Weekly Sales News – 23rd July 2019

Top price per head – £90.50 – C & J Georgetti & Sons: Top price per kilo – 205p – C A Worley Farming Ltd

Report on trade: A smaller entry this week, no doubt numbers being reduced as a result of the trade not being quite as appealing as it was in early July. Our trade was maintained at  the level we saw last week and it was slightly improved in some of the weight brackets.

Heavier lambs were the best sold in terms of gross prices, with the best approaching £90 and generally making between £84 and £90. The continental export grade lambs were a little less money than we have been used to but the best will always make a marked premium with some super Beltex crosses from C A Worley Farming Ltd selling to 205p.

Sheep 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: Over 800 ewes penned and a slight lift in trade despite reports of prices being under pressure nationally as a lot of ewes are being marketed in the north. Best meated sorts in excess of £80. A few grazing buyers starting to appear with ewes selling in this category from £35-45.

Top prices include Crossbred ewes to £89.50 from M B Farms, Suffolk Crosses to £87 from G H Dean & Co, Romneys to £69 from M Gammons.

Ashford Market Lairage arrangements

Please note our official time for delivery of stock on Monday’s is 3pm to 6pm. Please advise the auctioneer’s office or any of the livestock team if you require this facility.

Finished Cattle – 37 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: With a few more customers around the ring there was a little more bite in the trade. Nothing really exciting but all grades certainly dearer on the week.

All sectors of the retail trade are reporting difficult trading conditions which, to an extent, is to be expected at this time of the year but with Brexit uncertainties damaging confidence in forward planning and with Irish beef only too evident in the supermarkets it is clear that downward pressures on price will remain for sometime!

Best of the cattle made close to 200p with plenty of nice commercial types 175-190p per kg. Out of spec types were hard work.

Report on trade: An excellent entry of cull cows for the time of year with quality overall pretty good in both beef and dairy sectors. With a strong attendance of buyers for stock of all grades an improved trade resulted throughout.

Beef cows were in demand. There was perhaps a little too much finish on some and certainly a high proportion non assured but plenty made 110p per kg  to120p giving decent overall returns. Demand was certainly brighter amongst the dairy culls with the better fleshed Friesian types making up over 120p and better dried off Holstein cows 100p to 115p. More competition for the lean cows from the parlour saw few below 70p. Stock bulls, if fleshed, a reasonable trade.

Highlights included fleshed Sussex to 117p and £928 (non FA) from D Morgan and 119p from West Court Farm; Limousin to 113p and £841 (non FA) from P M Langridge and Aberdeen Angus cross 108p £755 (non FA) from M Elphick.

In the dairy lines Holstein made to 109p £962 from Oncoland Ltd; 122p (2) and £820 from A E Daw & Sons; 115p £942 from Hall Place Farms and Friesian to 116p £836 from J Gormley.

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: A decent show of store cattle for the time of year. It is clear that with confidence and prices low in the finished beef sector that a not insignificant realignment in values through from calves to strong stores is taking place.

A strong turnout of buyers helped todays proceedings and good cattle with shape, condition and size for age found good competition at slightly lower rates. Medium quality and the out of spec types found rates easier with current beef prices restricting buyers options.

Special mention to grand run of purebred Sussex from West Court Farm with both steers and heifers 24-26 mths finding strong competition between buyers with steers making to £835 and heifers to £735.

Dairy crossbred cattle were harder work but again the better bred and fed getting the trade. Smart Limousin x Friesian heifers 15 mths from T Castle & Son made to £660 and then £580 whilst some well done Meuse Rhine Issel steers, 24 mths from N W Russell made to £845 and their Friesian steers sold to £680.

Please keep in touch with auctioneers and fieldsmen about entries as numbers will be lower in the harvest period with numbers building from early September.

Report on trade: A mid-summer entry of breeders found customers looking to maintain numbers. The final dispersal of Sussex cattle from D Morgan saw 4 pedigree cows and calves make to £1140 and another £1040. In calf cows made to £890 and 6 averaged £860.

Two pedigree Beef Shorthorn cows and calves (and in calf again) made £1220 and £1160 from M J Pallet and big and older Blonde and Beef Shorthorn cross cows made to £1100 from I Machin.

Report on trade: A few extra calves about than were expected this week but never the less all found new homes! Trade held up well considering the current climate and when also compared to other centres.

