Weekly Sales News – 21st July 2020

Top price per Kilo -262p kg – C A Worley Farming Ltd

Top Price per Head – £113.50 – C & J Georgetti & Sons

Report on trade Another big entry this week saw over 3,000 finished lambs on offer, with quite a large percentage of leaner sorts drawn this week to take advantage of the trade we are currently seeing. Several of these “storey” types of lambs this week were selling in excess of £70 and with £75 not uncommon, suggesting that its good business to take the trade now.

Best lambs came from many of our faithful vendors with familiar names at the top of the list again this week, C A Worley Farming and C & J Georgetti & Sons, with the latter selling over 400 head of lambs averaging over £105. A good overall average of 215p was returned this week, but there were a number of leaner sorts included in this figure which brought it below last week’s, but trade would have generally been at a similar level.

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 entry of ewes this week, as has now become the standard procedure in advance an upcoming Muslim festival, preventing any real spikes in price. Over 1,000 ewes were penned this week with a number of leaner sorts which show signs of recent weaning and the current lack of grass keep in the area. Some best end ewes sold over £100 to a top price of £114 for Texel’s from J Warnock & Son.

Grazing ewes are certainly selling to a strong trade at the moment with a number of buyers present for these week on week. They are making £45 to £65 at times for the best.

Report on trade: A cracking trade throughout for an increased entry of cattle with seven individual buyers competing well for all on offer. The prices now are the best we have seen for several years with demand is far outstripping relative tight supplies nationally.

The best beef bred handy weights sold readily in the 215p to 225p per kg with top runs including Limousin cross steers 205p to 229p grossing to £1382 and heifers 205p to 224p grossing to £1152 from A J Thompson & Sons and a run of Limousin cross heifers 205p to215p grossing to £1190 from W S Furnival (Brookland). Well fleshed cattle out of dairy cows made slightly less with Limousin x Friesian steers 196p to 203p grossing to £1270 and Hereford x Friesian steers around 195p and grossing to £1190 from A J Down.

Other top prices included a Limousin cross steer £1383 (224p) and Limousin cross heifer £1225 (217p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Grass finished cattle made to £1298 (186p) for a Blonde cross steer from H G Tompsett & Sons Ltd and native bred to £1342 (176p) for heavy weight Sussex steer from The Montreal Estate.

OTM cattle topped at £1217 (178p) for Simmental cross heifer from C & J Georgetti & Sons.

Report on trade: Another outstanding trade for an excellent entry in this section for the time of year. Cattle were forward from far and wide with a wide variety of ages, shapes, sizes and quality but with a ring busy with customers there was very strong demand for everything.

Best fleshed beef cows stepped up to another level with plenty making 140p to170p per kg, with younger smart feeders now over 180p. Very little made under 110p. Dairy culls also moving forward with strong dry cows making 130p plus and the half fleshed cows from the dairy 100p to 120p and only the plainest lightest types under 110p. Bulls a similar trade but no fireworks.

Headlines included Simmental cross 185p £1107 P N & C Burden and 158p 154p £1314 £1228 C & J Georgetti & Sons; Limousin cross 183p £1048 (Non FA) A Boyd & Co; South Devon 173p £1449 Wick Farm; Sussex 155p 153p 151p 149p 143p £997 £988 £943 £918 West Court Farm and 147p 143p (2) £1011 W Hurley with Charolais cross 143p £1118 (Non FA) C D Millen.

In the dairy lines Holstein Friesian 138p 134p 133p 132p 129p 128p £1153 £1086 £1066 £993 £953 R Torrance & Son, 136p £1186 M A & F W Owen, 129p 126p 123p Leggatt Farming Ltd and 117p 116p (2) £914 Oncoland.

Overage Holstein steers (3 yrs +) 158p 155p 154p 140p (2) £1057 £998 £997 £992 £947 E T Ledger & Son Ltd; Simmental heifers (3yrs +) 171p £1074 and Sussex steers (3yrs +) 149p £1025.

Bulls Sussex 109p 95p £1052; Simmental 100p £1204.

