Weekly Sales News – 21st January 2020


The sheep department made headlines again this week with the finished trade maintained at recent levels and the demand for store tegs drawing another large entry to the market today. Read on for this weeks reports….

For forthcoming sales information – www.hobbsparker.co.uk/auctioneers/livestock-marketing/forthcoming-sales/

 


Finished Sheep

1,803 Sold

Top price per kilo – 240p – C Woodhead; Top price per head – £121 – Mrs M Friend

Report on trade: A few more penned this week but there was a slight resistance in the trade, with the large players in the deadweight game trying to pull prices back. Our entry had less of the smaller export grade hoggets and in turn averages were slightly down but trade was roughly on a par with last week. Heavier hoggets were best sold on the day and there were some superb quality on offer with a bigger percentage of over 45kgs hoggets in the pens than we have seen for a few weeks.

We had some great runs of heavies this week from H Rivers, N & D Attwood and M Woodroofe to name but a few who all sold sheep well over £100 to £114 from H Rivers but top spot was taken by some very smart Beltex hoggets from Mrs M Friend at £121. Handy weights topped at 240p per kg from C Woodhead with A J Skinner & Son taking second place at 232p, making his early start worthwhile on 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.

                                                     Hoggets
KgsTop PriceAve PriceTop Vendorp per kg
3584.0074.83C Woodhead240.0
3684.5084.60C Woodhead235.0
3782.0077.12The High Weald Academy YFC222.0
3888.0077.35A J Skinner & Son232.0
3984.0080.54C F Fuggle215.0
4088.0082.59C F Fuggle220.0
 4192.5083.67A J Skinner & Son226.0
4291.0085.28H Rivers217.0
4391.0086.99H Rivers (2)212.0
4497.5090.65A J Skinner & Son222.0
4594.0087.29H & J Noakes209.0
46100.0093.78M R Woodroofe/ N & D Attwood/H Rivers217.0
47105.0095.77M R Woodroofe223.0
48100.0092.72H & J Noakes208.0
49103.095.63H & J Noakes210.0
50108.0097.32M R Woodroofe216.0
     
Hoggets – pence per kg
Weight RangeNumberTopBottomAverageNational Av
Light 25.5 to 32 kgs8161.0161.0161.0Not available
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs403240.0132.0208.6Not available
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs858226.0155.0202.5Not available
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs408223.0152.0199.8Not available
Other over 52 kgs76208.0161.0182.6Not available

Cull Ewes and Rams

597 sold

Report on trade:  Less on offer this week and trade was not as strong as it has been in recent weeks. Reports are that the trade was back almost £10 in other centres on Monday, with our trade back approximately £5. More scanned ewes are coming onto the market nationally which has had an impact on trade. Best ewes breaking £100 barrier but most meated sorts made £70 plus.

Top prices included continental ewes to £110 from H Hawkins, natives to £88 from H F & J H Glover, Romneys to £68 from D G Long and Mules to £79 from D Howard Farms

Store and Breeding Sheep

1,912 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: Another big entry of just under 2,000 stores penned this week and a similar trade was seen, with a little less of the top quality on offer. Best strong stores sold up to £85 from R & S L M Smith with several pens making over £80 from D Barnwell, E Gingell and G W Fuller and Son to name a few. Longer term lambs sold from £50 -60. Average £64.88

Please keep in contact with entries week by week so we can inform potential buyers.

Sock Lambs

0 Sold

Finished Cattle

55 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: Another decent entry of finished cattle and trade was similar to the improved levels seen last week, if not just a little firmer. Quality overall good in terms of fleshing but, not surprisingly, a shortage of the smartest medium weights and certainly more heavies forward in both heifer and steer sections.

A smart handyweight Limousin heifer from D W Ferguson Ltd topped the day at 214p per kg and grossing £1100, with their shapey Bazadaise at 208p £1141 and a nice White Park heifer, ticking all the boxes, at 191p £1038. W S Furnival (Brookland) sold Limousin heifers to 204p £1160 with W Alexander (Shoreham) just behind at 203p £1144. Also showing good heifers were G L Boulden & Sons with Blondes at 199p and 195p, £1141 and £1138. Dairy bred British Blues from K E Budd well sold at 184p, 183p (2), and 180p grossing up to £1113. Lightweight Sussex heifers a sharp call with 183p and 181p from P Bates.

