Weekly Sales News – 26th October 2021

Top price per head – £134.50 – H V Link Partnership: Top price per kg – 276p – Mr T Wenham

Report on trade: Another smaller season entry of lambs this week with numbers really coming under pressure nationally now but the upside of this is that the trade is holding up nicely at an overall average of 242p kg which is a tremendous level for the time of year and considering the overall quality is currently lacking somewhat with a number of grass finished sorts on offer. Saying this, the lambs that are well finished can really now ring the bell and sell for great premium above and beyond what is already a very strong store trade, with best weighted lambs selling over £120 hd on many occasions to a top price of £134.50 from H V Link Partnership with T J Bignell in close second place at £134 hd. A few leaner sorts on offer this week selling on a trade closer to the store market but most of these are selling for £90+ which would be in line with Friday store markets trade.

Auctioneer: James Cook O’Connell

Report on trade: A larger entry of ewes on offer today with just over 700 in the pens in total. Overall quality was reduced and therefore we saw a lower average returned however it would be fair to say trade was on par with recent weeks. Nationally numbers have been tight in recent weeks which has helped to maintain wholesale demand at the current level. Grazing ewes are continuing to sell well with plenty of buyers still out for them so keep them coming.

Top prices included Suffolk x to £118 from A A Palmer and Sons, Continentals to £115 from K V Potter and Ed Gingell, Mules to £95 from M Hooker and Romneys to £89 from A R Dunlop.

Top Continental cross

Limousin cross steer                           £1459 (250p)        W Alexander (Shoreham)

Top Native bred

Aberdeen Angus cross steer             £1511 (218p)        Barton & Littlejohn

Aberdeen Angus cross steer             £1436 (238p)        W Alexander (Shoreham)

Report on trade: although a decent number, quality was seriously lacking and in short supply with a high percentage of second grade and under finished sorts on offer, Limousin cross steer and heifer topped the market at £1459 (250p) and £1400 (244p) respectively

From W Alexander (Shoreham) and Limousin cross Friesian steers to £1456 (210p) from A J Down.

A big percentage of native bred cattle on offer with the best attracting prices in the 215 to 225p bracket. In addition to above other top prices included Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1501 (223p) from M J Ashworth, Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £1236 (232p) from Gary Stokes, pure Hereford heifers £1183 (218p) from S E Ginger, Sussex steer £1131 (218p) from D J Miles, Belted Galloway steer £1196 (220p) from John Waters and Friesian steers to £1079 (187p) from B J Goodsell & Son.

More cattle wanted to satisfy exceptional demand.

Report on trade: A good show of cows, in general, with certainly more flesh on the beef cows. Demand at very similar rates to of late with only the oldest and leanest, not surprisingly, finding the trade a little harder.

Young feeding cows again topping the 200p kg mark with other feeders 150-175p kg. Good meat cows 130-160p with a tremendous heavyweight South Devon cross cow from D T Marden grossing up at £1546. Very little under 110p.

Simmental cross 202p, £836 M J Ashworth; 160p, £1093 E Chantler & Sons; 148p, 142p, 138p, £1084, £1074 C R Cook; British Blue cross 176p, £869 (Non-FA) J Eagleton; Limousin cross 160p, 146p, £1077 J Berryman; Sussex 152p, £1091 J C & C Lewis; 152p, £803 (Non-FA) Rideout Agri; 144p, £990 (Non-FA) Bosney Farm; 140p, £1290 D T Marden; 140p R J Husk; White Park cross 149p, 146p, £1106, £1055 C R Cook; Charolais cross 147p, £1253 P N & C Burden; South Devon cross 145p, £1546 D T Marden; 142p, £1139 P N & C Burden; Hereford cross 136p, £921 (Non-FA) P A Love; 135p, £995 D T Marden.

Small show of dairy culls this week but similar rates holding for good fleshed cows.

Holstein Friesian 138p, £1031 W G & T A Manford; 131p, £1147 P J Forknall.

Charolais stock bull 95p (Non-FA).

Report on trade: A similar mixed entry of store cattle met a similar strong trade to recent weeks with buyers in attendance for the range of cattle on offer. Young dairy bred stores generally ranged in the £400 to £600 bracket while smart beef bred continental crosses sold exceptionally well with the best £800 plus and up to £885 for 7 mths Limousin cross steer from Goodwin Bros.

Stronger cattle to finish short term sold readily in excess of £1000 with 24 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer topping the market at £1255 from Gary Stokes.

