelled from their rescheduled dates.

The Weald of Kent and East Kent Ploughing matches have now both been cancelled for this year.

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.

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Barkers Animal Health retail store here in the market is open for collections on a Tuesday. Please pre order so goods are ready for you – 07880 946983