Weekly Sales News – 28th August 2018

Top price per head – £99.80 – AC Hulme & Sons; Top price per kilo – 202p – G H Dean & Co

Report on trade: Similar sized entry this week to what we have seen in recent weeks but an improved entry on last week in terms of the quality on offer. Once again the heavier and well fleshed sorts are in short supply and these lambs really rang the bell. A super run of well finished lambs from A C Hulme & Sons sold up to £99.80 (twice) and in the region of 200p per kg. Continental cross export grade lambs sold very well also with these sheep selling just over 200p from G H Dean & Co for Beltex crosses at 42kgs (£85). Overall the average returned was just over 183p with the heavy offerings averaging 188p.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities are available every Monday evening.

Sheep 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: A similar number of ewes on offer and a similar trade to what we have seen in recent weeks. Meated ewes were selling in the £70-85 region with the top spot taken by G Stokes at £86 for Suffolk mules. Grazing ewes are now being readily competed for with several buyers present for them. The majority of these sheep were selling between £35 and £50.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £86 from G Stokes, continental ewes to £81 from C A Worley Farming Ltd, Romneys to £377 from R H Kingston.

Report on trade: A quality show of cattle with the best selling readily at 240p plus and the majority of commercial sorts 185p to 195p.

A Limousin cross heifer topped at £1311 (219p) and a Blonde cross heifer well sold at £1297 (215p) from a run of Continental cross heifers from W S Furnival (Brookland) while a handy weight British Blue cross heifer sold at £1114 (219p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

More commercial sorts around 190p notably a heavy weight Limousin cross heifer at £1240 (187p) from R F & E A Simmons and a British Blue cross steer to £1186 (195p) from regular vendor A J Down.

A few native purebred Sussex on offer and looked well sold up to £993 (188p) from J Hooker.

Report on trade: Increased numbers despite the Bank Holiday and another excellent trade with competition stronger and prices higher. The fleshed animals are benefiting most whether from the beef or dairy herds and after a tough summer there is an undoubted shortage in the pipeline.

Again very few beef cows on offer with tidy grazed cows 140p plus, and some leaner non assured types readily 110-125p. Best heavyweight fleshed dairy culls up over 130p, with even the lean steakers 100p plus and only the plain cows and lightweights under 100p.

Montbelliarde cross 142p £870 D J Miles; Aberdeen Angus cross 119p, 118p, 115p £835 (Non FA) F Henderson, 118p (Non FA) J G Warner.

Holstein Friesian 137p, 129p, £1099 R&J Ledger; 136p, 135p(2), 128p, 124p £1170, £1116, £1050, £918 Appleton Farms; 126p £899 Huddlestone Farms; British Friesian 136p, 132p(2), 131p, 130p, 127p, £1037 Debden Court Farms; Ayrshire 118p J Howie; Jerseys 75p, 70p S E Lane & Ptrs.

Simmental cross stock bull 120p.

Auctioneer: Richard Wood and Thomas Hamplett

Report on trade: A larger entry than the previous fortnight with a good mix of both beef and dairy crosses. Many buyers present looking to secure all types of calves. Best sold on the day were continental crosses with a little size and plenty of potential.

The days top price of £335 x 2 for strong Hereford cross bulls went to R C & J L Pickering who had a run of strong calves. Other notable entries include a run of Aberdeen Angus cross bulls from Boty Farms which topped at £295,  a well presented run of calves from J C & S K Williams which topped at £295 for a British Blue cross bull, and J W Boyd & Sons who sold a run of younger calves to £200 for a British Blue cross. In the dairy bull section Appleton Farms sold Holstein bulls to £130.

Remember we sell calves once a fortnight all through the year and have regular customers for all breeds and sexes.

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade:  A larger show of finished pigs met another strong trade for the best pigs but poor pigs, conformation or finish, remain very difficult.

Smart pigs from S Scott & Son 140p(74kg), 130p(2), 120p; P W & P Sim 121p (72kg)(2); HMP East Sutton 120p (84kg); R White 110p (103kg); D J Cole 102p (110p).

Sows and Boars

Very strong trade again. Very best heavyweight sows up over 70p with outstanding heavyweights from F Dowling to £304.50 and £270.

Store Pigs

A very strong enquiry and more pigs would sell to advantage. Two small sows with litters of 6 piglets to £215 and £178. Stores to £50.50. Weaners to £22.

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

Martin Crowhurst (Cattle & Sheep) 07710 803903 or 01797 343936

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

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07741 845230

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

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principal livestock market selling around 250,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2017.

Weekly sales throughout the year of all classes of stock, principally on Tuesdays, run by a fully professional team of auctioneers and support staff, they provide an unmatched level of service and commitment to the livestock farmers in the area. Come and see us on market day soon and bring your livestock for us to sell.

Sheep Tagging

All sheep sent to market require to be correctly tagged.

Sheep under 12 mths – Single electronic batch tag and ewes and over 12 mths – Double tagged

Incorrectly tagged sheep may have to be returned home. Single electronic batch tags are not acceptable for ewes and sheep over 12 mths.

National Sheep Association news

South Sheep 2018 – This bi annual event, promoted by the National Sheep Association is this year being held on Saturday 8^th September at South of England showground, Ardingley. RH17 6TH. For more details please contact event organiser Bob Blanden  01666 860308 or enquiries@southsheep.org.uk

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

For Sale – 2 Pedigree Beef Shorthorn bulls, bn 2015 (proven) and 2017 (ready to work) – ex farm in North Kent. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more details

For Sale – 24 British Blue x Friesian cows, mainly 2^nd to 4^th calvers, due to calve again from late February and through March to a Limousin bull – East Sussex. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more details

For Sale – 20 Beef cross cows, mainly 2^nd to 6^th calvers, due to calve again from December onwards to a Parthenaise bull – East Kent. Ring Simon Husk 07885 968077

For Sale – Working Collie puppies, ready mid September.  West Kent. Ring 07961 893682

For Sale – 3 Kelpie x Collie puppies. East Sussex. Ring 07403931695

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For sale – Large quantity of maize silage available in the Cranbrook area, excellent analyse and quick loading. Please ring 07860623196/01580 240479.

