Weekly Sales News – 25th August 2020

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Top Price per kilo – 268p – The High Weald Academy YFC

Top price per head – £114.50 – Miss J Drew

Report on trade: An exceptional trade for a similar sized entry of lambs with the best making in excess of 230p per kg and up to £99 (268p) for a superb pen of Beltex crosses from High Weald Academy YFC and a favourable overall average of 225p. Heavy weights were in short supply with the majority making in excess of £105 and up to £114.50 from Miss J Drew. The majority of lighter sorts made£60 to £75.

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.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A large entry of ewes were penned with a big percentage of lean grazing sorts which have suffered due to the tight keep in recent weeks. Continental cross ewes topped at £89 from Ben Foy Ltd, £81 from C A Worley Farming Ltd and £80 from Link Bros. Suffolk crosses made to £80 from N A Balcomb & Son and the best of the Romneys and Mules around £65. The majority of lean grazing sorts made £30 to £50.

Report on trade: This week saw another good show of finished cattle comprising a big percentage of handy weight butcher type continental and Sussex crosses. The continental crosses took the pick of the trade with a good run of quality Limousin cross heifers from W S Furnival (Brookland) topping at £1249 (212p) and £1211 (215p) with another good run from A J Thompson & Sons selling up to  £1371 (220p) for a smart Limousin cross heifer.

Other top prices included a Limousin cross heifer to £1145 (211p) from R F & E A Simmons and British Blue steer £1240 (224p) from High Weald Academy YFC. Several native bred cattle on offer topping at £994 (212p) for handy weight Sussex cross heifer from T Masters and a run of Sussex steers attracting prices from 195p and up to £1143 (197p) from J Hooker & Sons.

Report on trade: Small seasonal numbers but a good quality show of both beef and dairy bred culls which met, yet again, an outstanding trade for all grades. Good meat beef types were all over 140p per kg with the best shaped cattle up to 176p. Demand for flesh or feeding types was unstoppable so take the opportunity to look at your autumn and winter calvers and see whether they are in calf or ready to do another winter. Demand will remain firm but certainly more cows will be culled later this autumn as the straw and forage situation hits home. Good dairy culls made up over 130p with very little indeed below 100p and stock bulls remain a decent trade.

Best of the beef crosses included Limousin cross 176p, £1132 W S Furnival (Brookland); British Blue cross 144p, £1234,148p, £1055  W S Furnival (Brookland), 148p, £987 (non FA) R L Brown and 142p, £1005 R F & E A Simmons; Aberdeen Angus cross 149p, 145p, £1105, £1006 (non FA) R L Brown; Simmental cross 145p,144p, £997, £991 W J Hurley; Limousin x Hereford 138p,131p, £939, £916 (non FA) G Stewart; Highland 115p, £641 (non FA) G Stewart.

In the dairy line British Friesians 134p, 127p, 123p, £1021, £955 B J Goodsell & Son and 125p, £928 R & J Ledger with Holstein Friesian 132p, £1098 P J Forknall.

Stock bulls were Limousin 117p, £1148; Simmental 114p, £1141 and Hereford 110p, £1127.

Report on trade: A small entry of T B Edge Pedigree Sussex cows with heifer calves at this week sold to a top of £1,120 from K Hawes.

Report on trade: Supply is running ahead of demand in the pig sector at present so spot market trading is difficult. Buyers however supported us well and the very best look well sold and prices still respectable for the rest. Stores are looking well sold but are still in short supply.

The best finished from High Weald Academy YFC were Pietrain crosses making 119p per kg while a single pig from HMP East Sutton made 120p. Other good pigs made 90p plus with heavy gilts top gross £124 from Brockhill Park YFC

Cull sows were a slightly stronger trade to 44p from both A Laver and C B Hope.

Stores saw £49 for Duroc crosses from D J Cole with R M Vidlers Pietrains making £40 and £45.

Next pig sales – Tuesdays 8^th September with stores being sold immediately following the finished and cull at 9am..

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Barkers Animal Health retail store here in the market will be open on Tuesday and also on Fridays through the sheep sale season. If possible, please pre order so goods are ready for your collection. New local representative Mossy is available 24/7 on 07739 723623 to discuss your requirements

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

In addition our Property Consultants Outlook for Summer 2020 is included with this months publication. Articles looking at current issues affecting many aspects of land ownership make interesting reading for all landowners and occupiers.

Hobbs Parker Car Auctions news – We are back in business!!

Vehicles are being traded in substantial numbers in our weekly online sales. For all details please long onto the Hobbs Parker website and select Car Auctions or pick up the phone 01233 506266 and speak to John Chapman or James Johnson

Notices – Holford Pitcher, Sedlescombe

Elizabeth Cole and family have asked us to let you know that Holford sadly passed away, peacefully last Thursday. Holford, with Elizabeth, trading as Pitcher & Cole have been market supporters for many, many years. He will be missed by many who knew him in his local community and in East Sussex farming circles

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

Simon Husk (Cattle & sheep) 07885 968077 or 01304 842393

Mark Cleverdon (Pigs) 07741 845230

John Rossiter (Sheep, machinery plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

Tom Hamplett (Calves, weanlings, breeding cattle & rams) 07966 104532

Do you farm in Kent near Bethersden and Pluckley

You are invited to join the Upper Beult Farmer Cluster! This is a group of farmers who live and farm along the river Beult. The Cluster is free to join, and farmers can benefit from capital grants and money off Ferric phosphate with Southern Water sponsorship. Contact rory.harding@kentwildlife.org.uk or 07761 507242

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

For Sale – ready for work Limousin bull. East Sussex. Ring Mark Cleverdon for details 07741 845230

Wanted – a secure barn / unit to store agricultural equipment, for the management of the Natural England National Nature Reserves, in Wye, Hamstreet, Ashford or surrounding areas. Contact Piers Griffin on 07881037704 or piers.griffin@naturalengland.org.uk

Relief farm worker required – for general livestock duties including milking, feeding, calf rearing and general husbandry. Would suit a self-employed person but position is flexible located near Dartford. Please call Iain on 07738 445530 for more information.

Wanted – experienced Herdsperson for suckler herd – West Kent.  Ring Suzanne 01732 750758 or 07966399115

Ashford Cattle Show news

It is with huge regret the committee of the show association have decided that this year’s Show (and also dinner) will not take place.

The 150^th Ashford Cattle Show will now be held in 2021.

Covid-19 Protocol at Ashford Market – updated July 2020

In common with the Livestock Auctioneers Association’s recommendations to its members Hobbs Parker Auctioneers ask that their customers wear a face covering whilst at market.

Social distancing, high standards of hygiene and responsible behaviour to others is also recommended.

Strict control of the numbers attending market is asked for and both buyers and sellers should not bring additional people with them to market.

We still recommend a ‘Drop and Go’ policy for vendors but if a vendor has a need to attend, they should always be on their own and respect social distancing.

Important Announcement – Ram Sales 2020.

Due to the current and ongoing restrictions, imposed on livestock markets and shows throughout the country, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic please note the following amendments to our advertised ram sales.

Monday 28^th September – Sale of all breeds, with MV & Non MV facilities, to commence at 3pm. This sale will include the South East Texel Groups annual show and sale of pedigree breeding sheep

Friday 2^nd October – Romney Day including show and sale of Romney rams.

Friday 30^th October – Sale of all breeds, Non MV only, at 11am.

A catalogue will be produced for each sale, please enter rams as soon as possible.

Please note: Rams will not be accepted for sale on any other day, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

For all queries regarding ram sales and to enter rams, please contact either Tom Hamplett (07966 104532) or Mark Cleverdon (07741 845230).