Weekly Sales News – 23rd February 2021

Top price per head – £151.50 – P Gorringe; Top price per kilo – 333p – P Gorringe and P Ashlee

Report on trade: Once again an increase in the number offered this week with almost 4,000 hoggets penned (including stores), making Ashford one of the top centres nationally for the second week running in terms of numbers but also in trade. The averages were slightly up on last week but it must be said that the quality was in abundance this week which suggests a similar level of trade but maybe just a few pence stronger than 7 days earlier. The gross figure was up by £1. For the third consecutive week P Gorringe has made the journey from West Sussex with some superb hoggets and taken the top price again at £151.50 for some Beltex crosses. Competition for top spot was close this week with N & D Attwood and T Heathcote who both selling heavies for over £140.

Smart export grades of sheep were once again all sold in excess of 300p per kg with a lovely run of over 100 from the Ashlee Family all selling in excess of 300p to a top of 333p on level pegging with P Gorringe who is aiming for a record 4 weeks on the trot at the top of the Ashford tree but we welcome all competition to this title. Ashford Market is undoubtedly  the place to sell your stock right now, not just in the south east but nationally. In recent times our catchment area has stretched to an unbelievable 70,000 square kilometres across England proving that it pays to travel with your stock to ensure a fair and competitive trade, but also to maximise your income.

More fleshed lambs required to satisfy requirements of current buyers. Important to contact us regarding numbers so that we can notify the buyers.

Report on trade: A small seasonal entry with many of the scanned ewes now gone and most culls now cleared up as ewes start to move indoors for lambing. The trade stuck at last weeks strong level with several ewes over £80 and to a top price of £136 from Plum Pudding Poultry for a super Texel ram. Meat ewes were sold from £80 to £100 with grazers all around £60.

Report on trade: Another absolute flying trade for all grades and quality on offer from start to finish. Best stores were making £110 plus and topping at £114.50 for Texel cross from I T Henshaw & Son and I Strang who sold 142 Texel crosses to average close to £110. Medium sorts made around £100 and only very small long keeping sorts were below £80. Average £94.48

If you have stores to sell we have the customers keen and willing to pay top price.

Breeding Ewes – 80 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: A few in lambers sold this week with some lovely Texel x Mule tegs, in lamb with twins, selling for £174 from G & A Wood.

Report on trade: A wide range of cattle were on offer and buyers keen for all produced attractive prices throughout the sale. The few top quality beef bred cattle sold exceptionally well with Limousin cross steers £1479 (245p) and heifers £1244 (231p) from W Alexander (Shoreham), a Limousin cross steer £1217 (228p) from A J Thompson & Sons and Blonde cross heifer £1179 (214p) from G L Boulden & Sons. The best of the dairy bred were not too far behind with Limousin x Friesian steer and heifer at £1242 (235p) and £1223 (225p) respectively from A J Down. Heavier cattle grossed well, notably Charolais cross steer £1455 (218p) from A & M Lyon and British Blue cross steers £1407 (209p) and £1383 (199p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons.

A run of native bred cattle from R C & J L Pickering & Sons attracted competitive bidding with the majority making 190p plus with the pick £1230 (208p) for a Sussex cross heifer, £1192 (212p) for a Hereford cross steer and £1143 (191p) for a Hereford cross heifer.

A Limousin bull with weight grossed well at £1485 (204p) from I D Machin and the best of OTM cattle were £1425 (188p) for a Charolais cross steer from Freshfield Farm and £1204 (179p) for Simmental cross heifer from W Hurley.

Report on trade: Sensational! A few dry days and a lift in temperature was enough to add further fuel to the fire! This was a good show of cows in terms of quality and buyers were there in force to take stock of all grades. The open market is the only place to sell your cows with competition so intense between feeders and slaughterers.

Young beef cows with shape regularly made 150p to 200p per kg with quality fed and assured heavyweight meat cows 140p to 160p grossing up to £1317. Very little below 120p.

Beef headlines were Aberdeen Angus cross 199p £971 M Britton and 141p 139p 137p 135p 134p £989 K Loveridge; Limousin cross 179p 176p £983 £919 H & J Noakes and 164p 158p 148p (Non FA) Lucketts Farm; Sussex 179p 163p £975 (Non FA) J Muscat, 165p 153p 142p 140p £1041 £1011 (Non FA) Kent Wildlife Trust and 140p 132p £861 H W Richards; Charolais cross 154p £1153 K Loveridge; Simmental cross 153p 143p 140p £1317 £1237 £1174 G Bates Ltd; Saler cross 128p £880 (Non FA) M G Izard; British Blue cross 126p £1111 (Non FA) E Stretton and Lincoln Red 124p 119p (Non FA) N Morgan.

