Weekly Sales News – 28th April 2020

Top price per kilo – 241p – R G Gibson & Son; Top price per head – £117 – J Watt

Report on trade: A smaller entry of hoggets this week as numbers begin to show real signs of dropping off. The numbers of new seasons lambs coming forward are not quite making up for the shortcoming which is helping make the trade strong, up on last week and ahead of the averages quoted nationally on Monday.

Heavy hoggets have been harder to sell in recent sales but these were better this week with some superb quality heavies to £117 from J Watt. Export grade continentals are still making the best prices per kilo with most over 200p to a top price of 241p from R G Gibson & Son.

About 200 new season lambs on offer this week with varying quality in the pens including many leaner and lighter sorts. The overall average was still just under 250p to a top price of 262p from Friday Street Farmers. Best price in the lump was £105.50 from C Moss & Sons. More lambs will come forward now so please advise us of what numbers you wish to send.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could “help us to help you” by arriving earlier to assist with appropriate sorting and penning of sheep. Lairage facilities are available from 2 to 6pm every Monday and we can accept stock from 6am every Tuesday.

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: Trade here was definitely a little harder than in recent weeks as a result of the commencement of Ramadan in the Muslim community and it must be said, a very mixed entry of ewes. We penned very few quality sorts. Best ewes traded from £90 to £100 with a few grazers now starting to sell well from £50 to £60.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £95 from Wanstall Farms, Texels to £90 from D Gowland, crossbred to £95 from T Higgins and Romney to £82.50 from J D Hickman.

Report on trade: This was a much improved trade on the week with buyers’ keener and bidding well for all on offer. Best handyweight butcher types made in excess of 200p notably Limousin cross heifer £1190 (215p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and Blonde cross heifers at £1181 (199p) and £1031 (211p) from G L Boulden & Sons. Heavier sorts made 170p to 180p with continental cross steers grossing £1256 (184p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and £1197 (174p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons.

A relatively large percentage of native bred cattle were on offer generally ranging between170p to 180p with purebred Sussex heifers £1050 (180p) from J G & D G D White and £891 (172p) from Wooladon Farm Ltd. A heavy Aberdeen Angus steer grossed well at £1205 (174p) from B G & M A Tomsett.

Friesian steers made to £981 (141p) from M W Goddard.

A small selection of bulls sold well up to £1218 (188p) for a Blonde consigned by G L Boulden & Sons.

Report on trade: A tremendous day in the cull ring not only with very good numbers and some very good quality cows, but very strong attendance of buyers which made for an excellent trade throughout. Meat cows were all dearer but some outstanding cows for further fattening pushed the trade to new levels making 140p to 175p per kg. Dairy culls were also firmer with best meat 110p to 120p and all half meated steakers much sharper. In fact only 13 culls made below 100p whilst 18 sold above 130p! Keep searching out your non performers – this is the time when all grade and types are generally at their dearest, both for slaughter or for further feeding/grazing.

Highlights were Charolais 176p 157p 153p 137p 134p and £1470 £1422 £1335 £1268, Hereford x Charolais 177p £1239 from Vexour Pedigree Herds; British Blue 153p £1060 (Non FA) L Palmer & Sons and 117p £1002 Barfrestone Court Farms Ltd (Non FA); Simmental cross 144p £1162 Boyes & New, 128p £1097 G Bates Ltd and 129p 124p £876 £874 Oxenford Farm Ltd; Limousin 138p £1198 H J Emery & Son. 138p £859 (Non FA) A Boyd & Co and 123p 119p 118p J Berryman; Aberdeen Angus cross 135p £942 (Non FA) R Carr Partnership, 131p 130p £966 from Vexour Pedigree Herds, 128p £822 (Non FA) L Palmer & Sons, 126p £991 (Non FA) Barfrestone Court Farms Ltd and 125p £797 (Non FA) Pollehill Fold with Sussex 127p 124p £914 £854 A H Hoad & Son, 126p J Muscat and 119p 117p £847 H W Richards.

In the dairy section Holstein Friesian OTM heifers 130p £926 M W Goddard and 126p £917 W F Furnival Ltd; cows 119p 117p 116p 110p £1025 £1003 M W Goddard and British Friesians 118p 116p 113p 112p (2) £881 £841 Debden Court Ltd

A Limousin cross steer (6yo) 125p £1007; British Blue cross steer (3yo) 124p £858.

Stock bulls saw an exceptional non-working Limousin (3yo) 175p £1675 with an older Aberdeen Angus 108p £1113.

Report on trade: Again a strong trade for store cattle with a good attendance of buyers competing well for all on offer. The best of the yearling single suckled sorts were selling readily in the £750 to £900 bracket with quality Simmental cross steers topping the section at £945 from Lawrence & Sons and a particularly smart Charolais cross heifer sold well at £925 from D G Jackson. Stronger 2yr old sorts made up to £1260 for Simmental cross steer from Dan Mackelden Ltd.

A relatively large percentage of native bred cattle on offer with the best yearling sorts typically selling from £700 to £800 and stronger cattle to finish short term made in excess of £1000 and up to £1185 for an Aberdeen Angus cross steer from Dan Mackelden Ltd.

