Weekly Sales News – 25th May 2021

New Season Lambs – Top price per head – £162 D J Morphett: Top price per kilo – 346p – S W Mount & Sons.

Report on trade: Another good entry of lambs this week with over 1,500 new seasons penned and once again trade has held up at over of 300p per kg with an average of just over 315p. This is a level we have never seen at this time of the year.

Some super quality sheep were on offer this week with some absolute cracking market toppers from both D J Morphett and L Stevens & Sons who sold new season lambs to £162 and £158 hd respectively.  Larger runs from T Masters, D Isaac and M J Ashworth were also of superb quality and well sold on the day with a good number of sheep sold in excess of £130 including many lighter weights which were on offer with very few lambs making less than £100. There is a slight resistance to the trade this week, thus averages are slightly lower than we have seen but numbers are up nationally and wholesalers are struggling to sell the product on at the levels we have been trading. Hopefully the trade will find a level at which all sides can work.

Finished hoggets penned were very much an end of line entry this week with most producers now finished. Having said that prices achieved for the best end of these were still very good with many over £130 for the heavier end. There are still not enough lambs available to satisfy this marketplace, which is growing with the reopening of the catering industry. Top spot was taken by P Denne at £175 for some very heavy Texel crosses.

Please keep the hoggets and lambs coming and contact us with numbers so we can notify the buyers.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07711 803902

Report on trade: Another exceptional trade with an overall average just short of £100 and best ewes making in excess of £110 and cull rams to £140 from G Lawrence & Son. The pick of the ewe prices included continental cross ewes to £126 from L Stevens & Son, £123 D H Ford & Son, £122 P Loveland and £121 from P & E Andreozzi; Suffolk crosses to £128 J Farrant and £120 A E Daw & Son and G Lawrence & Son with Romneys to £111 M J Ashworth, £109 K Lukehurst and £105 P M Boulden.

Auctioneer: James Cook

Report on trade: 2 Pens of ewes and lambs again look well sold to a top call of £147 (73.50 per life)

Entered for next week – 10 Suffolk x Mule ewes with Charollais cross lambs from Mr A Burden

Report on trade: A disappointing entry following the recent strong trade and top-quality sorts were in short supply. Nether the less the best sold in excess of 220p with Limousin cross heifer topping at £1310 (226p) from R F & E A Simmons and Limousin cross steer to £1311 (221p) from R C & J L Pickering.

A recently high percentage of native bred cattle sold at recent levels with the pick including a heavy weight Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1465 (204p) from W S Furnival (Brookland) South Devon Cross heifer £1209 (209p) from R C & J L Pickering and well fleshed Friesian heifer looked well sold at £1131 (194p) from T Castle & Son.

Postscript to last week’s report – our leading prices table was compiled on gross returns rather than pence per kg. S Marsh with his heifer at 250p and steer at 248p should have been top of both tables – well done Sean

Report on trade: Another outstanding trade again with as high an overall average as we have ever seen. Mainly beef cows this week with just a handful of dairy culls in the entry. Only 5 made under 120p per kg with 22 selling for more than 150p and 27 over £1000 a head!

Best fleshed beef cows made 150p to185p grossing to £1506 for Limousin cross cows from W S Furnival (Brookland) Ltd whilst young Aberdeen Angus feeders sold to 195p £1137 from P Parkes. Both feeders and grazers very competitive.

In the beef sections top calls included Aberdeen Angus cross 195p, 186p,185p, 181p £1137, £1108, £1050, £1024 (Non FA) P Parkes; 148p, 147p £1106 W S Furnival (Brookland) Ltd; 144p £1192 (Non FA) R L Brown; 145p £1026 (Non FA) T Lyle & Ptnrs and 139p £1294 P Broad; Limousin cross 186p, 182p £1506, £1330 W S Furnival (Brookland) Ltd; 162p £1082 (Non FA) R L Brown and 156p £1120 L Colbourne; Blonde cross 177p £1333 W S Furnival (Brookland) Ltd; British Blue cross 164p (Non FA) J D J Wanstall; 157p(2) £1330, £1213 W S Furnival (Brookland) Ltd and 145p £1127 R M Vant; South Devon 157p, 148p, 147p, 141p £1086, £1084, £1069, £1055 Gardners; Simmental cross 154p £1251 W S Furnival (Brookland) Ltd and 144p £1019 R F & E A Simmons; Lincoln Red 154p £1044 B G & M A Tomsett with Sussex 146p,141p £931, £919 K & P M Sinden & Sons.