Report on trade: A large store cattle sale for the time of year with a combination of limited grass in the South East and a strong trade encouraging vendors to sell now rather than later in the year. Best beef bred continental crosses took the pick of the trade with the highlights including 14-15 mths Limousin cross steers £930 and very smart Limousin cross heifer £860 (250p per kg) from H & J Noakes and a run of 16-18 mths top draw Limousin cross steers £1050 to £1145 from C & J Georgetti & Sons.

A relatively large percentage of native bred cattle were well received with 14-15 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1020 from S F G Wall and Barfrestone Court Farm, Hereford cross steers to £920 from Mrs A Farris and a run of pure bred Sussex steer looking well sold at £890 from West Court Farm.

Store cattle to sell? Please contact us to discuss marketing. Trade is strong

Report on trade: A firmer entry numbers wise this week with vendors still benefiting from the strong demand being seen for calves at the present time.

A reasonable entry of continentals with a few less of the really strong calves that we have become accustom to seeing. Bulls sold to a top of £370 for a smart Simmental cross from R & J Ledger. British Blues sold to £310 from Goddard & Son and Limousin’s to £290 from W S Furnival Ltd. In the heifer section it was the British Blues that led the day’s trade topping at £250 from Goddard & Son, Simmental’s from R & J Ledger not far behind at £215.

A smart entry of native sired calves this week with a few nice runs of smart younger calves. Bulls sold to a top of £255 from two vendors both with Aberdeen Angus’, top of the podium being shared by P J Forknall and Goddard & Son. Some lovely runs of well-balanced heifers this week with both the Aberdeen Angus and Beef Shorthorn breeds represented. A top price of £160 for an Aberdeen Angus from J W Boyd was the headline price but plenty of those younger types look well sold at between £100 and £150 for both Aberdeen Angus and Beef Shorthorns.

A little bit more energy in the dairy sired section with the second grade and bobbies all a touch sharper from the last sale.  Top price of £180 went to a Dairy Shorthorn bull from Goddard & Son, Holstein Friesians topped at £95 from W S Furnival Ltd. Second grade calves made £30 to £50 and bobbies around £20.

Weanlings (10 Sold) A mixture of breeds were penned in the weanling section. Trade topped at £310 for an Aberdeen Angus heifer from G R Edgar, the same vendor also sold Aberdeen Angus steers to £250. A strong British Blue heifer from N P Miles sold to £300 who also sold a Flekvieh steer to £295.

Demand for weanlings is still very much here, please contact us to discuss if you have any to sell!

Covid-19 Protocol at Ashford Market – updated July 2020

In common with the Livestock Auctioneers Association’s recommendations to its members Hobbs Parker Auctioneers ask that their customers (and staff) wear a face covering whilst at market.

Social distancing, high standards of hygiene and responsible behaviour to others is also recommended.

Strict control of the numbers attending market is asked for and both buyers and sellers should not bring additional people with them to market.

We still recommend a ‘Drop and Go’ policy for vendors but if a vendor has a need to attend, they should always be on their own and respect social distancing.

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 Farm Well 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.

Ashford Cattle Show news

It is with huge regret the committee of the show association have decided that this year’s Show (and also dinner) will not take place.

The 150^th Ashford Cattle Show will now be held in 2021.

Hobbs Parker Car Auctions news

We are back in business!!

Vehicles are being traded in substantial numbers in our weekly online sales.

For all details please long onto the Hobbs Parker website and select Car Auctions or pick up the phone 01233 506266 and speak to John Chapman or James Johnson

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

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

Breaking news on a new appointment to the Barkers team – Peter is pleased to welcome Alex Moss (Mossey to his friends!) to his team and it was good to see him in Ashford this week.

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

For Sale – 3 yr old Beef Shorthorn bull who is proven – Surrey. Ring Mark Cleverdon for details 07741 845230

For Sale – large quantity of 2019 season gathered maize silage on a Romney Marsh 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 – experienced Herdsperson for suckler herd – West Kent.  Ring Suzanne 01732 750758 or 07966399115

Planning

As part of the critical food industry in these difficult days we want to plan and control our market operations as efficiently and safely as possible for the sake of us all – vendors, purchasers, hauliers and market staff.

Please advise us of your plans and numbers if you intend to sell stock.

Please liaise with and help your hauliers with early collections.

Please help market staff with fully completed entry forms – ear numbers listed in numeric order to speed up processing. With big loads please split heifers and steers on entry forms.

Thank you and take care

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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