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

6 mths Simmental cross steer                           £780                       M & C Farms

8 mths Simmental cross heifer                         £785                       M & C Farms

7 mths Limousin cross steer                              £885                       Goodwin Bros

7 mths Limousin cross heifer                            £880                       Swanley Farm

7 mths Limousin cross steer                              £845                       Campbell Bros

18 mths Simmental cross steer                         £1010                    S J & Edmed & Sons

20 mths British Blue x Friesian steer                £1130                    P R Lanham

Native Bred                                                                         

14 mths Sussex steer                                         £940                       J C & C Lewis

18 mths Sussex heifer                                        £880                       Rideout Agri Ltd

24 mths Sussex steer                                         £1040                    Lucketts Farm

14 mths Hereford cross steer                            £1045                    P R Baylis

18 mths Hereford cross steer                            £1040                    A G Dodd

18 mths Hereford cross heifer                           £1060                    A G Dodd

18 mths Hereford cross steer                            £1045                    P Wheatley

18 mths Hereford heifer                                     £960                       Alpha Farms

18 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer              £1115                    M A & F W Owen

18 mths Aberdeen Angus cross heifer            £1090                    M A & F W Owen

24 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer              £1255                    G Stokes

20 mths Friesian steer                                        £815                       Burnt Oak Farm & Kennels

24 mths Norwegian Red cross heifer               £975                       Westnedge & Knight

Report on trade: A total of 7 Cow & Calf outfits forward in the breeding section today with trade topping at £1,340 for a lovely 2016 born British Blue cross cow with Blue cross calf at foot from W & P New. D T Marden’s run of 2017 born Native cross cows with Hereford calves at foot looked well sold with a top of £1,240. S C Gammon had a run of older farming sorts in being Angus cross cows with Angus calves at foot topping at £960.

Report on trade: An absolutely flying trade again here at Ashford! Calves of all makes and models in high demand with buyers new and old all keen to fill their loads. Unfortunate to have two consignments cancelled but transport issues can’t be helped, and we are promised these calves in a fortnight!

Customers for strong bulls outstripped supply with British Blues leading the section topping at £440 from W G & T A Manford. W F Farms deserve credit for a tremendous run of Blues trading at £420, £405, and £400 respectively. Quality Blue calves from Hickson Bros again seeing the rewards with a top this week of £340. Simmental Bulls from H O Champneys Ltd to £410 and R & J Ledger saw a top of £330 for the same breed. Aberdeen Angus bulls well sought after as ever today with a top of £430 from A & W J Hitchcock, younger types to £310 from P J Forknall and £295 from Kingcott Dairy.

A small show of 11 heifers all together topping at £360 (x2) for Blues from W F Farms, £350 for Blues from P J Forknall and £340 (x3) for Blues from H O Champneys Ltd. One single Angus sold, trading at £280 from Kingcott Dairy.

Dairy calves looking strong with most trading in the £70-£90 mark topping at £200 for a strong Holstein from W G & T A Manford.

Weanlings –15 sold

A better show of weanlings with 6-7mths Sussex cross steers from Kent Game Shooting topping the trade at £510, heifers from the same home and same breeding to £450. Bulls to £370 for a Hereford 4mths from T Higgins. Weanlings still strongly demanded, more required for next sale!

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.

Kent Show news

Your opinions matter – The Kent County Agricultural Society would like to invite anyone interested in the livestock section at the show to a function to discuss how to make improvements to the event for the Show in 2022.

This is evening event will take place on Wednesday 17th November 7 to 10pm, at the Emson Exhibition Hall on the showground. It is an opportunity to meet the livestock committee and board of directors of the show to discuss the livestock section.

A free buffet and drinks will be provided by the Kent Agricultural Society, Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone.  ME14 3JF. Ring Sally at the showground for further details 01622 633057 or rsvp to Sally@kentshowground.co.uk by the 5th of November 2021.

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

For Sale – Stock feed potatoes on a Romney Marsh farm. Ring 07867 52753

For Sale – By private treaty. 10 Holstein Friesian heifers, due 6 weeks. TB Low. Contact Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

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

Hay and Straw register

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

Ashford Cattle Show News

In conjunction with Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and the Ashford Cattle Market Co are promoting a show and sale of quality livestock prepared for the Christmas trade.

On Tuesday 30^th November

A schedule of classes and entry form have recently been circulated with Hobbs Parkers weekly mailings. If you have not received this information, please contact

Show secretary Julie Coney on 07887 643002 (Evenings after 6pm or all-day Wednesdays) or via email ashfordcattleshow@gmail.com.

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

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

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

Mark Cleverdon (Pigs) 07741 845230

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