Weekly Sales News – 23rd March 2021

Top price per head – £155.50 – T Husk; Top price per kilo – 340p – T Husk

Report on trade: Another big entry of 3,000 hoggets were penned this week following on from the superb trade levels we have seen in the past two weeks, but this week trade prices were was just slightly easier. Values are still at fantastic levels that no vendor could be disappointed with.

Top end sheep made prices around £150 and a top price of £154.50 achieved for some super continental cross hoggets from T Husk. Several runs of bigger hoggets were on offer this week from C Hepher, P Gorringe, R F & E A Simmons and T Holt to name a few selling from £130 to140. The handier weight categories were slightly more in demand this week than heavier weights with these regularly selling to in excess of 300p per kg to a top of 340p from T Husk with Mrs D Ashlee selling to 330p in close second.

With larger numbers being sold in recent times it would be, as always, much appreciated by all the team at Hobbs Parker if you let us know what sheep you are sending so we can keep our regular buyers informed of numbers you will be offering.

For a few weeks now we have been offering milk lambs and this week we penned 53 which sold to 347p and £146.50 with Mrs V MacDonald, Miss K Tucker and I M Symonds all selling lambs Average 338.5p SQQ

Keep the hoggets coming and please contact us regarding numbers so we can notify the buyers.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: This week saw a similar strong trade for cull ewes with the best crossbreds making £100 plus, fleshed Romneys in excess of £80 and the majority of plainer sorts £50 to £70. Top prices included Suffolk cross £125 from Five Oaks Farm Ltd and £109 from M R Woodroofe, continental cross £120 from R F & E A Simmons, £103 from N & D Attwood and Langrish Farmers, Mules £101 from Five Oaks Farm L:td and fleshed Romneys £89 from K Wheeler & Sons and W T Kemp.

Report on trade: Despite an easing of prices for finished hoggets the trade for stores continues to be brisk and on a par with recent weeks. All best stores made in excess of £100 and only small long keeping sorts made below £80.

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

Report on trade: We saw a very sharp demand for all finished cattle, and despite being short of the very best shaped types stock was nicely covered and right for the trade. A few more native cattle were available this week with Sussex again a fabulous trade with a few more handyweights as well as some very good super heavyweights.

Best cattle readily made 220p to 240p topping with a Limousin cross heifer from W Alexander (Shoreham) at 239p £1369 with their Simmental topping the steer section at 238p £1437. Further good calls included Blonde steers from G L Boulden & Sons at 229p £1462, other Limousin from S Marsh at 229p, heavyweight British Blue steers from K & P M Sinden & Sons at 216p £1469, Limousin x Friesian from A J Down to 216p (2) £1233, Sussex to 215p (2) £1351 J G& D G D White with Herefords to 202p £1199 from E & J H Maylam.

Good Limousin heifers from D W Ferguson made to 231p £1325, W Alexander (Shoreham) 225p, Limousin x Friesian 216p (2) A J Down, Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 210p £1163 D W Ferguson Ltd, Hereford cross heifer 198p £1076 E & J H Maylam and Norwegian Red cross heifer 190p £1239 D Murdoch & Sons.

Report on trade: A short entry this week with few meat cows, very few dairy culls and mostly hard grazing types. Trade continues at exceptional rates and with grass just around the corner and prices certain to hold confidence is high.

Continental meat cows (not assured) made 140p to 150p per kg with good Sussex cows (not assured) 135p to 145p. Best of the feeders up to 175p but mostly older cows at 120p to 140p and very little under 110p.

Top beef calls were Simmental cross (non FA) 150p 148p 142p £1215 £1166 £1033 G Hosmer & Son; Limousin cross 175p £951 (non FA) L Townsend and 143p £1140 G West; British Blue cross 146p £880 (non FA) K T Axell, 137p £1033 (non FA) A Skudder. and 134p £1041 (non FA) G West; Sussex 145p (non FA) S Gribble, 143p £940 Sussex Herd Co Ltd, 139p 137p 136p £1017 (non FA) Wright Farm Ptnrs and 138p 135p 134p £930 (non FA) F Henderson; Aberdeen Angus cross 138p £1004 (non FA) A Head and 133p 129p (2) P Taylor with South Devon 129p 127p 124p £858 H & S Nesfield.