Our entry was short on dairy culls, surprisingly on a calf week, but all wanted.

A Holstein heifer 171p J W Boyd & Sons; British Friesian cows 149p, 143p £1129, £1055 Debden Court; Dairy Shorthorn 131p Parrett & Son with Guernsey 126p £841 W G & T A Manford.

Bulls remain a strong trade including Aberdeen Angus 128p £1205 and Simmental cross 125p £1125.

Another very good trade – Keep asking the question.

Report on trade: A mixed entry of stores met another strong trade with plenty of customers at ringside competing for all on offer.

Best youngsters were making in excess of £800 with smart Limousin cross steers £865 from J D & D J Wanstall and the pick of the native bred yearlings to £860 for Hereford cross steer from R Thomas.

Stronger cattle to finish this summer were in short supply and attracted premium prices in excess of £1000 with quality Aberdeen Angus cross heifer with breeding potential topping the market at £1190 from Miss J A Biddle and 16 mths Charolais cross steer topping the continental section at £1175 from Mrs S Murtagh.

Leading prices – Continental cross

8 mths Limousin cross steer £865 J P & D J Wanstall

10 mths Limousin cross Sussex £810 Beaute Agri

12 mths Simmental bull £940 M W & L R Rix

12 mths British Blue cross heifer £850 V & C Smith

16 mths Limousin cross steer £1120 J H & A H Godden

16 mths Limousin cross heifer £990 J H & A H Godden

16 mths Charolais cross steer £1175 Mrs S Murtagh

Native bred

8 mths Aberdeen Angus bull £885 S J Cook

7 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer £800 V & C Smith

7 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £595 V & C Smith

8 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer £700 R J Parsons

12 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £840 F W Hamlyn & Son

12 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer £850 S J Cook

12 mths Hereford cross steer £860 R Thomas

15 mths Sussex cross heifer £775 R J Parsons

15 mths Sussex cross heifer £865 Mrs S Murtagh

18 mths Sussex cross steer £950 Burnt Oak Farm

24 mths Sussex cross heifer £950 Hampton Estate Farm

24 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £1190 Miss J A Biddle

Keep the store cattle coming. Strong trade will continue with recent good grass growth boosting demand.

Report on trade: A tremendous entry of breeding cattle this week with an absolutely flying trade from the off.

The Herd Reduction from Sue & Tim Watson of the Thorndean Herd of Pedigree Limousin’s very much set the tone for the day and included cows and calves, in calf heifers and maiden heifers. The cattle forward from Thorndean were a real credit to the vendors and immaculately turned out which was proven with very high demand for them. Topping the day was a Fantastic cow ‘Thorndean Ladyship’ sold with her pedigree bull calf at foot ‘Thorndean Snapshot’, a 2015 born cow with March born calf, the hammer eventually fell at £2,600 for the outfit. All in the Pedigree Limousin cow and calf outfits returned and average of £2,355. In calf heifers very well followed with ‘Thorndean Passion’ and ‘Thorndean Prettygirl’ both sharing the top honours at £2,250. Maiden heifers to £1,800 with Thorndean Redhot living up to her name.

A fantastic entry of cows and calves to complement the Thorndean entry with consignments of pedigree and commercial outfits from a variety of homes. Traditional Sussex cows and calves from M Gibb, Rugmer Hill Farm to a top of £1,200, with the same vendor also seeing outfits for £1,150 (x2) and £1,000. Pedigree Sussex cows with Hereford calves at foot from P Wheatley to £1,020 with most of this run £960 or above. Miss J A Biddle sold Aberdeen Angus cross cows with Aberdeen Angus calves at foot to a top of £1,100, K Vincent’s Aberdeen Angus cross cow with Aberdeen Angus steer calf at foot looked well sold at £1,280 and M D Lott’s run of mainly Hereford cross cows with Sussex calves were well followed and topped at £1,290.

Pedigree Sussex in calf cows from R J Parsons saw a variety of interest and topped at £900 for a 2015 born cow sold 4 months in calf to the Aberdeen Angus.

A small selection of bulls sold with the pick of the trade being a Sussex Bull born 2019 from D McDermot which sold for £1,600. A Charolais at 25mths old from N Morgan looked very well sold at £1,250 and an older Aberdeen Angus bull from R J Parsons completed the bulls at £1,100.

