Weekly Sales News – 23rd November 2021

Top price per head £143.00 – Mrs M Friend: Top price per kg – 298p– Mrs M Friend

Report on trade: A very small number of lambs on offer this week as has been the case all around the country recently with a few factors such as high store price, supply of keep and fewer lambs born this year all contributing. This lack of numbers on offer has been the main reason for the price we are now achieving and dare we say it, expect, currently for finished sheep. The best of offer again knocked on the door of £3 kg but a superb pen of Beltex lambs from Mrs M Friend sold to £143 hd and 298p kg to top both leader boards today. Heavy lambs this week are the best to sell currently with these topping at £142 twice this week form both Lloyd Barrett and Mr S Wickens.

Auctioneer: James Cook O’Connell

Top price – £115 (Ave. £80) Top Price Cull Rams – £114

Report on trade: Numbers were slightly down with a much larger percentage of plainer sorts on offer. These remain wanted however which returned the average slightly higher than the national average of the previous week. Well finished Suffolk and Continental ewes are in short supply nationally this week, so if you have cull ewes to sell now, the trade is certainly favourable for all types and trade would not be negatively impacted by an increase in numbers.

Top prices included-

Suffolk cross to £115 from Leconfield Farms Ltd,

Continentals to £111 from J D Hickman,

Mules to £94 from H G Tompsett & Sons

Romneys to £100 from both S G and G T Orpin & H G Tompsett and Sons

Report on trade: Another superb trade from start to finish with Christmas demand strengthening the trade for those well finished cattle looking to be hung for 21-28 days by the quality end of the retail market. Quite a number of leaner cattle which undoubtedly be taken on further by feeders who still see little sign of an increase in cattle numbers in the short and mid-term.

Smart lean medium weight steers from R J Husk up to 274p and generally 230-260p grossing up to £1223. Other leaner Continental steers from R & H Vincent to 246p, £1345.

Short of well fleshed steers this week but another well fed quality run from A J Down saw his Limousin x Friesian steers to 244 kg grossing up to £1535 and £1519. A smart Sussex steer, ideal for the quality regional butcher, from A Rawlinson slold to 242p, £1328.

Some very good heifers on show today and ideal trading for the Christmas / New Year demand. Smart Handyweight Limousin from D W Ferguson Ltd sold to 264p, 257p and 249p, whilst superb heavyweights from B J Baker sold to 257p and 250p grossing up to £1669. Again, more smart native heifers could be sold with Aberdeen Angus from W Alexander (Shoreham) to 255p and Sussex in demand topping again from A H Hoad & Son at 234p with stronger Sussex from A Rawlinson grossing up at £1353. Fleshed Limousin x Friesian heifers from A J Down to 245p, £1418. A good run of Limousin heifers from J Hooker & Son with scope for feeding another cracking trade to 246p, £1384, generally 220-230p, £1200, £1300 / head.

A nice smart Limousin young bull 232p, £1669 from B J Baker.

Overall Averages               Qty          Ave         Min         Max        Top Vendor

Steer under 550 kg              14           243.9      228         274         R J Husk

Steer 551-650 kg                 6             234.7      219         245         W Alexander

Steer 651 and over              2             235.9      232         240         W Alexander

Heifer under 500 kg             9             237.7      214         264         D W Ferguson

Heifer 501-590 kg                14           233.2      204         257         B J Baker & D W Ferguson

Heifer 591 and over             4             240.9      226         256         Homewood School YFC

Report on trade: A very different complexion to our cull section this week and it would be wrong to start anywhere other than probably the largest show of overage Belted Galloway steers and heifers, and cull cows anywhere in the country outside of Dumfries and Galloway! Surrey Wildlife Trust presented 43 quality Belted Galloways with flesh and condition which were well received by a strong and diverse compliment of buyers. Even though well overage for the modern prime market these late maturing cattle have done their environmental role well and will now provide quality beef through butchers and wholesalers prepared to go the extra mile with the regulations. 2017 and 2018 steers generally 165-190p kg grossing regularly over £1000 to top at £1222.

