Weekly Sales News – 19th September 2017

Report on trade: A small entry this week, possibly the smallest we have seen in 2017 with just under 1000 lambs penned. The smaller numbers on offer as a resulted of a number of lambs feeders finished their 2017 crop of lambs and the low prices reported on Monday deterring any producers with lambs from offering them for sale. This small number of lambs helped the trade to be far better than many anticipated with an overall average returned which was 15p ahead of the national average figures for Tuesday which was well received by those who choose to sell this week. A smaller number of best quality lambs were on offer this week with any that were on offer selling in excess of £2 once again to a top price of 211p from J A Cox. Heavier lambs on offer sold to a top price of £89 from R G Hobbs Farms for some 54kg offerings closely followed by M Woodruffe at £88 for 52kg lambs.

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: A good sized entry of ewes were on offer selling to a slightly improved trade with yet again a large percentage satying alive for further finishing. There was 13 separate buyers present who all purchased sheep to feed on which created fierce competition for all those on offer.

Meated ewes sold on a trade consistent with what we have seen in recent weeks with the best making in excess of £90.

Top prices included Texel ewes to £94.50 from J Warnock & Son, Suffolk crosses to £102 from P D Denne and Romneys to £75 form G H Bates

We are now selling these sheep on Fridays – see our Store and breeding sheep pages for reports

Report on trade: A good entry of finished cattle comprising a good mix of smart continental cross handy weights and native bred cattle. Trade was brisk throughout with 12 individual successful buyers competing for all on offer.

The best beef bred continental crosses made 215p plus with Limousin crosses to £1341 (224p) and £1300 (227p) from W S Furnival (Brookland) and a run of handy weight Simmental and Limousins crosses up to £1176 (229p) from D W Ferguson Ltd. The majority of continental x Friesian steers from A J Down made in excess of 200p and up to £1265 (209p).

Several native bred cattle were on offer with the pick of the trade Sussex steers to £1184 (183p) from Homestead Farm, Hereford cross steers £1092 (181p) and £1061 (190p) from P J Savage and Aberdeen Angus cross heifer looking well sold at £1175 (198p) from A J Thompson & Sons.

Bulls made up to £968 (185p) for purebred Sussex from C D & J Bishop.

Please support the live auctions to help to ensure a competitive alternative to direct sales. More cattle could be sold at very favourable prices – please contact now to discuss trade and likely demand.

Report on trade: The processing section is trying to tack down cow prices as we enter the autumn season and more numbers come forward particularly in the North and West as the weather gets into cattle and ground. We enjoyed a strong trade with another customer present to take killing cows and with feeding men remaining confident there was keen competition from start to finish.

Quality was again variable with too few fleshed cows forward to satisfy demand. Plain and light cows for slaughter were are less money as were the older feeders but top end rates held up well.

Smart purebred British Blue cows made to 178p and £1083, (Non FA) from S Husk; British Blue crosses 144p from D J Miles; Aberdeen Angus cross 140p,134p £1060 K & P M Sinden & Sons, 137p J Berryman and 133p £1067, Barfreston Court; Sussex 137p (2) £901 R A S Pattenden, 130p  £939 M J Booth and 129p £874 R J Parsons; Limousin cross 135p M J Ashworth; Hereford cross 128p M J Ashworth; Charolais cross 128p M J Booth and South Devon 128p J Berryman.

There was a shortage of flesh amongst the dairy culls with meated cows generally 120p – 130p and lean steakers up and down of 100p. Holsteins 132p Hall Place Farm, 127, 124, 122p Huddlestone Farms, 124p £987 M A & F W Owen and Guernsey 78p £473 Price-Whitehead Ltd.

Overage cattle were wanted with Holstein Friesian steers 3yrs 125p – 135p. These included 136p (2), 135p (2) £1061, £1042, £1032, £1023 from E T Ledger & Son Ltd and Sussex steers 5yrs +, 136p £942, J Canvin.

Charolais 148p, 147p, 146p, 140p and £1206, £1195 from Foyle Farmers; Simmental 145p £1048 (Non FA) P Burgess; South Devon 143p, 135p, 133p and £1140 Gardners;  Limousin cross 141p R F & E A Simmons and 136p £1125 A Boyd & Co; Sussex 138p £976 R A S Pattenden and British Blue 130p (Non FA) R Douglas.

Best of the heavyweight fleshed dairy culls made up and down of 130p with meat generally 120p plus. Plain steakers were similar but the lean boners less money as more come onto the market. Holstein cows 134p, 133p P C Coleman, 130p(2) £1120, £1023 A E Daw & Son, 129p £1118 G R Edgar & Son, 129p £1002 J Warnock & Son, 129p G A & H Vicary & Son and British Friesian 129p Debden Court Farms.

A Limousin stock bull made 114p.

Report on trade: A large entry of cattle were penned with a high percentage of strong beef bred stores on offer and many producers opting for the store market as opposed to committing to the extra cost of finishing. Generally these vendors were well rewarded with prices of £1000 plus. 24 mths Simmental steers topped the market at £1300 from C & E Leach while Aberdeen Angus cross steers topped the native section at £1245 from P N & C Burden. As per usual plenty of customers were ringside looking for quality cattle to feed short term and particularly at the moment to have cattle finished for the Christmas trade.

The few quality youngsters on offer sold well with 6 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers up to £760 from J Prior & Son.

The majority of dairy bred stores sold in the £700 to £900 bracket and Friesian steers made up to £560 from P Ashlee.

