Weekly Sales News – 29th January 2019


Another busy day in the sheep section with prices holding at similar rates. Finished cattle and cows also similar to recent weeks. A large entry of store cattle entered for next week. Read on for full auctioneers reports….

 

For forthcoming sales information – www.hobbsparker.co.uk/auctioneers/livestock-marketing/forthcoming-sales/

 


Finished Sheep

1,906 Sold

Top price per kilo – 231p – R Cooper: Top price per head – £114 – T Masters

Report on trade: Another entry of nearly 2,000 hoggets and an improved trade was seen despite a lesser entry in terms of overall quality on offer. The top end of all weight categories were very well sold on the current trade, displaying that top quality always sell best in any market. Many names to mention with good runs of hoggets – T & E Gribble, G W Gribble, R G Hobbs Farms Ltd and S T Phillips sharing top honours in the heavier categories with pole position taken by T Masters with some very heavy hoggets at £114. In the lighter weight brackets, export grade lambs sold to 231p per kg from R Cooper with several pens selling in excess of 200p. Once again it was certainly noticeable that the overnight lairaged and lambs that had been dagged and bellied were sold for a marked premium over the morning sheep0 Dagging facilities are available every Monday from 2 – 7pm, please let us know what numbers you wish to send.

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

Dagging service is available on all Monday afternoons, please advise us of the number you wish to send.

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.

                                          New Season Hoggets
KgsTop PriceAve PriceTop Vendorp per kg
3677.0063.92Hayley Dent214.0
3777.0069.95A Wellsted208.0
3876.0072.21T Crick200.0
3990.0074.82R Cooper231.0
4079.5074.18T & E Gribble199.0
4180.0076.52T & E Gribble195.0
4283.5075.76R W Mickleburgh199.0
4390.0078.53T Crick209.0
4488.5080.35H & S Nesfield201.0
4592.8081.35S T Phillips206.0
4685.5079.97Langrish Farmers186.0
4792.0085.11G W Gribble196.0
4895.5086.91G W Gribble199.0
4999.0092.77R G Hobbs Farms Ltd202.0
50101.0089.29S T Phillips202.0
51101.0095.70S T Phillips198.0
52103.0094.61G W Gribble198.0
New Season Hoggets – pence per kg
Weight RangeNumberTopBottomAverageNational Av
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs286231.0167.0188.5202.5
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs878209.0122.0182.8200.4
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs539202.0156.0179.9185.1
Other 52.5kgs plus203198.0151.0178.8171.8

Cull Ewes and Rams

583 sold

Report on trade: Over 500 ewes penned this week which met a similar trade once again. Best ewes sold in excess of £80 but a large proportion of the entry were once again on the leaner side with grazers finding new homes between £30 and 50. Best ewes from T Masters topped at £83 for Suffolk x Mules with Mules from the same vendor to £68.

Store and Breeding Sheep

1,436 Sold

Store and Breeding Sheep – 1,436 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07757 392903

Report on trade: Another big entry of store hoggets and a strong trade to match for the range of quality on offer. Best stores sold readily at £70 plus, medium sorts £60 to £70 and only small long term sorts below these figures. The majority of producers are now opting for favourable prices available in the store market as opposed to purchasing concentrate feed to finish. Averages 1,436 sold to £75.80 and aver’ £60.50.

Principal prices included:               
Suffolk cross£75.80T Crick
Suffolk cross£73.00R P, G J & D R O’Brien
Texel cross£73.00The John Graham Centre
Texel cross£72.00Station Farm
Texel cross£70.00T Crick
Crossbred£70.50T Hope
Charollais cross£70.00A J Down

Sock Lambs

0 Sold

Finished Cattle

51 Sold

Report on trade: A very decent trade for a good entry of 50 finished cattle with the better quality sorts on offer 215p per kg plus notably a smart Limousin cross heifer topping the market at £1245 (225p) from D W Ferguson Ltd, a Limousin cross steer at £1272 (221p) from Brockhill Park YFC, British Blue cross heifer grossing well at £1329 (217p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons and a Limousin cross heifer at £1216 (214p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

More commercial sorts made 180p to 195p with a Limousin x Friesian steer to £1231 (196p) from A J Down and the best of the native bred cattle included a Sussex steer £1244 (195p) from Gillshaw Farms Ltd, Sussex cross steer £1118 (190p) from P W & P Sim and Sussex steer £1050 (188p) from A H Hoad & Son.