We hope to offer another entry of breeding cattle on Tuesday 8^th June – please ring if you are considering offering stock

Report on trade: Trade remains strong with better numbers forward this week enabling buyers to fill orders, although still more calves needed to satisfy demand. More could have been sold to vendors advantage!

Continental calves of both sexes a tremendous trade once again this week. British Blues led the bull trade with a top of £400 from T Castle & Son, R & J Ledger sold bulls to £330, W G & T A Manford’s bull entry looked very well sold at £320 (x2) and Hickson Bros regular entry topped at £300. All in the British Blue bulls this week returned an average £291.25. Limousin bulls equally in demand with an average price of £283.75 and £295 the top from B J Goodsell. Simmentals represented by R & J Ledger this week with a top for bulls of £355 averaging £297.50.

Continental heifers were a flying trade with the British Blues hitting poll position once more with W G & T A Manford selling a cracker to £315, T Castle & Son’s heifer entry sold for £300 and North Kent College were not far from the top this week at £280. All in British Blue heifers this week averaged £240.63. Limousin’s from B J Goodsell & Son made to £320 averaging £266.67 and Simmentals from R & J Ledger to £305 returning an average of £287.50.

A small entry of native calves and more most definitely needed to fill orders and with trade like this it is hard to look elsewhere! Aberdeen Angus bulls to £240 from A L Betts Ltd and Sussex bulls from North Kent College to £185 averaging £171.67. Only two heifers this week with an Aberdeen Angus from B J Goodsell at £150 and Sussex from North Kent College to £140.

Dairy calve prices were a little easier this week with an entry of generally more processing calves. That said, top price of £85 for a young British Friesian from R & J Ledger would suggest trade was as hot as ever!

Weanlings still met strong demand with plenty of buyers ‘pen side’ for them. Bulls to £320 for 4 mths old Beef Shorthorns from A L Betts Ltd and the same vendors Holstein Friesian bull looked well enough sold at £200. Heifers made to £420 for 6 mths old British Blues from C Shelbourne and the same vendor sold similar aged Limousin to £385 and Aberdeen Angus heifers to £350. A mixed entry of steers saw a top of £390 for a pair of 6 mths old British Blues from C Shelbourne. The same vendor also sold an Aberdeen Angus for £390 and a pen of black and white steers looked on the money at £320.

Demand for weanlings very much outstrips supply at the moment. Many buyers are looking for weaned cattle to fill orders if you have some to sell please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone!

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.

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 do not 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 May edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker is a regular contributor to the editorial content.

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 Farm Well 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.

Notices – Alan Wilkes – Cranbrook

It is with great sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Alan.  He and his family have, and continue to, run a highly regarded retail and wholesale butcher’s business from their High Street shop in Cranbrook. Alan was also a very familiar face in livestock markets in Kent making selection of stock and purchasing, for many years on a weekly basis, animals to provide meat for his customers. His eye for good stock was very good and respected.

The thoughts and best wishes go out to family and friends from the whole of the Ashford market community. He will also be missed by customers and friends in his local community.

Ashford Cattle Show news – Summer competitions

Sheep/flock competition: Chief Steward Trevor Richards 07768726286

Sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy & Hallets

Judge: Brian Dallyn

Judging to take place week beginning 14th June.

Entries close Friday 4th June

Class A – Best run of 20 or more Pedigree or purebred ewes with their purebred lambs.

Class B – Best run of 50 or more commercial ewes with their crossbred lambs.

Beef/Herds competition: Chief Steward John Hickman 07711167467

Sponsor Michael Owen (Animalscan)

Judge: Brenda Hide

Judging to take place 1st & 2nd Week in July

Entries close Friday 25th June

Class A – Best run of 10 or more pedigree cows with purebred calves

Class B – Best run of Purebred/crossbred cows with crossbred calves from a herd of 20-50

Class C – Best run of Purebred/crossbred cows with crossbred calves from a herd of 51 or more.

Crops Competition: Chief Steward Tim Porter 07557200611

Sponsored by Agrii

Judges: T.B.C

Judging to take place from 21st June.

Entries Close Friday 4th June

This competition is judged on the quality and condition of the crops on a single holding. Judges look for potential yield, uniformity and other things including the general management of the crops. The judges view your best 20% of each crop in your rotation.

Entry forms will be available from the market, Chief Stewards or please email ashfordcattleshow@gmail.com