Principal prices include:                                                                                                                 

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: R J Parsons herd reduction of Sussex cows with Sussex or Simmental cross calves saw the couples make to £820 and the 2009 born bull make £840. A young Simmental cross cow with Blonde cross calf made £1100.

Our sale on Tuesday 3^rd October will have a large entry of breeding cattle. Also do not miss the Sussex Cattle Society’s sale of pedigree cattle on Friday 29^th September.

Notice from Trading Standards on Cull ewes and Sheep tags

Cull ewes – It is the time of the year that we will see large numbers of fleshy weaned cull ewes in lean condition. There is strong enquiry from grazing buyers looking for this kind of stock.

We respectively remind vendors that these ewes must be in appropriate condition to both travel and to be shown in the market.

Sheep producers are reminded that all sheep now require electronic tags, either single, double or re replacements. Please refer to Defra guidelines for the necessary type of tag required depending on the sheep you are presenting for sale.

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

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RABI, FCN and Kent Herdsmans Club News

RABI – Forthcoming events were they will be represented or are promoting include:

Saturday 23^rd September – Gravesend Rochester Ploughing Match, Newlands Farm, Station Road, Cliffe, Rochester ME3 7RU

Wednesday 27^th September – East Kent Ploughing Match, Quex Park, Manston Road, Birchington CT7 0HR

Saturday 14^th October – Harvest Supper, Amos Hall Ashford Market

Sunday 22^nd October – County Harvest Thanksgiving Service at Biddenden Vineyard, Gribble Bridge Lane, Biddenden. TN27 8DF

Monday 27^th & Tuesday 28^th November – Ashford Cattle Show

Saturday 2^nd December – Maidstone Symphony Orchestra, charity evening in connection with George Jessel, High Sheriff. More details to follow.

Tuesday 5^th December – Live Nativity Carol Evening, 6pm in the auction ring at Ashford Market

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Vehicle Parking on busy market days – Congestion in the bottom / livestock parking area

Please help us to help you. The upper car park on the top side of the market buildings is available for all cars and Land Rovers with trailers.

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Ashford Young Farmers  Club news

The club’s annual  Dinner and Dance is to be held at the Weald of Kent Golf Course, Headcorn (TN27 9PT) on the 30th September 2017 at 7pm.

£35 a ticket, 1920s attire for a ‘Great Gatsby’ theme. For tickets please contact Amy 07733481473

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Livestock for sale ex farm

3 Polled pedigree Hereford bulls at 17-18 mths old on a farm in Kent – Contact Mark Cleverdon for details – 07748 202688

Wanted – upto 10 pedigree Hereford cows (with calves and/or in calf) for an Essex farmer.

Wanted – between 10 and 20 Aberdeen Angus or British Blue x Friesian bulling heifers, reared on the holding of birth and with high health status in a TB 4 area. Ring 07748 202688 with any details

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Chilli Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 30^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. Catalogues now available

Horse & Saddlery Sale

Thursday 26^th October at 10am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Entries expected of riding ponies, event horses and youngstock

New & nearly new saddlery & tack, grooming kit, yard equipment, rugs, harness Riding boots, show jackets, jodhpurs, body protectors, yard clothing & boots

Commercial Vehicles

Thursday 5^th October at 3.00pm

A wide selection of up to 40 vehicles are generally offered in these sales

Special 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

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 large selection of miscellaneous items.

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

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Ashford Cattle Show news

2017 summer competition results

Sheep flocks

Sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy FKC (Accountants) & Hallett & Co (Solicitors).

Judge: Larry Cooke Chief Steward: Edward Langrish

Commercial class: 1st C & J Georgetti & Sons, 2nd Langrish Farmers, 3rd G & H Bates, 4th Lovejoy Farm Partners. Others entered J Hickman & R T, J B & I Lockwood.

Best run of lambs: C & J Georgetti & Sons

Pedigree Class: 1st Mrs C & Mrs H Langrish (Romney), 2nd Lovejoy Farm Partners (Poll Dorset), =3rd G & H Bates & Langrish Farmers (Romney)

Others entered Lovejoy Farm Partners (Romney) Les Ramsden (Romney), P Boulden (Romney).

Best run of lambs: Miss C & Mrs H Langrish.

Champion flock 2017: C & J Georegtti & Sons.

Beef Herds

Sponsored by P W Humphrey (Feeds)

Judges: Don Masters (pedigree and championship) and Richard Georgetti (commercial).

Chief Steward: Charlie Bull

Commercial class (large): 1st and best commercial herd M B Farms, 2nd L & J Smith, 3rd G Bates Ltd.

Best run of calves: M B Farms.

Commercial class (small): 1st I Machin, 2nd R J & C Wratten, 3rd J C & P C Dallaway.

Best run of calves: I Machin

Pedigree class: 1st L Stevens & Sons, 2nd Thorndean Farms, 3rd Chandler & Dunn, joint 4th Mrs V M D McDonald, C D & J Bishop. Best run of calves: L Stevens & Sons

Champion herd 2017: M B Farms. .

Summer Crops

Sponsored by Agrii

Judges: Peter Bromnley (Last year’s Winner) & Andrew Pendry (Agrii) Chief Steward: Tim Porter

1st R C & J Wratten 83; 2nd Little Mongeham Farms (J Ledger) 81; 3rd J Boyd Farms 79; 4th Romney Marsh Farms 78; 5th A A Clifton Ltd 76, 6th G L Boulden & Son 71

Thank you to all who entered these competitions, the judges and the stewards.

Don’t miss our Christmas show – Monday and Tuesday 27^th and 28^th November – Schedules are now available

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Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principle livestock market selling around 264,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2016.

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.