OTM cattle made up to £1151 (176p) for a Limousin cross heifer from R F & E A Simmons.

Finished cattle averages – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Heavy bulls (over 650kg)1167.5167.5167.5
Light steers (370 – 550kg)4207.5166.5184.8
Medium steers (551 – 650kg)20220.5157.5191.4
Heavy steers (over 650kg)5187.5163.5174.9
Light heifers (330 – 500kg)3195.5164.5184.2
Medium heifers (501 – 590kg)12224.5164.5190.3
Heavy heifers (over 590kg)3216.5157.5184.8
Leading steer prices
Brockhill Park YFC57716 mths Limousin221.01275
W Alexander (Shoreham)57022 mths Limousin214.01220
Gillshaw Farms Ltd54020 mths Sussex208.01123
Gillshaw Farms Ltd56521 mths Simmental206.01164
W Alexander (Shoreham)56521 mths Lincoln Red203.01147
Leading heifer prices
D W Ferguson Ltd55522 mths Limousin225.01249
K & P M Sinden & Sons61423 mths British Blue217.01332
G L Boulden & Sons51023 mths Blonde208.01061
D W Ferguson Ltd57019 mths Limousin207.01180
D W Ferguson Ltd50022 mths South Devon196.0980

Cull Cows and Bulls

50 Sold

Report on trade: Not the overall quality of last week but nevertheless the positive improvement in the cull cow trade is showing through and there is no doubt that flesh is wanted, that the good feeders are wanted, and that the plain cows from the dairies are moving forward.

We were short of best meat beef cows but generally these generally made 115-125p per kg with an average offering of younger beef feeders similarly priced.

Highlights included Sussex 124p(2) £797(NonFA) Mrs D M Ashbee; Limousin cross 119p £841 L Palmer & Sons, 118p £922 R F & E A Simmons, 116p £859 A R Dunlop; British Blue cross 118p £870 J D Foster and Aberdeen Angus 107p £911 R J & C M Greengrow.

Fleshed dairy culls made 100 to110p regularly and good competition with more active buyers to take stock. Leaner cows 70 to 90p with a few of the plainest and lightest 50 to 60p.

Best prices included British Friesian 111p, 110p, 107p £815 Debden Court; Holstein Friesian 110p, 106p, 102p £890 R C & J L Pickering and 104p, 103p £906 Huddlestone Farms.

Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.

Cull cattle section – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Beef cows23123.549.595.4
Dairy cows25110.554.591.2

Store Cattle

0 Sold

Breeding Cattle

0 Sold

Calves

0 Sold

Store and Finished Pigs

0 Sold

General information

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – 100 4’ round bales of 2018 made hay – stored undercover on a West Kent farm. Ring 01732 750320

For Sale – 25 double wrapped 4’ round bales of 2018 made hayledge on a farm east of Ashford. Ring 07778 057902

For Sale – 100 4’ round bales of pea straw, 100 4’ round wrapped bales of whole crop wheat silage, 100 4ft round bales of winter oat straw on a Romney Marsh. Ring 07976 553752

Wanted – General farm worker for a mixed farm in Sellindge, Ashford – Work will include feeding cattle. Ring 07774 408059 for more information.

Notices – Brian Bromley, Charing

The family and friends of Brian have advised that he very sadly passed away last weekend. Brian, with his family, had farmed under the trading title of E & M E Brundrett for the majority of his life. He was a well known and prominent member of the wider farming community in the Ashford area as well as an Ashford market supporter.

Funeral arrangements will be published as soon as available.

Message from “our man” in charge of Car Auctions ….

“I’m forecasting snow at some point this winter : Our first Special 4WD Auction takes place on Wednesday 6th February starting at 4:00 pm. Entries are invited now – we will be offering over 200 vehicles including a great selection of 4×4’s and a special section for MPVs and SUVs.

Want to know what you car might make? Please give James Johnson or me a call on 01233 506266”

Best wishes – Jon Chapman – Managing Director, Auctioneer and 4WD driver in the winter — it makes sense!

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

For Sale – 84 Suffolk x Mule ewe tegs which have been scanned in lamb to a Charollais ram (181%) and are due to lamb from 12th March – on an Essex farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for details

Wanted – Cattle grazing wanted for 50 store cattle or 30 cows and calves anywhere in Kent. Any grazing considered but marsh grazing preferred. References available and good rates of rent paid. Please contact either Richard 07889882422 or Roger 07933229030.