For sale – 50 2018 and 40 2017 season wrapped 4’ round bales of hayledge in West Sussex. Ring 07718 532971

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Tackling TB here in the South East

The TB Advisory Service have organised 2 meeting in the area to update livestock farmers on policy and progress. These will be on Wednesday 5^th September at 7pm at the Kings head, Lower Horsebridge BN27 4DL and Thursday 6^th September at 10am at Westpoint Vets, Dawes Barn, Bognor Road, Warnham RH12 3SH

For more details and to register to attend please phone 01306 628086, visit website www.tbas.org .uk or email info@tbas.org.uk

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales include……..

Sale of Boats and Maritime items at Ramsgate Harbour

Saturday 15^th September

A good large entry of boats and other maritime items is expected for this sale

Birchen Knoll Farm, Fairlight, Hastings

Saturday 22^nd September

Farm dispersal sale of arable machinery and equipment. Entries immediately please

Chilli Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 29^th September at 9.30am

Large entries of tractors, trailers, vehicles, arable equipment, haymaking equipment, tractor attachments & spares, livestock kit, garden machinery, workshop tools and a large and varied selection of rural bygones. Entries close Saturday 8^th September

Something different ……

Saturday 1^st  September – Moreton in Marsh Show, Gloucestershire. www.moretonshow.co.uk

Sunday 2^nd September – Romney Marsh Ploughing Match at Kent Ditch Corner, East Guildford, Romney Marsh, TN31 7PB – Ploughing starts at 10am, Fun dog show at 12pm and also sheep shearing, local hounds and  craft stalls. For more information 07785 783662 or email: romneyploughing@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 8^th September – Swale & District Ploughing Match at Home Farm, Borden, Sittingbourne, ME9 8JR. For more information ring Chris Hildyard 01795 470556 or Andrew Mew 07759 320496

Sunday 9^th September – Charity Tractor Run and Family Fun day at The Jolly Farmer, Whitewood lane, Godstone. RH9 8JR. Proceeds to Brooklands School for children with additional needs. For more information 07974 668306 or 07484 664011

Saturday 15^th September – Weald of Kent Ploughing Match at Four Oaks Farm, Plumtree Road, Headcorn. TN27 9PB. Full details available from secretary Karen Wheeler 01580 753206 or on www.wkpma.co.uk.

Sunday 16^th September – The Southern Rover Owners Club are holding a family and friends off road open day at Copford Farm, Dern Lane, Horam, TN21 0PN. We welcome anyone to come along to our annual charity day where once again all money raised will be going to RABI.
The SROC are always looking for severe land such as old quarry workings on which to test their Land Rovers to extremes. For more information www.sroc.co.uk.

Saturday 22^nd September – Gravesend & Rochester Ploughing Match at Tudor Farm, Stoke Road, Upper Stoke, Rochester. ME9 3SF. Full details available from secretary Tom French  01233740077 or Tom.French@btfpartneraship.co.uk

Wednesday 26^th September – East Kent Ploughing Match -, Malmains Farm, Waldershare, Dover CT15 5BG by kind permission of E.I Overy & Sons. For more information www.ekpma.co.uk or 07802 974 838

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs and Kent Herdsmans Club news

RABI – Future fundraising events

Saturday 29^th September – Annual Harvest Supper – Amos Hall, Ashford Market, Ashford. TN24 0HB

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club

For September the club celebrate being 50 years old with a BBQ at Coach House Farm, Egerton on Sunday 9th September at 12 noon for 1pm food.

For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Alan Jull 07708283220 or Jo Masters 01580 240568.

Ashford Young Farmers Club

Saturday 29th September at 7.30pm – The club celebrate their 75th anniversary with a special dinner dance at the Weald of Kent Golf course, Headcorn. Dress code – Black tie and evening dresses with an added sparkle. Tickets £35

For more information or to buy tickets contact Callum 07933 213617 or Amy 07733 481473

Romney Sheepbreeders News

The recent edition of the breeders Society newsletter, produced by breed secretary Julie Lukehurst, is available here in the market. For all society information Julie can be contacted on 07538 938425

Friday 31^st August – a summer social event giving members and friends the opportunity to view the Aragon flock and visist the Cranbrook Museum.

If you have a 4×4 give it a go on our scenic route or passenger one of our club members in theirs and see what they get up to. Commencing at 11am donations are £2 per lap or £10 to ride all day.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers – the team and their responsibilities.

For all office enquiries on livestock and auction sales please ring 01233 502222.

Elwyn Davies (07710 803901) – Managing director, cattle & sheep auctioneer and machinery sales.

Peter Kingwill (07795 200357) – Director, cattle auctioneer and machinery sales.

Lynsey Kendall – Director and accounts.

Mark Cleverdon (07741 845230) – Calf, pig, ram and breeding cattle auctioneer and auction sales entries and administration.

John Rossiter (07557 392903) – Sheep, machinery and commercial vehicle auctioneer

Simon Husk (07885 968077) – Livestock marketing and field services

Martin Crowhurst (07710 803903) – Livestock marketing and field services

Thomas Hamplett – Trainee Auctioneer

Hayley Andrews and Sue Marshall – Auction sales administration