Weekly Sales News – 27th October 2020

Top price per head – £98 – N C & C G Hedges: Top price per kilo – 221p – Nodes Farm

Report on trade: Another small entry as is the case across the country, with the numbers of finished sheep dwindling and the prices in the store rings, it’s not hard to see why. The best end of the lambs were sold into the £90-100 bracket but it must be said that many of the also rans and non-graded types would at times be better off sold in the stores. Top spot on the day was taken by N C & C G Hedges at £98.

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.

Report on trade: Again, the ewes were a little dearer this week with the grazing types the best sold, echoing what has been said in these pages for many weeks now. Best grazers approaching £70 this week with meated ewes topping in the mid £80’s. Cull rams to £100 from Lucketts Farm.

Report on trade: Another large entry of finished cattle but not the quality show of last week and trade dearer when comparing like with like. A quality run of Limousin cross from W Alexander (Shoreham) took the pick of the trade with heifers at £1262 (226p) and £1257 (225p) and steer grossing well at £1393 (207p) with a run of handyweight Limousin cross heifers sold well around 215p and up to £1113 (225p) from J Hooker & Son.

Dairy bred cattle also dearer on the week with Limousin x Friesian steers around 200p and up to £1284 (206p) and Hereford x Friesian steers to £1264 (195p) from A J Down.

Several native bred cattle on offer with the pick including a Hereford cross steer at £1230 (187p) from H G Tompsett & Sons Ltd and pure Sussex heifer £985 (190p) from J G & D G D White.

A tremendous trade for handyweight leaner sorts for further finishing with a run of Limousin crosses from R J Husk selling readily around 225p and up to £1022 (244p) for a smart heifer and a Limousin cross steer sold well at £955 (228p) from M & C Farms.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: Another big entry of cull cows comprising a complete range of beef and dairy bred cattle although well fleshed sorts in all sectors was in short supply. The best beef cows attracted prices in excess of 130p notably Aberdeen Angus crosses £1053 (140p), £1038 (138p) and Shorthorn at £1096 (136p) from B Sutton; Limousin crosses £1084 (148p) from A Boyd & Co and £995 (129p) from D G & J W Gore; Simmental cross £934 (141p) from T Martin and a run of pure Sussex mainly 115p to 130p and grossing up to £870 (124p) from I Strang. Lean cows to feed generally in the 110p to 140p bracket depending on age and condition.

A relatively small entry of Friesians with the best around 125p and £964 from P J Forknall and £951 from Leggat Farming Ltd.

In the OTM section a Wagyu cross steer topped at £1388 (192p) from M W Goddard and Limousin cross steer well sold at £1120 (192p) from R F & E A Simmons.

Report on trade: Despite the large numbers sold already to date this autumn the numbers keep coming and still plenty of customers at ringside competing for all n offer ensuring strong prices throughout. Todays entry comprised a larger percentage of dairy bred and native breeds with not the overall quality of last week.

However, trade was brisk with young 8-9mths Limousin cross steers selling well at £810 from Mrs K Graham and the best strong continental cross to feed short term in excess of £1000 and topping at £1110 for a superb Blonde cross heifer from T & A Lord. Undoubtedly the highlight of the day included a run of 89 continental cross heifers from E W & R E Hanks which attracted lots of interest with the majority £850 plus topping at £1020 for a pen of smart Limousin cross heifers with plenty of shape.

Native bred cattle sold well particularly at the top end for stores to finish short term with a Hereford cross steer topping at £975 from J Latham and south Devon steer £950 from Ben Foy Ltd.

Report on trade: Just the one cow and calf outfit this week which was complemented by a good selection of in calf cows to suit a variety of budgets.

T J K & S I Purchese sold a 2014 born Pedigree Hereford cow with twin September born calves at foot for £950. In calf cows topped at £1,110 (x2) from B Townsend for Limousin and Charolais crosses. CTS Farms sold 2009-2011 born Sussex cross TB Edge cows to £635 and a complete dispersal from Mrs E West topped at £910 for 2014/2015 born Aberdeen Angus cross cows.

Report on trade: A larger than anticipated entry this week met another particularly fierce trade with buyers keen to secure calves!

The continental entry this week consisted of a lot of younger calves which in my opinion look well sold even on a strong trade! Bulls sold to a top of £270 for a British Blue from Hickson Bros, with British Blues from WF Farms to £240 and Simmental’s from R & J Ledger to £160. Heifers topped at £220 for a British Blue from J E Scutt & Sons and other British Blues to £215 (x2) from WF Farms.

A native entry dominated by Aberdeen Angus’ this week which were in high demand! Bulls sold to £255 from J Gormley for an Aberdeen Angus, most £180-£240. Heifer trade looks strong considering the entry with a top price of £180 from J E Scutt & Sons and WF Farms sold Aberdeen Angus heifers to £170.

Trade for black and whites improves once again this week returning an overall average of £68.04! Trade topping at £140 for a British Friesian heifer from Parrett and Son with most selling in the £40 to £75 range.

A well rounded selection of weanlings this week trade topping at £380 for a suckler bred Limousin steer from T Martin. A run of harder done Hereford steers sold to £250 from J Pearce. A Jersey Bull from J Laver looked well enough sold at £150.

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

Farm Dispersal Sale – Saturday 31^st October

We have instructions from John Paine Farms Ltd to conduct a dispersal sale of farm machinery and equipment on the Romney Marsh.

Approx 700 Lots including:

• Case Puma 185-2018-1500hrs • Claas Challenger 75E • Agco Challenger MT765B-2008 • 6 x John Deere Tractors: 6630-6930-6920-6410 • Massey Ferguson 4355 c/w front loader • John Deere 3400 Telehandler • Stewart GX14-19S Trailer-2019 • 20 x Asstd Agri Trailers
• 10 x Asstd Road Trailers • Vaderstad Rapid 800S • KRM 4m Mounted Disc Drill • 4 x Land Rover Defenders • Irrigation equipment • Cultivation Equipment • Grain handling equipment inc Mecmar Dryer and many farm sundries

Catalogues are now available – both printed and online

COVID-19 social distancing and other guidelines will apply. No included items can be accepted.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

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

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

Wanted – Experienced stock person required. Supervising & training residents at HMP East Sutton Park. Full Job specification and application on Ministry of Justice jobs website.

Call Chris for more info 07968908641

For Sale – 36 British Blue x Friesian heifers, 24mths which are scanned in calf to Limousin bull – North Kent. Ring Simon on 07885 968077

For Sale – Pedigree Aberdeen Angus (Red) bull bn 2016 – Essex. Ring Mark on 07741 845230

For Sale – Pedigree Limousin bull, Gotham bred and born 2016 on a Romney Marsh farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon on 07741 845230

For Sale – 9 Holstein x Friesian heifers, 24mths and in calf to an Aberdeen Angus bull – East Kent. Ring Peter Kingwill on 07795 200357

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

Notices – James (Jim) Drew – Deal

It is with great sadness that the family of James Drew would like to inform Ashford Market friends of his passing.

As somebody kindly said, ‘If there was an East Kent flagpole for farmers it would be flying at half-mast’

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 TB! Holdings.