A run of 44 18-20 mths Friesian steers attracted plenty of interest topping at £670 from E J Gribble.

A big thank you to all for your help and support of our livestock auction sales during difficult times. We plan to continue offering sales on a weekly basis – next Tuesday 5^th May will see nearly 300 more store cattle expected penned and bookings are being taken for future sales.

We will offer a selection of breeding stock including bulls, in calf heifers and cows and cows and calves on Tuesday 12^th May.

Report on trade: A respectable entry this week with calves of all shapes and sizes giving a good variety for buyers to choose from. Demand was high throughout and it is pleasing to be able to report a much firmer trade for all types of calves this week.

A good entry of continentals this week with a variety of breeds forward. Bulls sold to £280 for a British Blue from W S Furnival Ltd. Other notable prices include Limousins to £275 from T Castle & Son and Simmentals to £265 from Parrett & Son. Heifers sold to £240 for a Limousin from T Castle & Son. J Warnock & Son sold British Blues to £205 and Parrett & Son sold Simmentals to £210.

On the whole a very strong entry of native calves this week which was reflected in the trade. Bulls sold to £340 for an Aberdeen Angus from D Murdoch & Sons. Most native bulls sold on the day were £250 plus. Heifers also generally a strong trade with calves from A & W J Hitchcock and Kingcott Dairy topping the section at £210, both where Aberdeen Angus.

Dairy sired calves showed most improvement in terms of trade with outlets for processing calves now starting to reopen following adaptation to the current conditions caused by the COVID-19 together with demand from buyers with orders for rearing types helping to firm the trade. A British Friesian cross from D Murdoch & Sons topped the trade for dairy calves at £75 and first grade dairy calves generally £60 plus. Second grade calves generally £35-£45 and bobbies seeing a welcome improvement in the £18-£25 mark.

No weanlings this week however demand is still very much there for them with buyers still looking to fill orders. If you have any to sell, please don’t hesitate to contact me and make the most of the demand whilst it is still here!

We remind all calf sellers and buyers of the information below

Calf sellers and buyers should be aware that welfare regulations state that while an animal can be sold at 7 days old if they are offered at under 10 days old they cannot be transported more than 100km from the market. Buyers are notified from the rostrum when these calves are offered.

From a sellers view it is best not to present calves at under 10 days old to avoid possibly restricting the number of potential bidders for your stock.

Sale of breeding stock

See the announcement earlier in this report – sales will recommence here in the market in the week commencing 11^th May

Sock lambs – a list of farmers with these for sale is published later in this report. We are not offering them in the Market

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 (Rams, Breeding Cattle and Pigs) 07741 845230

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

Tom Hamplett (Calves, Weanlings & Rams) 07966 104532

Please remember it is essential we have an early indication from all sellers of stock numbers you wish to sell week by week – we phone and send text messages to buyers and agents every Monday evening and an accurate indication of numbers coming forward is essential with many buyers travelling substantial distances to attend.

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

Hay, Straw, Fodder and Forage Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – Top notch barn stored round and mini-hesston bales 2019 hay. Bulk whole oats in half tonne bags also available. Delivery arranged. East Sussex. 07768 771933.

Notices – Robert Langrish, Newchurch

Family and friends have asked us to announce that Robert very sadly passed away last Thursday after a long battle with cancer. Robert will be greatly missed as a personality very well known to all in his local community and also to so very many people here in the market. His family will be in all our thoughts at this sad time for them.

Notices – Bill Hyland, Staplecross

Family and friends have asked us to announce that Bill sadly passed away recently. Bill was an extremely popular and very independent character known to many running his own livestock haulage business. Local farmers and many others will miss Bill and the many stories he would tell.

His family promise a celebration of his life as soon as a suitable opportunity arises

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

For Sale – 5 working collie puppies, 4 dogs, 1 bitch, ready end of May. North Kent. Ring 07979 802044

Wanted – All types of fencing work which will be carried out to a high standard at very competitive prices. Small family run company based near Maidstone. For a free quote please phone 07710567395

Wanted – enthusiastic smallholder looking for about 20 good sized used corrugated iron roof sheets. Also a small / medium sized wood chipper to hire at a reasonable rate. Text details or ring 07741 845230

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates and news

Agricultural shows in the region which are now cancelled include Royal Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey County, Kent County and Essex Young Farmers, South of England and Heathfield. Singleton Rare Breeds event , Aylsham (Norfolk) and Moreton in Marsh (Gloucestershire) are still planning to run and The Bath and West has been rescheduled for 31^st July to 2^nd August.

The East Kent Ploughing match has been cancelled for this year.

Sale of breeding stock

As already stated in the report sales of breeding stock can now take place and are being planned for the coming weeks. We will not however offer sock lamb sales for the remainder of the season.

Farms with sock lambs for sale include

Ashford area – Ben Hope on 07769 636336

Ashford area – Michael Carlton – 07715 651766

Ashford area – Ann Wood – 07930 581237

Rye area – Frank Reeve on 07831 762223

Rochester area – Robert Hanks – 07889 895553