Weekly Sales News – 20th April 2021

Hoggets – Top price per head – £184 – T Husk: Top price per kilo – 346p – T Husk

Report on trade: Another flyer in the hogget section this week with nearly 2,000 penned and every class of sheep on offer from the bottom right to the very top. The top was at the highest level we have seen once again breaking records. Some superb sheep were on offer once again from T Husk which sold to a new record price of £184 for a 54 kg Beltex cross hogget with this vendor selling over 100 head of hoggets to average £173. Lots of sheep sold in excess of £150 again today from R H Smith, P & M Mayes, C A Worley Farming and T R Holt to name a few of the vendors but the overall average was still in the region of £140 for all finished hoggets on offer.  Lighter weight sheep were in short supply again this week, but these are selling in excess of 300p per kg on regular occasions from vendors including S J Reeve & Sons, Tilley Farm Ptnrs and B G & M A Tomsett.

A few extra new season lambs were on offer this week and trade is still buoyant but there are still nowhere near enough nationally available to make any butchers switch over to these which has kept prices almost in line with the hoggets. Top price was 354p achieved by J Farrant with A E Daw and Sons selling to a top of £145.00.

Please keep the hoggets and lambs coming and contact us with numbers so we can notify the buyers.

Report on trade: This was another good entry of ewes with over 700 penned this week with an overall average of nearly £100 for all and breaking the £200 price barrier 3 times this week from T Husk who got to £206 hd for Beltex ewes. Many strong ewes sold for more than £150 with some crackers from M B Farms selling to £168 and £160 from K P & M Sinden. A few grazers were on offer this week making from £70 to £80 but many of these would be going the other way as opposed to further finishing.

Charity note – One special Romney ewe was offered for sale this week by Simon Husk who purchased a ewe with lambs at foot in 2018 which at the time was sold with all proceeds going to charity by vendor Tim Beesley. She has spent three happy years in East Kent and has come back to Ashford market this week. Simon and family kindly once again donated the proceeds of her sale to Cancer Research. She was purchased this time by Mr Craig Griffiths, Northampton for £200.

Report on trade: Store hoggets continue to sell well late in the season with strong sorts selling readily in excess of £110, medium £90 to £105 and small long-term stores around £80. Top prices included Suffolk and Texel crosses to £126 from Stuart Agnew Trading, Suffolk cross £117 from G Homewood and Romney’s £108 from J Hickman.

If you have stores to sell, you would be well advised to market in the next few weeks to give purchasers time to finish before the end of the season.

Breeding Sheep – 25 Ewes and lambs Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook

Report on trade A few couples on offer this week with stronger lambs at foot selling to £75 a life from Stones Throw Farms.

Auctioneer: James Cook

40 sock lambs sold from £2 to £21. Average £11.73

Charity note – Marie Prebble offered her three sock lambs for sale for charity with proceeds going FCN. Mossey representing Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health purchased one for £20 and Martin Symonds the rest and in total £55 was raised

Sock lambs will be offered every Tuesday at 10.30am through the lambing season – please ring with entries so we can advise purchasers of likely entries.

Report on trade: A good show of finished cattle and the majority were handy weights, 550kg to 600kg beef bred butcher types. The best continental crosses attracted prices in excess of 225p per kg with a superb Limousin cross heifer topping the market at £1,404 (254p) from S Marsh and quality Limousin cross steer and heifer at £1,398 (226p) and £1,398 (242p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Other top prices included Limousin cross steer £1,182 (237p) from Gallagher Farms, Limousin cross heifers £1,336 (229p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and £1,256 (229p) from E & J Maylam with British Blue cross heifers £1,226 (226p) and £1,223 (227p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons. Those with a bit more weight included Limousin cross steer £1,465 (226p) from G L Boulden & Sons and £1,439 (219p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). A J Down’s run of continental x Friesians generally made from 210p to 218p with the best grossing well at £1,314 (216p) and £1,302 (218p).

A good selection of native bred cattle were on offer with an Aberdeen Angus cross steer grossing to £1,445 (210p) from Leggett Farming Ltd, Sussex heifer £1,229 (224p) from D W Ferguson Ltd, Hereford x Friesian steer £1,147 (211p) from A J Down and Sussex steer and heifer £1,364 (212p) and £1,218 (220p) from The Montreal Estate.

Report on trade: Records are to be broken and there was no doubt that we broke one this week in style. A superb British Blue cow from A Price weighing 956kg realising 235p per kg to gross an outstanding £2,242.

A very different complection to the overall entry this week with Dexter’s in number rather than Charolais! Trade remains outstanding for both feeding and slaughter stock and there is no better time to ask the question of your non–performers!