Trade overall remaining very firm with a show of generally fleshed cows, and good feeders. Very few from the dairy as producers sensibly wait for December or The New Year. Numbers are simply not about after two wet winters of heavy culling and the lift in cattle prices which will give many a second chance!

Good, fleshed beef cows 140-170p kg with some of the smarter younger feeders up over 180p. Gross returns superb with heavyweights to £1482.

Limousin cross 184p, 159p(2), 158p, 154p, £1228, £1129, £1068 Burden Bros Farms; 152p, 150p, £1084, £1061 C & J Georgetti & Sons; Sussex 169p, £1154 (Non-FA) J D Hickman; 158p, 148p (Non-FA) City Of London; 145p, 140p, £1009 H W Richards; Aberdeen Angus cross 164p, £1192 (Non-FA) V & C Smith; 148p, £1025 P N & C Burden; 145p (2), £1140, £1069 Burden Bros Farms; South Devon 160p, £1053 Burden Bros Farms; Charolais 151p, £1174 (Non-FA) Old England Farm; 148p, £1482 (Non-FA) Highfield Park; Simmental cross 148p, £1248 C & J Georgetti & Sons; Belted Galloway 141p, 140p, 136p, £920 Surrey Wildlife Trust; Longhorn 136p, £967 (Non-FA) T Offen.

A small show of dairy culls and mostly carrying flesh were dearer on the week.

Holstein Friesian 147p, £1055 J W Boyd & Son; British Friesian 137p, 127p ((2), £1010 (Non-FA) V & C Smith; Ayrshire 123p, £925 (Non-FA) J Howie.

Stock bulls a good trade through all lea, and the New Year again may be better? Belted Galloway 116p, £970, Hereford 100p, £1129 (Non-FA), Simmental 88p, £840 (Non-FA).

Report on trade: A strong entry for the time of year and whilst some very good runs on offer there were certainly more end of season cattle forward. Buyers a little more cautious with many pleased to see a change in the weather from the warm, still month we have just seen. A few more local customers taking advantage of slightly steadier prices and competition around the ring maintained the best trade remains for the short-term cattle with finishers all short of numbers and positive about the future. Limousin steers 2 years from R & B Newington sold to £1450 and £1180, their Aberdeen Angus cross steers 28 mths £1210. Strong Simmental heifers 26 mths from M Wickens sold to £1260.

Demand for the fresh weaned suckled calves has settled a little in the last few weeks as the weather conditions remain awkward, but it was encouraging to see local purchasers taking stock either to fatten or to sell as forward stores later next year. Plenty of cattle £500-£800 with many of the slightly older stronger yearlings around £1000 / head.

Wintering dairy bred cattle remain a firm trade with forage supplies plentiful and trade down to speed of turn around and ultimately carcase shape at the end of the day.

We anticipate a reasonable show of store cattle on the 7^th of December but many producers, vendors and purchasers, are settling in for the Christmas an New Year period and will be working forward to The New Year sales late January / February when the tone for 2022 will be set!

Store cattle are wanted and more could be sold at favourable prices with keen buyers from all parts of the country in attendance.                                                                         

Principal prices include  

Continental cross

7-9 mths Limousin cross heifer                         £650                       Miss L Townsend

7-9 mths Simmental cross heifer                      £685                       Betchworth Estate

12 mths Limousin cross steer                            £1100                    A J Strand & Son

12 mths Charolais cross steer                           £1070                    M Wickens

24 mths Simmental cross heifer                       £1260                    M Wickens

12 mths Charolais cross heifer                         £960                       M Wickens

18 mths Limousin cross steer                            £1180                    M Twinley

18 mths Limousin cross heifer                          £1060                    M Twinley

17 mths British Blue steer                                  £990                       K W Marchant

20-24 mths Limousin cross steer                      £1450                    R J & B A Newington

18 mths Limousin cross steer                            £1180                    R J Husk

Native Bred

8 mths    South Devon cross steer                    £700                       I Tapsell