More flesh was on offer amongst the dairy culls with good cows making close to 130p and over £1100 and nothing below 100p.

Headlines were British Friesian 129p 124p £1117 £1011 G D & E E Field and 127p £1113 R & J Ledger, Holstein Friesian 128p 122p 120p £979 £937 £928 R Torrance & Son, 125p £946 J W Boyd & Sons Ltd, 124p 123p £907 A & W J Hitchcock and 124p £908 W S Furnival Ltd.

Overage Sussex steers (3yrs) made to 168p £1184 J Muscat.

Report on trade: A small entry of store cattle today sold to a top of £990 for a Stabiliser cross heifer from Lucketts Farm. Steers topped at £935 for a British Blue from R C & J L Pickering and Sons.

Over 400 store cattle are expected for next week’s sale.

Report on trade:  It was good to see more pigs in the pens again and the trade was competitive and stronger for most sorts. Nationally the reports are still of all sorts of problems hampering the trade in pig meat to and on the continent – lets hope these can be ironed out soon to give everyone in the sector some confidence going forward.

In the finished pig pens the quality varied tremendously. Best shaped and the right weight made 128p to 132p per kg and grossed to £130. High Weald Academy’s 11 Pietrains topped the list averaging £121. Other good pigs made 78p to 92p with a few below this level.

The first run of cull sows attracted the attention of at least 5 bidders and eventually went to a Kent farm to potentially breed again. They were, good weight for the breed, Gloucester Old Spots which grossed to £76.

Four pens of store pigs made to £40 for nicely bred white pigs from D J Cole

Please note Covid-19 regulations mean we will be again implementing a “Drop and go Policy” and no vendors will be permitted to attend the market other than to deliver stock.

Please help us to ensure your market remains open and operational.

Notices – Arthur Harriott, Arundel

It is with great sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Arthur. He was an excellent cattle farmer and businessman who over the years regularly attended livestock markets throughout the whole of the south of England. In addition, he was highly respected within farming and trading circles throughout the country. As a great family man and gentleman, he will be sadly missed by those close to him and many others whose life he touched in many ways.

Notices – Mrs Betty Morris, Smarden

It is with sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Betty who was for many years a familiar face on market day in Ashford both buying and selling livestock. She will be missed by those close to her in the local community and many who still attend market and remember her.

Notices – Richard Thompson – Warehorne, Ashford

It is with sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Richard. He was always known as the “dairy man” in the Thompson family of farmers on Romney Marsh and in the Ashford area, who have been great market supporters for many, many years. He will always be remembered as the man who hand milked young dairy cattle in the sales ring when offered for sale on a very regular basis. The thoughts and best wishes go out to family and friends from the whole of the Ashford market community.

Notices – Alan Hitchcock – Shoreham, Sevenoaks

It is with sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Alan. He was active on the farm until his very final hours – a farmer right up until the finish line! The thoughts and best wishes go out to family and friends from the whole of the Ashford market community.

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.

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

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

Hay, Straw and fodder

For a small charge we are quite happy to advertise your hay, straw and fodder for sale in this register which will now run until early May for further details please ring our auctioneer’s office on 01233 502222 or Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

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

Farm manager and farm worker (growing vegetables and fruit) required for a diverse farming and retail business (including livestock, PYO, farm shop, Christmas trees) based on an 80 acre estate on Pevensey in East Sussex. Please contact Donna for more information donna@wylands.co.uk for full details

Wanted – veterinary student (2^nd year) looking for lambing experience (28^th March to 16^th April). Please contact Oliver on 07763 688510

News from the East Sussex Farmers’ Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund charity was created in 1935 by a local farmer and its purpose is to support farmers, farm staff and those involved in the wider land-based industries. Support can also be given to family dependants.  Beneficiaries are normally resident in East Sussex or neighbouring counties.

Income from property and investment legacies help to finance the fund in addition to generous donations. The fund is overseen by five local trustees with strong agricultural connections.

Help can be for those currently in work, or who have retired or who are unable to work due to illness or disability. The fund can also assist those entering land-based education and help with relevant CPD for furthering their land-based careers.

If you feel that we can help you or you are aware of someone who might benefit from help, please let us know and we will be pleased to support. To contact the Honorary Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Des Lambert – 07912 464746, 01273 890841 or email des.lambert@btinternet.com.

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 FarmWell 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.

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Lambing season supplies – Just a reminder that Barkers Animal Health retail store, here in the market, is open for collections on a Tuesdays. Please pre order with Mossy, who is available 24/7 on 07739 723623, so goods are ready for you.

Ashford Cattle Show News

The AGM will be held, as a zoom event, on Thursday 4^th March

Anyone wishing to be involved should contact Julie on 07887 643022 or ashfordcattleshow@gmail.com