Amongst the steers there was little more weight this week with Limousins from W Alexander (Shoreham) to 200p and 194p grossing to £1306 & £1297. Heavy Aberdeen Angus from P W & P Sim (Non FA) to 170p £1177 and British Blues to 160 £1164 from P J Forknall.

Demand for all overage with an outstanding Limousin x Sussex from H W Richards to 170p and £1229.

Finished cattle averages – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Medium bulls (551 – 650 kg)1133.5133.5133.5
Heavy bulls (over 650kg)1109.5109.5109.5
Light steers (370 – 550kg)6187.5169.5181.5
Medium steers (551 – 650kg)5199.5158.5176.7
Heavy steers (over 650kg)3193.5159.5171.5
Light heifers (330 – 500kg)2190.5182.5186.5
Medium heifers (501 – 590kg)26213.5155.5185.3
Heavy heifers (over 590kg)3189.5164.5178.8
Leading steer prices
ProducerWeightAge and breedP per kgGross £
W Alexander (Shoreham)65021 mths Limousin200.01300
W Alexander (Shoreham)67521 mths Limousin194.01310
R J Husk43022 mths Limousin188.0808
R J Husk45422 mths Limousin187.0849
R J Husk44322 mths Limousin184.0815
Leading heifer prices
D W Ferguson Ltd51520 mths Limousin214.01102
D W Ferguson Ltd55023 mths Bazadaise208.01144
W S Furnival (Brookland)57024 mths Limousin204.01163
W Alexander (Shoreham)56521 mths Limousin203.01147
G L Boulden & Sons57522 mths Blonde199.01144

Cull Cows and Bulls

63 Sold

Report on trade: A few less numbers but another really good trade from start to finish with both the fleshed and feeding beef cows a tremendous trade. The dairy culls also seeing rates rise particularly for the best fed dry cows. Plenty of customers on hand for all grades and as we see the season moving forward demand for the older outdoor cows to graze will strengthen. Numbers are tight throughout Europe so prospects look positive. Only the old lean bulls still remain difficult.

In the beef lines Aberdeen Angus cross 131p, 128p, 120p, 118p (3) per kg and £1121, £1083, £1069 B Sutton and 124p, 119p(2) £953 A J Bray; Simmental cross 120p £992 J Hooker; Limousin cross 120p £837 B Sutton; South Devon cross 116p, 114p, £907 P N & C Burden and Sussex 104p (Non FA) P Wheatley.

Dairy highlights – Holstein Friesian 115p £1042 Leggat Farming; 111p, 110p, £888, £810 W S Furnival Ltd and 102p £812 J W Boyd & Sons Ltd with Ayrshire 105p £789 J Howie.

Bulls – Simmental £914, 81p and Limousin £818, 84p.

Cull cattle section – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Beef cows32130.583.5109.9
Dairy cows29114.546.581.7
Bulls283.580.582.0

 

Store Cattle

9 Sold

Store Cattle – 9 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: Just a handful forward today before a busier week next week.

A terrific Bazadaise cross steer (22mths) £1000 with another 11mths  £750 J & K Webb; Lincoln Red cross and Aberdeen Angus cross steers 10mths to £505 and heifers to £410 from A W Vincent.

Don’t miss next week’s sale with 250 head expected

Breeding Cattle

0 Females Sold

Calves

72 Sold

Report on trade: A little more optimism around the ring today with more spark in the trade particularly in the dairy section.

Continental cross calves were well followed this week with a number of buyers around the ring looking to secure a cross section of all makes and models. Trade a little firmer however still a long way from 12 mths ago. Bulls sold to £190 for a Simmental cross from F W Hamlyn & Son with most selling in the £140 to £170 range. A few nice shapely heifers about this week which sold to £175 for a British Blue from D Murdoch & Sons.

A mixed entry of natives met a similar trade to previous weeks with the exception of Sussex crosses which were sharper on the day. W G & T A Manford sold a Sussex bull to £100 to top the native bulls and also topped the heifers with the same breed to £115.