Best young feeding cows regularly over 200p kg topping at 238p for Limousin and 236p for Aberdeen Angus. Very few meat cows but the rest made 130p to 180p with Sussex feeding cows remaining very strong at 130p to 170p per kg.

Highlights included Limousin cross 238p, 235p, 167p £1,190, £1,190, £1,102, £1,009 Burden Bros; Aberdeen Angus cross 236p, 176p, 151p £1,107 Burden Bros, 138p £1,079 (non FA) Gallagher Farms and 132p £1,019 (non FA) L R & Sons; British Blue 235p £2,242 A Price; Blonde cross 183p £1,380 J Prior & Son and 165p £1,127 (non FA) N A Vincent; Sussex 168p, 156p A Barr & Son and 155p, 141p, 139p H W Richards with Dexter 88p, 80p (non FA) Tyland Farm and 76p £303 (non-FA) C Leach.

Again, we were short of black and whites this week and another rip roaring trade saw the heifers to 180p and cows to 145p. Top calls included Holstein Friesian heifers to 180p, 149p £1,134 J W Boyd & Sons with cows 145p, 135p£1,228, £1,028 W F Farms, 139p, 133p £1,265, £1,240 M A & F W Owen, 139p £1,025 P J Forknall and 130p, 125p (2) Huddlestone Farms; Danish Red 115p (Foreign) £807 Kingcott Dairy with Jersey 88p £433 Hickson Bros.

A good trade for fleshed assured bulls with Limousin £1.467 (127p); Aberdeen Angus £1,428 (154p) £1,392 (117p); Sussex £1,120 (116p Keep finding them please! They are wanted!!

Report on trade: The largest show of store cattle this spring comprised a good mix of continental cross and native bred cattle and despite the poor spring grass growth trade is holding well at recent high levels.

The best of the yearling continental cattle made prices in excess of £1,00 with a superb run of Limousins from S J M Evans selling exceptionally well with the steers up to £1,140 and heifers to £900. Other top prices included, 12 mths Limousin cross heifers at £1,060 from A J Ashworth, 12 mths Parthenais cross steer £1,040 from J Batchelor & Ptnrs and 12 mths Simmental cross heifer £1,045 from M L & M Goodwin. Best strong cattle made in excess of £1,200 with 20 mths Charolais heifers topping the market at £1,260 from Vexour Pedigree Cattle.

A good show of native bred cattle was well received particularly Sussex steers topping at £1,250 from The Montreal Estate and quality heifers to £1,110 from J C & C Lewis.

Principal prices included:

Continental cross

• 7 mths Charolais heifer £740 Vexour Pedigree Cattle
• 10 mths British Blue cross heifer £890 P J & P B Wade
• 10-12 mths Limousin cross steer £900 Hawkfibre Ltd
• 10-12 mths Limousin cross heifer £785 Hawkfibre Ltd
• 10-12 mths Charolais cross heifer £795 M Goodsell
• 10-12 mths Limousin cross steer £1,140 S J M Evans
• 10-12 mths Limousin cross heifer £900 S J M Evans
• 12 mths Limousin cross steer £890 K W Marchant
• 11-12 mths Simmental cross steer £990 Lawrence & Sons
• 11-12 mths Simmental cross heifer £950 Lawrence & Sons
• 12 mths Limousin cross heifer £1,060 M J Ashworth
• 12 mths Limousin cross steer £890 H & J Noakes
• 12 mths Parthenais cross steer £1,040 J Batchelor & Ptnrs
• 12 mths Parthenais cross heifer £875 J Batchelor & Ptnrs
• 12 mths Simmental cross heifer £1,045 M L & M Goodwin
• 12 mths Bazadaise cross heifer £890 J & K Webb
• 12 mths Simmental cross steer £1,010 Barr Farm Partnership
• 12 mths Simmental cross steer £965 High Chimney Farm
• 15 mths British Blue x Friesian steer £915 Hall Place Farm
• 15 mths British Blue heifer £945 Hall Place Farm
• 15 mths British Blue steer £850 Barfrestone Court Farm
• 15 mths British Blue heifer £840 Barfrestone Court Farm
• 16 mths Limousin cross steer £1,050 P M Langridge
• 16 mths Limousin cross heifer £920 P M Langridge
• 18 mths Limousin cross steer £1,195 J Lukehurst
• 20 mths Simmental x Friesian steer £1,200 P C Coleman
• 20 mths Charolais heifer £1,260 Vexour Pedigree Cattle

