Weekly Sales News – 1st November 2016

Top price per kilo – 201p – Mrs C Worley:  Top price per head – £91.50 – Link Bros

Report on trade: A larger entry of lambs this week met an improved trade for all sorts in the pens but it must be said that we saw one of the best entries of lambs in terms of quality that we have seen for many weeks. These best lambs on offer weighed from 37kgs right up to 55kgs with the very best Beltex sired lambs from Mrs C Worley selling to £88 (200p per kg) and a super run of 211 Charollais cross lambs from Passmore Coombes selling to £87.50 and 190p.

The heavy weight lambs on offer also met strong demand with the best of these selling in excess of £90 from both Link Bros (51kgs @ £91.50) and Michael Keeley (Agri Services) (55kgs @£91). Overall the average was returned at 174.9p against a nationally reported average of £167p.

Report on trade: A smaller entry of sheep in the pens this week sold at similar level to last week with the best ewes on offer making close to £80. Several leaner sorts on offer once more and once again plenty of buyers put themselves forward to secure some of these sorts to farm on further. Nationally the trade has been showing some slight signs of a lift and our average would reflect this with a lift of about £5 on the week.

Top prices this week included Suffolk crosses to £79 form A A Palmar & Sons, crossbred ewes to £77.50 form L Stevens & Sons, Mules to £63 from A A Palmar & Sons and Romneys to £64,50 from S Goodsell.

Report on trade: A cracking good trade and many more are wanted to satisfy a strong demand with several customers around the ring failing to fulfil orders.

A smart Limousin cross heifer topped the market at £1540 (247p per kg) from M B Farms while other good  prices included Limousin cross heifers at £1171 (242p) from S Marsh, a British Blue cross heifer at £1210 (223p) from M & M L Goodwin and Limousin cross steers at £1309 (210p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

An improved trade for the more commercial sorts with Limousin cross steers grossing  £1151 (208p) from A J Down and Charolais cross heifers at £1149 (176p) and £1059 (180p) from Langrish Farmers.

Report on trade: A larger show of cows this week were well received by buyers with a strong competitive trade for all grades. Numbers have remained tight, certainly in the beef cow sector, with the good weather delaying weaning and scanning. Remember, looking forward, that the New Year period will see a seasonal lift in prices and feeders are looking for stock to feed to meet that demand.  Securing a farm assurance status is critical in maximising returns and producers without farm assurance are best advised to sell lean cows giving  the feeders the opportunity to have 90 days  finishing whilst satisfying assurance requirements. In general the processing market is in good heart for the time of year with imports are suffering under a weak pound.

No best beef cows penned but a strong run of largely non assured Sussex cows sold well. These included 119p per kg from D J Miles; 115p, 114p, 113p and 110p grossing  £901and £881 from  I Strang; 111p, 109p  and £749 L & J Clark and 107p, 105p and £788  W Meyer. Hereford  crosses made to 118p £875 and Beef Shorthorn cross 118p and £751 both D J Miles; Simmental cross 115p and £830 (Non FA) M & M L Goodwin and British Blue cross 114p £772 (Non FA) from V & C Smith.

A better show of dairy culls were penned with more cows obviously showing the benefit of good winter ration feeding over the last 2 months. Also still plenty of lean cows but it is that time of the year and younger types were taken for feeding adding to the competition around the ring. Holstein Friesians made top 116p and £870 W S Furnival; 115p, 110p and £876 W G & T A Manford; 114p £795 J Skinner; 113p, 108p and £905, £871 Goddard & Son; 110p £843 M Goddard and maiden Holstein heifers 125p J Skinner and 120p WF Farms. A terrific Guernsey cow made 107p and grossed £815 from W G & T A Manford.

Report on trade: A reduced entry of cattle saw a higher percentage of dairy bred stock and native bred cattle on offer. The trade was competitive throughout with several local buyers competing well with the regular away customers.

The best of the youngsters topped at £825 for an 8 mth Simmental cross steer from Pynn Contractors while the 18mths continental crosses attracted prices in excess of £900 and up to £980 for a British Blue cross steer from R Winstone and £942 from Simmental cross heifer from S J Edmed & Sons.

A few runs of quality purebred Sussex were on offer with 16-18 mths steers selling well making from £850 to £925 from W J Hurley and a smart steer to £980 from K Drury & Sons. A pen of 18 mths British White cross steers sold exceptionally well at £920 from G C Amos.

Early arrival of cattle is appreciated, particularly between 8am – 10am, to ensure proper sorting and penning prior to sale. Lairage facilities available every Monday evening. Please help us to help you.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The November edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

News from Kent / South East RABI

The South East RABI would like to say “Thank you for supporting the recent harvest supper here in the market. Over 160 people attended and we all had a wonderful meal prepared by the Stock Pot and over £6,000 was raised in aid of R.A.B.I.

Dates for your diary include

Tuesday 13^th December at 6pm for 6.30pm – Carols at Christmas will be held again in the Cattle Sales ring here in Ashford Market.

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General news

Updated 2^nd November 2016

Wanted – Work experience as a lambing assistant in March 2017, 6 days a week for 2 weeks for 2 Vet students. Please ring 01233 635879 or 07968397611

For Sale – Up to 12 autumn calved pedigree Sussex cows in West Sussex.

Wanted – Up to 12 spring calving Sussex cows (not necessarily pedigree).

Kent Herdsmans Club – For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Sandra Brown on 01233 502796 or Jo Masters 01580 240568. Meetings at the Conningbrook Hotel, Ashford.

Monday 14th November at 7.30pm – a talk by John Arthur Boyd about his travels around the UK and his book.

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DEFRA regularly remind us of our responsibilities regarding unfit animals. No unfit animal should be exposed for sale in a market. All animals should be fit to travel.
All in milk cows should to be milked out prior to movement to market. Do not present lame sheep or those, for any reason, which are not fit to be transported.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are…….

Special Vehicle auction

Wednesday 9th November from 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sales of 4 X 4, Diesel, sports and MPV vehicles.

Collective Machinery & Equipment auction
Friday 11th November at  9.30am. Catalogues are now available.

New & nearly new mowers & garden machinery New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large items of plant and farm machinery.

This sale will include a dispersal of farm machinery and vehicles on behalf of the Late Trevor Ashdown. On offer will be a 2006 Mercedes 815 lorry with 7.5tonne livestock body, a 2004 John Deere 5820 tractor with 631 power loader, a 1962 Massey Ferguson 35X tractor, an Ifor Williams 6PE livestock trailer and other livestock farming miscellany.

Further consignments of good quality near new and used tools are also already entered including 100 lots of professional mechanics tools for Executors; 38 ladders and other equipment on behalf of Kent Fire and Rescue and 70 ex-demo professional power tools.

Rural Property auction

Wednesday 23rd November

Contact James Hickman on 01233 506223 for all details

Ashford Cattle Show and Sale of Christmas stock Monday and Tuesday 28th and 29th November Annual show of livestock, crops, carcases and much much more. All details from Julie Coney 07887 643002 or email ashfordcattleshow@gmail.co.uk Entries are now closed and a show catalogue will be produced shortly.

Horse & Saddlery auction

Thursday 17th February at  10am.

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 clothin