The dairy sired section saw more spark than has been seen for a while with trade certainly improved. Trade topped at £70 for an older British Friesian heifer from Parrett & Son. Second grade rearing types to £40 but generally £20 – £30 and bobbies saw most improvement with most £10 – £18.

The first entry of weanlings this year, not a vintage entry, but a good solid mix of breeds and sexes which were met with interest from a cross section of buyers. Top price of £300 went to the Falconhurst Estate for a 4mth old British Blue bull. Simmental cross heifers from F W Hamlyn & Son sold to £190. A 3mth old Aberdeen Angus cross bull from A & W J Hitchcock sold to £210 and a heifer from the same vendor and of the same breeding made £180.

Today’s small entry shows a demand for weaned calves which we expect to grow as we get closer to the warmer months of spring and summer. If you have any weaned calves to sell please don’t hesitate to contact to discuss marketing them.

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.

Calf averages – £ per head
DescriptionNoTopBottomAverage
Continental bulls12190.0010.00133.75
Continental heifers6175.0090.00114.17
Native bulls4100.0050.0075.00
Native heifers5115.0070.0087.00
Friesian – 1st370.0050.0056.67
Friesian – 2nd1540.0022.0029.47
Friesian – 3rd and bobbies1620.005.0013.81
Stirks    
Continental male1300.00300.00300.00
Continental female3190.00190.00190.00
Native male2210.00160.00185.00
Native female5180.00160.00164.00

Store and Finished Pigs

157 Sold

Report on trade: A generally good quality show of pigs were again penned but the trade caught the “January Blues” with values dropping considerably and abattoirs reporting huge availability of pigs and difficulties in the world market for pork revolving around the “China factor”. Let’s hope this weeks trade is an overreaction and demand and supply will come back into balance soon.

The finished pigs on offer made 75p to 106p per kg for the better types with 50p to 74p covering most of the rest. S J M Evans single 102kg pig was the only one to ring the bell 106p grossing £108.10. High Weald Academy YFC sold pigs at 96p and £73. S Scott & Son saw their regular run make 71p to 80p and averaged £54 gross (just to show where the trade has dropped to!)

With again reports of kills being reduced in the major plants demand was slack with cull sows making 70p for the best and boars to 40p.

In the store pens 8 lots were offered with shapey young pigs £20 from R Vidler and older Large Blacks again £20 from Brinsbury (Chichester) College. Other small pigs made £2 to £13.

Pig averages
DescriptionNoTopBottomAverage
Finished good – p per kg51106.075.082.2
                                 £ per head 108.1253.2068.89
Finished others – p per kg5074.024.060.0
                                 £ per head 79.8032.5754.64
Sows – p per kg270.054.086.5
                                 £ per head 206.5091.80149.15
Boars – p per kg240.030.034.7
                                 £ per head 104.0087.0095.50
Small stores – £ per head3819.002.006.76
Strong stores – £ per head1420.0020.0020.00

General information

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

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.

Please remember it is essential we have an early indication from all sellers of stock numbers you wish to sell week by week – we phone and send text messages to buyers and agents every Monday evening and an accurate indication of numbers coming forward is essential with many buyers travelling substantial distances to attend.

For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact

Elwyn Davies (Cattle & Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263

Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357

Martin Crowhurst (Cattle & Sheep) 07710 803903 or 01797 343936

Simon Husk (Cattle & Sheep) 07885 968077 or 01304 842393

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle and Pigs) 07741 845230

John Rossiter (Sheep, Machinery plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

Tom Hamplett (Calves, Weanlings & Rams) 07966 104532

British Wool News

Trevor Richards, Westwell has asked we make you aware he has put himself forward for re-election to the main board of this national body representing wool producers in the Southern region.

His pre-election statement says “As a sheep farmer from Ashford in Kent, I have been involved in the British wool industry for many years. After representing Kent on the Southern Regional Committee, I was voted to the main Board in 2011, and was honoured to be elected chairman in 2018.