Continental calves sold to a top of £250 (x2) for British Blue bulls from P J Forknall while heifers topped at £160 for a British Blue from W G & T A Manford. Bulls generally traded around the £200 mark, however anything with less size or shape was less money. Heifers were all traded in the £110 – £160 bracket with less quality about than would have seen in previous weeks.

Native bred calves seemed best sold on the day, with a high of £260 for Aberdeen Angus bulls from A & W J Hitchcock. On the whole better quality bulls were £170 plus with smaller types less. Heifers topped at £160 for a Hereford from Goddard & Son with generally a mixed run of native heifers today selling anywhere between £90 – £140.

The black and white trade seems to have eased a little, particularly for the processing type calves however anything with a little size and future was well sold. Topping the trade was J E Scutt & Sons at £88 while second quality calves were £45- £65 with bobbies generally £15 – £30.

Stirks of all shapes and sizes sold to a top of £390 for a Simmental Heifer from North School YFC while a British Blue steer sold to £380 from D J Sansum. Black and white steers from M Goddard sold to £165.

Vendors: Please try to inform us of entries for the calf and stirk sale as early as possible to enable us to inform buyers of the expected entry. This allows both us and them to plan better for the days sale. Please do try to make every effort to register the sire of your native bred (principally Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cross) calves. Calves that do not have registered sires are at a disadvantage when offered for sale!

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.

Report on trade: Finished pigs met good demand, we are of course in peak hog roast and bbq season, so local wholesalers were shopping for good numbers this week. The cull trade is off its best levels and the store trade is selective but, as always, some nice young pigs sold well.

Finished pigs sold to a top of 150p per kg for a single Pietrain which grossed £150 from D Pope. The Pope run of 20 pigs made from 96p to 150p and averaged £98.33 gross. HMP East Sutton sold Saddlebacks at 110p and S Scott & Son best made to 132p. Second quality and coloured made to 96p and £101 for Berkshires with weight.

Cull pigs were sold to a trade in line with national figures with the best heavy sows to65p and a boar made42p

Young black pigs made £19 and Oxford, Sandy and Blacks £21 in the store pig pens.

Ashford Market Lairage arrangements

Please note our official time for delivery of stock on Monday’s is 3pm to 6pm. Please advise the auctioneer’s office or any of the livestock team if you require this facility.

Forthcoming store and breeding sheep sales

Friday 9^th August

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 23^rd August

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 30^th August

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 6^th September

This sale will include the annual show and sale of crossbred ewe lambs together with South East Texel Groups breeding females and rams plus commercial rams

Friday 13^th September

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 20^th September

This sale will include the annual show and sale of Central Beltex breeding females and rams plus commercial rams

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) 07966 104532

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Aylsham Show – Monday 26^th August – Bickling Hall, North Norfolk.  For details www. theaylshamshow.co.uk

Edenbridge & Oxted Show – Sunday and Monday 25^th and 26^th August – For further information contact  Jackie Shearman on 01737 645857 or email sesha@edenbridge-show.co.uk ** Hobbs parker Auctioneers are pleased to be sponsors of classes within the livestock section of theis event **

Romney Marsh Ploughing Match – Sunday 1st September – Ham Mill Lane, Hamstreet, Ashford. TN26 2QW – Ploughing starts at 10am, Fun dog show at 12pm and also sheep shearing and craft stalls. For more information 07785 783662 or email: romneyploughing@yahoo.co.uk

Moreton in Marsh Show – Saturday 7^th September – Gloucestershire.  For details www.moretonshow.co.uk

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match – Saturday 14^th September at Poplars Farm, Churn lane, Horsmonden. TN12 8HN. Full details available from secretary Liz Copping 07872 501951or on www.wkpma.co.uk.

East Sussex Ploughing Match – Saturday 28^th September – Broad Farm, Hellingly, East Sussex by kind permission of Richard Mortimore-Lee. For more information www.espms.co.uk or 07752 247469

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

RABI – copies of a summer newsletter are available here in the market.

Cream Tea and Garden tour – Thursday 8^th August at Hole Park, Rolvenden TN17 4JA at 2.30pm. Tickets £15 from Charles Tassell or Sheila Adams 07783 398439

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 12th August at 7.30p.m – visit to Tim Piper’s pheasant shoot to view this years poults etc, Owley Farm, Acton Lane, Wittersham,  Tenterden. TN 30 7HL.

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

FCN

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and their families through difficult times. FCN have helped many thousands of farming people deal with issues such as financial difficulties, animal disease, poor mental health, relationship breakdown and isolation. FCN’s volunteers ‘walk with’ those who need support and help them find a possible way through their problems – for as long as it takes.

