Weekly Sales News – 22nd June 2021

New Season Lambs – Top price per head – £125 – T Masters: Top price per kilo – 272p – Michael Keeley (Agri Services)

Report on trade: Another good sized entry of just under 2,000 were penned but this week we have seen the inevitable price drop that so often happens at this time of year. We must stay positive as we have dropped from a lot better place to start with than we have done in the past and are still in a more than acceptable place for the time of year with the whole entry averaging a shade under £100.

Heavier sorts were best sold and the heavier they were, the easy they were to sell. The lighter grass finished lambs were the most hit by the drop in demand. Top of the tree once again this week was T Masters at £125.50 but there were a number of other runs who came close with G H Dean & Co and Mrs V McDonald at £120 and C & J Georgetti and Sons at £119. Lighter sorts were worst hit by the drop in the trade and many of these now coming in under £100 but this is still well in excess of what we would have expected for the time of year. There will be the possibility of a slight recovery in the run up to the festival in mid July.

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

Report on trade: Cull ewes continue to be very dear with top continental cross ewes topping the market at £155 from M Keeley (Agri Services). Texels made to £146 from P Loveland and Beltex £137 from A J Thompson & Sons. Several pens of strong Suffolk crosses were on offer selling well up to £132 from S T Phillips and Pynn Contractors Ltd, £130 from T Masters and £122 from A J Down.

Also, an exceptional trade for lean ewes with the majority making £70 to £90 with plain Jacob ewes looking particularly well sold at £71 from M Keeley (Agri Services)

Auctioneer: James Cook

Report on trade: A genuine flock dispersal sale this week saw 270 Romney ewes with their Romney lambs on offer on behalf of S J Palmer due to ill health in the family. A large crowd of buyers were in attendance to try to secure a few more mouths to eat the supply of grass that is now available across the south east. Overall, these couples averaged £72.66 per life with the top pen making £200.

Also on offer from Paley Farm were some North Country Mule ewes with Suffolk cross lambs at foot which sold for £230 or £78.90 per life.

Report on trade: This week saw a similar strong trade for a good quality selection of cattle with smart Limousin cross heifers taking the pick of the trade in excess of 225p per kg notably £1385 (231p) from R F & E A Simmons; £1299 (239p), £1295 (234p) and £1256 (229p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and £1300 (237p), £1404 (227p) and £1395 (227p) from A J Thompson & Sons.

Other top prices included Charolais heifer £1374 (224p) from Ivy House Farm, Blonde cross heifer £1371 (235p) from G L Boulden & Sons and Limousin x Friesians ranging from 208p to 217p and grossing up to £1379 from A J Down.

Only heavier cattle and poorer quality sorts made below 200p with British Blue cross steers with weight grossing well at £1434 (196p) and £1393 (194p) from J Earey and Hereford heifer topping the native section at £1216 (214p) from J B Marshall.

OTM cattle made to £1279 (190p) for Limousin cross steer from J Berryman.

Report on trade: This was as dear as we have seen them! Admittedly we had a good quality entry with the vast majority from the dairy sector but in the main carrying weight and flesh. A small number of beef cows but again well fleshed and few grazers as grass remains plentiful at home!

Good heavyweight assured beef cows made 150p to 175p with best types grossing around £1500. Highlights included Limousin cross 172p £1526 H J Emery & Son, 166p J Berryman and 157p 153p £1072 £1037 R F & E A Simmons; Simmental 165p £1448 G Bates Ltd; South Devon 142p A J Thompson & Sons and Red Polls 137p 127p 126p 125p £702 £662 (Non FA) New Barn Farm.

There was plenty of flesh on cows from the dairymen who have sensibly been drying off and feeding suitable culls. Best of the heavyweights made 140p to 160p for good shaped British Friesians whilst the larger Holstein meat cows sold up to £1300. A few of the plainest made around 80p but generally little below 110p.

Highlights included British Friesians 159p 154p (2) 151p (2) 146p £1197 £1141 £1053 £1051 Debden Court Ltd, 141p 137p 135p (2) £1054 £968 £948 R & J Ledger and 140p 135p £874 B J Goodsell & Son. Holstein Friesian 150p 149p 144p 142p £1299 £1246 £1173 £1087 £1040 Appleton Farms Ltd, 145p 139p £1287 £1120 Leggat Farming Ltd, 141p £1047 J E Scutt & Sons and 139p £1053 J W Boyd & Sons Ltd with Norwegian Red 150p £1011 P W Westnedge & Knight.

Just the one stock bull, a Sussex looking well sold at 127p £1077.

Keep feeding them! They are certainly wanted! Many thanks.

Report on trade: Only a small entry but some good quality cattle on offer which met a strong competitive trade throughout.