Native bred

• 12 mths Sussex bull £900 Barr Farm Partnership
• 10 mths Beef Shorthorn steer £725 P J & P B Wade
• 10 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer £955 J Prior & Son
• 10 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £890 J Prior & Son
• 12 mths Stabiliser cross heifer £890 Burden Bros Farm
• 12 mths Sussex steer £860 A D Kinnear
• 12 mths Sussex steer £895 L Stevens & Sons
• 12 mths Sussex heifer £780 L Stevens & Sons
• 12-14 mths Sussex steer £990 Mrs V M D McDonald
• 12-14 mths Sussex heifer £885 Mrs V M D McDonald
• 12 mths Hereford cross steer £1,140 High Chimney Farm
• 19-21 mths Sussex heifer £1,110 J C & C Lewis
• 18 mths Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steer £1,075 P & G & J Carden
• 24 mths Sussex steer £1,250 The Montreal Estate
• 24 mths Sussex heifer £1,050 The Montreal Estate
• 18 mths Friesian steer £790 J E C Farrant

Report on trade: A great selection of breeding cattle forward for sale this week including bulls, cows and calves and in calf females selling on a fantastic trade.

A total of 4 bulls sold including 3 Sussex and 1 Limousin. Sussex bulls topped at £2,650 for a 2018 born Pedigree ‘Gotham Jack Daniels’ from Nunningham Farm Partnership. Top honours in the bull department went to Tilley Farm Ptnrs with their 2017 Pedigree Limousin which sold for £2,700.

A nice selection of cows and calves forward giving buyers plenty of choice. Cow and calf trade today was topped by T J K & S I Purchase with a lovely pedigree Hereford cow and her pure-bred bull calf which sold for £1,380. Other notable outfits were A P Skudder’s 2017 Sussex cross cow with a January born British Blue bull calf at £1,100 and J Waters’ 2018 born Longhorn cow with a February born Belted Galloway bull calf selling for £1,080. Sussex cow and calf outfits sold to £990 for a 2014 cow with March born heifer calf from Collick & Sons and the same vendor also sold 2012 and 2013 born cows with bull calves to £900 and £880, respectively.

A mixed entry of in calf cows and heifers sold to a top of £760 for a 2019 born Aberdeen Angus heifer from J T Miller.

Report on trade: Demand for good pigs again produced good prices for the limited entry penned. Lighter and second quality are a little more difficult to sell. Cull pigs sold well – a sign of normality returning we hope.

In the finished pig pens North School sold 2 Pietrain crosses at 124p per kg grossing £128 and K Perkins 4 81kg pigs for 120p and £97.50.

Again, more cull pigs were forward and all bar the feeders made 46p to 56p and grossed to £162. A boar made 34p.

Two pens of store pigs made to £53 for “improved Welsh” from D Finch

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

News from RABI

Three course cookalong celebrates Great British Beef Week from April 23^rd to 30^th. We’re delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with Ladies in Beef, as their chosen charity partner for Great British Beef Week. To be part of this year’s exciting fundraising activity, you can join a virtual cookalong hosted by multi-award-winning Chef, Chris Wheeler and AHDB’s Karl Pendlebury.

Chris is Exec Head Chef of Stoke Park Club, including the 3 AA Rosette fine-dining restaurant. He was a contestant on the Great British Menu in 2016, has appeared on Saturday Kitchen and won Hotel Chef of the Year at the Hotel and Catering Awards. He is also Chef of choice to represent British Beef and Lamb around the globe and has for the last few years been Chef Ambassador, representing Quality Stand Mark Beef and Lamb.

Chris will be taking you step-by-step through a classic British-inspired three course menu, including expert insight into how to create the perfect steak at home.

This sensational virtual cookery demonstration takes place on St George’s Day, Friday 23 April from 7.00pm to 8.30pm. Tickets are available via Eventbrite (see link below) and are priced at £30 per log in. Eventbrite link: https://rabicookalong.eventbrite.co.uk . Registration provides access to an ingredients and kit list to organise in advance, and a link to the online Zoom event. The ingredients are based on cooking for two people but can be scaled up or down based on the size of your household.

If you’re unable to join the cookalong then we hope everyone will support our fantastic beef industry by serving a delicious British roast with all the trimmings on Sunday 25 April. We appreciative that it is a difficult time for many at the moment, but if you are able to support, please visit the R.A.B.I JustGiving page to make any donations.

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179, email charles@tassell.co.uk or contact the regional co-ordinator Sally Field on 07799 79844, email sally.field@rabi.org.uk

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.

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

For Sale – Pedigree Dairy Shorthorn bull, 14mths. East Kent. Ring Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Wanted – an afternoon milker for a 200 cow herd in the Canterbury area. Please ring 01971 873896 or 01227 700578 for more details

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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