Nationally FCN have been supporting the recent Farm Safety Week (FSW) which ran from 15^th – 19th July. The aim of the event was to help raise awareness that

• Protecting the physical wellbeing and mental health of everyone in the agricultural community is the focus of this year’s FSW.
• Agriculture remains the UK’s most dangerous occupation, with a fatality rate 18 times higher than the all industry average.
• Thirty two people were killed on British farms last year.

During harvest workload, machinery movements and staff numbers all increase and with this in mind, farms and estates are being encouraged to remind their staff of the risks involved by holding a pre harvest health and safety briefing. This should ensure your staff know where to find – 1. First aid kits; 2. Electricity isolation points; 3. Fire extinguishers; 4. Emergency assembly points; 5. The accident record book.

Farms and businesses should ask themselves – Do you have a qualified first aider? To whom is damaged or defected machinery reported?

Check out the health and safety (agriculture) website for guidance – hse.gov.uk (which includes the following downloadable resources); ‘farmwise’ – an essential guide to health and safety in agriculture; ‘what a good farm looks like’ – common risks to health and safety on your farm and Using tractors safely – a step by step guide

Further help and information is always available at fcn.org.uk  or by an informal chat speak to any FCN representative in the market on a Tuesday. FCN Helpline 03000 111 999. 7am – 11pm every day.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales include……

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 16^th August at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale

Lots will include new & newly near mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus a large selection of miscellaneous items.

Bank Holiday Bumper Car Auction Sale.

Monday 26^th August at 10.00am

Auction of Boats and Marine Items

Saturday 14^th September at 11.30am

At Ramsgate Marina – Please contact Jamie Walker or Jon Chapman for further details

Chilli Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 28^th September at 9.30am

Large entries of tractors, trailers, vehicles, arable equipment, haymaking equipment, tractor attachments & spares, livestock kit, garden machinery, workshop tools and a large and varied selection of rural bygones.

Livestock Hauliers who regularly use Ashford Market

H G Allen & Sons                Ninfield, Bexhill                       07774 654404                                

Beer E (Ted) & J                Dover, Kent                                01304 853174/ 07850 518330

Beesley Tim                        Cranbrook, Kent                        01580 715415/ 07790 273805

Bowens S & A Ltd             Sevenoaks, Kent                       01959 532117/ 07836 793837

Bowers C & Sons              Turners Hills, Sussex               01342 715225/ 07802 358761

Brightling David                 Rye, Sussex                               01797 280552/ 07850 906888

Buxton L J & Sons            Brentwood, Essex                     01277 812674/ 07711 204702

Black David (Lampshire) Hartfield, Sussex                      07759 419844

Cobden Roy                        Chichester, Sussex                  01243 573358/ 07860 587058

Croft P                                  Brightling, Sussex                     01424 838278/ 07885 090331

Drury Kevin                         Wadhurst, Sussex                     01580 860546/ 07860 728204

Gilders Transport Ltd       Cheltenham, Glous                  01242 620311

Gooding R H & Son           Ottery St Mary, Devon              01404 812371                

Appleby Paul                       Hailsham, Sussex                    01323 833720/ 832354
(Harris Bros)                                                                            or 07831 554392

Langrish & Sons                Rye, Sussex                               01424 882250/ 07973 977074

Legg John                            Bookham, Surrey                      07831 446409

Macer Sid                            Billericay, Essex                        01277 622844

Parrett M & S                      Colchester, Essex                     01206 761703/ 07721 901242

Rivers Harvey                    Farnham, Surrey                       01252 723058/07761 554903

Rumens Alan                      Goudhurst, Kent                        01580 211413/ 07860 842098

Sargent Chris                     Catsfield, Sussex                      01424 892620/ 07866 716188

Sheridon UK Ltd                Leicestershire                            01509 881522/07967 399978

or 07739 717154

Standing Transport           West Sussex                              07764 765521/ 01798 873010

Thornby R J & K                 Bethersden, Kent                      01233 820297/ 07860 611439

Wareham’s                          Heathfield, Sussex                   07941 979901/ 01435 863471

Wickens Shaun                  Maidstone, Kent                        01622 850640/ 07860 437027

Wright Harry                       Cromer, Norfolk                        07860 524120

Wright John                         Cromer, Norfolk                        07920 098930

Yeoell David                        Caterham, Surrey                     01883 345819/ 07966 152684

Any alterations or additions to this list should be given to Mark Cleverdon or any of our auctioneer’s team