Wanted – general farm worker for a mixed farm in the Reigate area. Work will include supporting a beef calf rearing unit. Accommodation available. Please ring 07885 649666

For Sale – 130 Romney in lamb ewes due to Romney rams from the 2nd week of March on a Romney Marsh farm. Ring Simon Husk on 07885 968077

South East Point to Point Meetings (www.pointingse.com)

Please see website for further details.

Sunday 17th February – Charing, Kent. TN27 0JS

Sunday 3rd March – Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB

Saturday 16th March – Parham, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Sunday 24th March – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Sunday 7th April – Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB

Saturday 13th April – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Saturday 20th April – Charing, Kent. TN27 0JS

Monday 22nd April – Aldington, Kent. TN25 7EJ

Saturday 27th April – Parham, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Saturday 11th May – Peper Harrow, Surrey. GU8 6LA

 

Market manager’s news

Ray Scott (weekend boot fair and stall market manager) and his team of helpers would like to thank everyone who supported their fundraising raffle at Christmas. A cheque for £1400 will be presented to Demelza House Childrens Hospice

 

Something different ……

Two Kent livestock farmers have featured on the recent television series “The Farmers’ Country Showdown”. Di Smith from Alkham with her Dexter cattle at the Norfolk Show was in programme No. 8 and Ed and Gemma Lovejoy with family No. 16.

Both programmes are available on BBC iplayer

 

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The January editions of these popular regional farming magazines are now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content. This month’s edition includes a full Ashford Cattle Show report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Tom Hamplett (Calves) 07966 104532

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs, Kent Herdsmans Club and FCN news

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI)

Farmhouse Breakfast season

Tuesday 5th February. Macknade Fine Foods, Selling Road, Faversham, Kent. ME13 8XF at 8.00 for 8.30am. Ring Rollo Parsons: 07879 641611 or Anthony Hyde: 01795 830355 or

anthony.hyde@farm-line.co.uk

Wednesday 6th February. Dirty Habit, Hollingbourne, Kent. ME17 1UW.

Thursday 7th February. Elham Valley Vineyard, Elham, Kent. CT4 6LA.

Tuesday 12th February. The Alma, Painters Forstal. ME13 0DU.

Thursday 14th February. Medway Yacht Club, Lower Upnor, Rochester. ME2 4XB.

Thursday 21st February. Dog & Duck, Plucks Gutter, Canterbury. CT3 1JB.

Friday 1st March. Stockpot, Ashford Market, Ashford. TN24 0HB.

For further information or to book your place ring Charles Tassell 07973 412179 or Charles@Tassell.co.uk.

More dates and venues will be confirmed as will further fund raising days and events

 

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 11th Feb 2019, 7.30pm – AGM followed by a talk given by Karin Cornock, Practice Manager, Ladydane Veterinary Practice, Faversham – to be held at the Conningbrook Hotel, Canterbury Road, Ashford. TN24 9QR.

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

 

2019 Calendars

We still have 2019 Hobbs Parker calendars available for you, your friends or family. If you have not received your copy or would like a calendar please call in or give us a call and we can send one out to you.

 

 

Ashford Market Collective Machinery and Equipment Sale

Friday 15th February

10 Lots – Tractors and vehicles including a Ford 6610 tractor with loader, a JCB 3CX 4 in 1 digger , Iseki Landhope compact tractor, Yamaha Grizzly 350IRS and 450 quadbikes, Kubota RTV900 tractor and others

10 Lots – Trailers including Ifor Williams and Indespension flatbeds, a quadbike trailer and others

50 Lots – Farm implements and machinery

250 Lots of Garden Machinery and equipment including Jacobsen – Ransomes G-Plex 111 triple greens mower, Toro Reel-master 216D triple mower and other ex local authority mowers, chainsaws, strimmers etc.

250 Lots – Fencing and workshop equipment

100 Lots – Livestock equipment

100 Lots – Building supplies and timber

160 Lots – New farm and workshop tools & accessories

170 Lots – Rural and business miscellany

500 Lots – Plants, shrubs and trees

Something for everyone! Viewing from 8a.m. on Friday morning, sales start at 9.30a.m.

Full catalogues with many photographs on our website  www.hobbsparker.co.uk