A selection of bulls topped at £740 for 12mths Sussex from C D & J Bishop who’s 14mths Sussex steers looked well sold at £880 and £775. A run of older cattle of mixed breeds sold well from A J Kearl with Limousin cross steers to £975 and British Blue cross heifers attracting a premium at £980 and purchased for breeding.

Top price of the day was a 24mths Hereford steer at £1070 from J B Marshall.

Strong trade continues for all store cattle. Enter now for forthcoming sales.

Report on trade: A tremendous entry of calves in terms of quality this week selling on an electric trade from the off.

As good an entry of continental calves as we have seen for a long time today. Bulls were an exceptional trade with British Blues to £380 from D Murdoch & Sons with other notable prices including £370 for M S Clifford-Baynes and £360 for J E Scutt & Sons. Simmentals made to £370 from R & J Ledger with £360 & £355 from Parrett & Son not far off top honours. One single Limousin bull from T Castle & Son sold for £360.

Continental heifers were as fierce as the bulls with a top of £385 for a Simmental from R & J Ledger, the same run also having Simmentals to £360 and £320 (x2). British Blues made to a top of £365 and £355 from J E Scutt & Sons, T Castle & Son and M S Clifford Baynes both of whom also sold British Blue heifers to £350. One Limousin heifer from T Castle & Son made £330.

A smaller entry of natives compared to continentals but never the less trade was as bullish. Aberdeen Angus bulls topped the at £340 from A & W J Hitchcock followed by £300 from M S Clifford-Baynes and £250 from J E Scutt & Sons. Aberdeen Angus heifers topping the native section at £310 (x2) from J E Scutt & Sons.

We can report an exceptional trade for dairy bulls this week with the best and second grade calves showing a real improvement on the fortnight. British Friesians made to £200 from D Murdoch & Sons, £180 from Parrett & Son and £170 from J E Scutt & Sons. Bobbies made around the £60 mark.

An unexpected entry of weanlings with Aberdeen Angus calves from S E Lane & Ptnrs proving to be a little bigger than expected turning out to be January born and selling for £330 for 4 heifers and £340 for the steer. Topping the section was a British Blue heifer from Freshfields Mill Farm born February and selling for £430.

Demand for weanlings very much outstrips supply at the moment. Many buyers are looking for weaned cattle to fill orders if you have some to sell please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone!

A reminder that we are able to offer calves from Arla vendors under 56 days old subject to a declaration being signed by the purchaser, any queries on this please do get in touch.

Please note if you do not 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

Online Hobbs Parker Auctioneers Tool sale

An online only sale of 166 lots of professional power tools and equipment will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday 28^th and 29^th June with bidding starting at 12:00 noon on the 29th. Go to our website or ring John Rossiter 07557 392903 for more details.

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates and news

The Kent County Summer Fayre – Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11^th July – All show enquiries please ring 01622 630975 or visit www.kcas.org.uk

Saturday 4^th September – Moreton in Marsh Show, Gloucestershire. For all details go to www.moretonshow.co.uk

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match – Saturday 18^th September at Honey Farm, Munday Bois Road, Pluckley, Ashford, TN27 0SU (by kind permission of the Gwillim family). Full details available from Secretary Liz Copping 07872 501951or on www.wkpma.co.uk

East Kent Ploughing Match – Wednesday 29^th September at Upper Venson Farm, Eastry near Sandwich CT13 0JH (by kind permission of the Ledger family. Full details available from joint secretaries Sarah Ledger on 07802 974 838 or Lorna Astbury on 07538 547 010 or www.ekpma.co.uk

The Stockpot Café at Ashford Market

Although some of the Covid restrictions were relaxed from the 17th of May, we have decided to delay the full re-opening of the Stockpot until after the 20^th of July when we hope our full ‘normal’ sit-down service can resume.

This is because the new rules do not allow our style of counter-operation and we do not have the staff and systems in place to run a full service at tables including booking and remote payments amongst other things.

For the time being, we will continue with our takeaway service. We trust you will understand and appreciate your patience.

Forthcoming store and breeding sheep sales

Friday 30^th July

First sale of store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 13^th August

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 27^th August

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 3^rd September

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 10^th September

Store lambs and breeding sheep with a special show and sale of crossbred ewe lambs

Friday 17^th September

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Monday 20^th September

Catalogued ram sale and the annual show and sale of South East Texel Groups breeding females and rams at 3pm

Friday 24^th September

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 1^st October

Romney Day sale of ewe lambs, ewe tegs and breeding ewes together with Romney Sheep Breeders Society show and sale of pedigree rams

Friday 8^th October

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 15^th October

Store lambs and breeding sheep including catalogued ram sale

Friday 29^th October

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 12^th November

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 26^th November

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 10^th December

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Sales generally commence at 11am unless advised otherwise