8 mths South Devon cross heifer                     £580                       I Tapsell

7-9 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer           £660                       Betchworth Estate

6-7 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer             £640                       Burden Bros Farms

6-8 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer           £615                       Burden Bros Farms

8-9 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer             £770                       Llewellyn Farms

8-9 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer           £640                       Llewellyn Farms

12 mths Beef Shorthorn cross steer                 £785                       A J Strand & Son

12 mths Beef Shorthorn cross heifer               £650                       A J Strand & Son

20 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer            £1220                    K P Vincent

20 mths Beef Shorthorn x Friesian steer         £850                       R Winstone

26 mths Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steer      £1030                    Mrs R Clifton

21 mths Sussex x Friesian steer                       £1025                    Mrs R Clifton

27 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer              £1210                    R J & B A Newington

18 mths Holstein Friesian steer                         £805                       J Skinner & Son

Report on trade: A mixed entry in terms of quality this week, which is reflected in the averages, nether the less those sold would look pound for pound the same if not stronger than previous sales with trade continuing to be as bullish.

Blue bulls still very much in demand with trade topping at £330 (x2) from Hickson Bros, £310 from J Warnock & Son and £305 from Mrs Clifford-Baynes. Angus bulls to £330, and £280 from W F Farms and £260 from J W Boyd & Son.

Heifers a strong trade with a top of £305 for Blues from J Warnock & Son and Mrs Clifford-Baynes. Angus to £215 from D Murdock & Sons and £205 from W F Farms.

Dairy calves a tale of two halves with the stronger rearing types flying to a top of £155 for a British Frisian from D Murdoch & Sons. Smaller less well framed types harder work but finding homes at prices in line with other regional and national centres.

Weanlings –17 sold

A tremendous entry of weanlings in terms of quality, numbers lacking with demand still very much outstripping supply.

Top price was a 4mths old Angus steer from Betchworth Estate to £530. A well-shaped Limousin cross steer from Burden Bros Farm sold for £470. Heifers to £440 twice with 6mths Simmentals from R L W Parrett & Son to £440 and a single 7m Limousin from J Bower also to £440. A pen of TB Edge Black & Whites from M Goodwin looked well enough sold at £210 to complete the day.

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.

Cattle Producers, Please Note

Producers from all counties are reminded that if a beast is at any time in its life identified as an Inconclusive Reactor then they are unable to move it off their holding to any other place other than a place of slaughter, irrespective of any subsequent test that may turn out negative. They are not allowed to come to Ashford Cattle Market for onward movement to slaughter.

 Hay and Straw register

For Sale – Conventional baled and 4 string big bales meadow hay on a farm in the Ashford area. Can be delivered. Ring Michael on 07715651766 or 01233 820261

For Sale – large quantities of hay, hayledge and straw in the Ashford area. Ring 07707 879642

For Sale – large quantities of top-notch feed and bedding – Round bale naked hay, Round bale wrapped haylage, Mini Hesston bales naked hay, Half Mini Hesston bales wrapped haylage, Round bale wrapped silage, Round bale naked wheat straw, Round bale naked barley straw, Round bale naked oat straw, Whole Oats in 1 tonne weighed bags, Whole Wheat in crane bags, Logs of all varieties, shapes, sizes and prices.

All from our own Red Tractor certified farms (with full field traceability) and keenly priced ex farm or delivered locally or nationwide. Richard Barnes (Farms) Ltd, Etchingham, TN19 7AZ.

01580 819000, 07768 771933

Notices – Steve Huggett, Brookland

Family and friends have asked us to report that Steve sadly passed away 30th October. His funeral will be held on Thursday 2nd December at St. Augustine’s Church, Brookland at 11.30am. Donations to Parkinsons.org are being accepted by T W Fuggle & Son Funeral directors.

Notices – Gladys Hover, Kingsnorth

Family and friends have asked us to report that Gladys (wife of the late Des known to many in the market community) sadly passed away recently. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday 1^st December at Charing Crematorium at 12.15pm