Bulls unassured offer ewer British Blue 128p Limousin 113p £1209 and Sussex 94p.

Report on trade: As we have been saying since Christmas (or longer) we saw another strong trade for store cattle this week with a good attendance of buyers at ringside competing for all on offer. Although not the strength and quality of recent weeks the best continental cross youngsters attracted prices over £800 with Limousin steers to £955 from J S & M I Tilley and heifers £875 from G Hawkins. Stronger cattle to finish short term were well received with 18mths Simmental x Friesian steers topping the market at £1190 from P C Coleman and British Blue x Friesian heifers looking well sold at £1175 from J S & M D Antrum & Son.

A good selection of native bred cattle on offer comprised runs of hard coaty outwintered / open yarded stores which took the pick of the trade notably yearling Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1035 from A K Dod and 24mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1105 from J S & M I Tilley.

Principal prices include:

Continental Bred

• 8-9mths Stabiliser cross steers £710 A & N Bullen
• 8-9mths British Blue cross steers £865, heifers £700 A P Skudder
• 10mths Limousin cross steers £930, heifers £860 A J Strand & Sons
• 12mths Limousin cross steers £955 J S & M I Tilley
• 12mths Limousin cross heifers £875 G Hawkins
• 14mths British Blue cross steers £1010 Miss L Townsend
• 15-16mths British Blue x Friesian steers £1095 J S & M D Antrum & Son
• 18mths British Blue x Friesian heifers £1175 J S & M D Antrum & Son
• 18mths British Blue x Friesian heifers £865 R Winstone
• 18mths Simmental x Friesian steers £1190 P C Coleman

Native Bred

• 12mths Longhorn steers £660, heifers £650 M R Cullen
• 12mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1035, heifers £870 A K Dod
• 12mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £830 S C Gammon
• 12mths Shorthorn steers £770 S C Gammon
• 12mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £975 J S & M I Tilley
• 24mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1105 J S & M I Tilley
• 18mths Hereford x Friesian steers £925 R Winstone
• 18mths Shorthorn cross heifers £865 R Winstone
• 18mths Friesian heifers £880 J S & M D Antrum & Son

Report on trade: An entry of in calf cows today from A Skudder, all TB Edge, sold to a high of £900 for two British Blue x Friesians in calf back to the British Blue. Cows generally looked good farming types with a pen of three of a similar specification to £890 and an Aberdeen Angus cross to £760.

Report on trade: Demand for good pigs again produced a most respectable trade but with numbers short in the other categories any further trade comment is difficult.

The finished pig pens were N Dance sold 11 pigs to 132p per kg and £139 with S Scott & Son 132p and £133

One young cull boar made 15p and a heavy sow 40p.

Three pens of store pigs made to £40 for nicely bred white pigs from P Ashlee and £35 from T Russell.

Sock Lambs

This section will be offered every Tuesday at 10.30am through the lambing season – please ring with entries so we can advise purchasers of likely entries.

Covid-19 Protocol at Ashford Market – updated January 2021

Following recent government lockdown legislation relating to Covid-19, Hobbs Parker Auctioneers, here in Ashford Market, will be following recommendations from the Livestock Auctioneers Association and we confirm that from Tuesday 12^h January and onwards

• 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.

Only registered buyers must enter either the penning areas or sales ring.

• customers to wear a face covering whilst at market.
• social distancing, high standards of hygiene and responsible behaviour to others should be maintained.
• strict control of the numbers attending market is asked for and both buyers and sellers should not bring additional people with them to market.

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

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.

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.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The March 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

For Sale – 150 4 String 2m rectangular Timothy 2^nd quality 2020 season hay. Ashford area 07876 273254

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

For Sale – Pedigree Dairy Shorthorn bull, 14mths. East Kent. Ring Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Wanted – an afternoon milker for a 200 cow herd in the Canterbury area. Please ring 01971 873896 or 01227 700578 for more 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.