In the last four years prices have been trending downwards, in part due to the uncertainty over Brexit, and the ongoing trade war between China and the USA. During my time as chairman I am proud to have led the team in putting new strategies in place which have improved relative returns and the service to you, including: 1) Cost savings in excess of £800, 000 in the business; 2) The opening of more drop-off points and external depot opening times; 3) Sourced additional partners in China to buy British wool, to manufacture clothing, bedding, and rugs; 4) Developed a new entrants’ scheme, attracting over 800 new members; 5) Achieving a 4% premium over New Zealand wools, previously sold at a 20% discount; and 6) Recruited new buyers to the wool auctions, increasing competition and demand.

Now 2 years into our 5 year plan, none of this would have been possible without the cooperation of our employees, with whom I have developed strong working relationships. We need to build on these improvements, but continuity and stability is vital. I therefore seek your support in electing me as your Board member for the next 3 years, so I may continue to deliver our plans to increase returns for you.

Thank you for your past support, which is appreciated.

Notices – John Wickens, Sevenoaks

Family and friends have asked us to advise that John sadly passed away recently after a long battle with illness. John was a respected livestock farmer in the Sevenoaks area and a familiar face to many market users. He will be missed by all who met and knew him within the market and rural community in the area.

A service will be held at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium on Thursday 30th January at 3.15pm.

Hay, Straw, Fodder and Forage Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – 2,000 Conventional bales of 2019 made meadow hay. Barn stored and local delivery available. East Kent Ring 07802 636427.

For Sale – Top notch barn stored round and mini-hesston bales 2019 hay. Bulk whole oats in half tonne bags also available. Delivery arranged. East Sussex. 07768 771933.

For Sale – 100 2019 Haylage bales from a Kent farm. Contact 01303 893183 or 07775 794556

Livestock for sale by private treaty – ex farm

For Sale – fresh calved Holstein Friesian heifers by known sires from a recorded herd – available when calved. East Kent

For Sale – 2 pedigree polled Hereford bulls, 17 mths on a West Kent farm.

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

Wanted – experienced livestock farmer requires a small quantity of large rectangular bale feeders. Maidstone area. Ring Paul on 07976 92168

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

T Denne & Sons are holding a “Making Forage work for you” workshop on Wednesday 26th February in the Amos Hall, Ashford Market, TN24 0HB at 9.30. Speakers will be Nick Green and Andrew Bourne (T Denne), Alan West (Sheep Farmer) and David Gurney (Corteva). Lunch will be provided at approx 12.30. Please RSVP by 21st February to nickgreen@tdenneandsons.co.uk or ring 01233 720871.

Ashford Cattle Show News

Congratulations to all trophy winners who attended the presentation evening on Friday.

We are looking for a copy of a book published locally marking the 50th Ashford Show in the early 1900’s – can anyone help from family archives?? Please speak to Mark Cleverdon 01233 502222

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs, 91 Club, Kent Herdsmans Club and FCN news

RABI

Farmhouse Breakfast Season

Wednesday 29th January – The Dirty Habit, Hollingbourne ME17 1UW

Thursday 30th January – Chiddingstone Castle, Chiddingstone TN8 7AD

Saturday 1st February – Juddwood Farm, Hayesden Lane, Tonbridge TN11 8AB

Wednesday 5th February – Macknades Fine Foods, Faversham ME13 8XF

Thursday 6th February – Dartford and Rochester NFU Branches Medway Yacht Club ME2 4XB

Thursday 6th February – Elham Vineyard Elham Valley Vineyard, Elham CT4 6LN

Wednesday 12th February – Stockpot, Ashford Market, Ashford TN24 0HB

Thursday 20th February – Dog & Duck, Plucks Gutter, Canterbury CT3 1JB

Thursday 27th February – Kent Showground, Detling ME14 3JF

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 798441 or email sally.field@rabi.org.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club.

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

Ashford Young Farmers – copies of their August / September newsletter are available here in the market.

For all details on Ashford Young Farmers please contact Amy Langdon at amy.langdon1234@hotmail.co.uk

Tonbridge Young Farmers – Debbie Broad and friends in the area have reopened this club.

For all details of plans for the future please contact the Broads through Debbie’s Facebook page or email tonbridgeyfc19@gmail.com

Stockperson Wanted

To calve 120 head of Suckler cows in East Yorkshire for approximately 10 weeks. For more information please contact Richard on 07889 882422