Weekly Sales News – 29th May 2018

New season lambs Top price per head – £130 – L Stephens & Sons; Top price per kilo – 307p – T Husk

Report on trade: A bigger entry of lambs this week but numbers are still approximately 2 weeks behind last years levels, no doubt due to the awful lambing conditions endured by many this spring. This shortfall in numbers in the past month or so has helped to keep the trade at the level we had been experiencing but this lift in numbers this week nationally has had a negative impact, which was inevitably going to happen sooner or later. However, trade is still very good and we would advise selling at the current level. The vast majority of lambs selling in excess of £100 to a top price of £130 for some heavy offerings from L Stephens & Sons.

Hoggets Top price per head – £140 – Mrs J Bastable; Top price per kilo – 260p – P Gorringe

Report on trade: Still several hoggets on offer with just under 1000 penned once again, just a touch more than the number of new season lambs on offer. This balance will very soon swing in the opposite direction as the number of hoggets on offer will decrease rapidly in the coming weeks. Not quite the trade we have seen in recent weeks but still the best quality sheep on offer selling on a good trade with all heavier offerings selling in excess of £100 to a top price of £140 for some very heavy Charollais hoggets from Mrs J Bastable with the best export hoggets selling to 260p from P Gorringe.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities and dagging 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 small entry of ewes on offer this week, generally numbers will drop back at this time of year which is not an issue this year as the Muslim fasting period has coincided with this shortage which has helped to maintain the levels of prices we have seen in recent months with the top prices of £119.50 for N Trower.

Top prices included Texel crosses to £119.50 from N  Trower, Suffolk crosses to £117.50, Romneys to £92.50 and Mules to £86.50 from U Gardiner.

Report on trade: A disappointing entry after several weeks of high prices and more cattle could have been sold at similar strong prices. Limousin cross steers topped the market at £1233 (210p) and £1138 (206p) from G L Boulden & Sons and R F & E A Simmons respectively while heavy sorts grossed well up to £1247 from K & P M Sinden & Sons. The run of Continental x Friesian steers from A J Down met a similar trade around 195p and topping at £1128 and a run of purebred Sussex steers and heifers sold well around 185p and up to £1143 from New House Farm Ltd.

Report on trade: An excellent entry for a post Bank Holiday Tuesday. A high proportion of the entries were feeding cows which reaped the benefit of the super abundance of grass whilst the meat cows continued to enjoy the high returns prevailing. Beef cows regularly 130-160p with no very best types on offer. Fleshed dairy culls 120-140p and little under 100p.

Sussex 159p, 151p, 144p, 142p, 140p(2) A Barr & Son; Limousin cross 156p, 151p £1008 J Berryman; Aberdeen Angus cross 151p (Non FA) G F Hawkins; Simmental cross 137p G F Hawkins; South Devon 130p Mrs C S Hayes.

Holstein Friesian 140p, 133p, 129p, £1027, £1025 J Warnock & Son; Dutch import 115p £933; Jersey 94p £463 S E Lane & Ptnrs, Dexter 79p £263.

Aberdeen Angus stock bull 152p £1515 to breed.

Sheep tags – farmers are reminded that all sheep require an electronic tag so we can record the number and return these details to you.

Please ensure all sheep are correctly tagged

Romney Sheepbreeders News

The Romney High Index Group invites you to their open day where sheep and science meet on Tuesday 5^th June 2018, 3pm at Pickney Bush Farm, Newchurch, Romney Marsh. TN29 0BZ. The open day will allow you to view the scheme rams, see their offspring, learn about progressive sheep breeding and hear a talk by Peter Bates on creepy crawlies, what’s moving..  or what makes a sheep tick.

There will be a short talk by Norbrook Animal Health and an update on the R.I.S. scheme by Emma Steele.

Please join us for refreshments and a chat afterwards – R.S.V.P. by 22^nd May 2018 by e-mail to emma.steele@ahdb.org.uk or call 02476 478721.

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

For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact

Elwyn Davies (Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263

Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357

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

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

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07748 202688

John Rossiter (Cull ewes & store sheep plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

British Wool News

On 29^th May the British Wool Ashford depot moved to Walnut Tree Farm, Church Road, Smeeth, Ashford. TN25 6SA.

Trevor Richards, British Wool Chairman and Board member for the English Southern region says “British Wool’s new Ashford depot underlines our commitment to providing a quality, reliable and effective service to all producers in South East England. With increased capacity, we will also be able to offer producers greater flexibility to get their wool off farm sooner.”

On clearing the Brundrett House depot ready for this move a set of 1899 to 1967 Romney Sheep flock books have been found. If anyone has an interest in these please ring Janet Mills on 01233 622444

British Wool invites you to join us for the Ashford Open Day on Tuesday 12^th June from 11am -3pm  at the their new premises – Walnut Tree Farm, Church Road, Smeeth, Ashford, TN25 6SA. This is an opportunity to meet depot staff, tour depot, see wool demonstrations and discuss new season prices.

Food and refreshments will be provided.

To confirm attendance please email agpo@britishwool.org.uk or telephone 01233 622444 by Friday 8^th June.

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

Wanted – Wye Community Farm are building a pole barn for our young farmers livestock, and are in search of donated/cheap fittings including ring feeders, water troughs and pipe, cattle gates, sheep hurdles, feed troughs etc. Happy to collect. Thank you. Contact Richard on 07947 371765 or visit  www.wyecommunityfarm.org.uk

For Sale – 16 Beef cross heifers with Limousin cross (April / May born) calves at foot in Kent. Ring 07885 968077

For Sale – 25 Aberdeen Angus x British Friesian heifers, 18-20 mths – West Sussex. Ring Elwyn on 07710 803901

Wanted – Experienced full time farm worker for a mixed livestock and arable farm in the Reigate area. Accommodation available. Ring 07885 649666

F C N (The Farm Community Network) news

Men’s Health Week – 11 – 17 June. Local FCN volunteers will be in the market on Tuesday 12^th June promoting the importance of staying well. It is important in order to be able to cope with the demands of modern farming and there are many things we can all do to look after our health.

The Farming Community Network (FCN) in association with some other farming organisations and Men’s Health Forum, have produced a booklet called ‘Fit for Farming’ which is a health manual designed to provide all those working on farms with the guidance they need to keep well and age healthily. The manual also includes details of all the common occupational health concerns for UK farmers. If you would like a free copy of ‘Fit for Farming’ please talk to FCN at the market on Tuesday 12 June.

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs and Kent Herdsmans Club News

RABI

Future fundraising events

Wednesday 27^th June – Champagne, Strawberries & Jazz at the Kent County Showground, Detling. ME14 3JF

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

Ashford Young Farmers Club

Calling all ex and present Ashford Young Farmers – You’re invited to celebrate the clubs 75th Birthday at Burnt Oak Farm, Bethersden, TN26 3BQ. Saturday 30th June from 3pm onwards with a young farmers bash from 8pm, camping available. We only ask if you could contribute a sweet or savoury plate to add to our table. Please RSVP to Amy 07733 481473 or Jenny 07876 695872

Please contact Amy Langdon 07733 481473 or Jennifer Hope 07876 695872 with your contact details to receive your invite.

Kent County Young Farmers

Homewood School YFC finished a creditable 8^th place in the National Final of the Disco Dancing competition held at the National Convention in Blackpool recently.  Kent YFC were there in numbers, providing noisy support throughout their performance!

Two members will be representing Kent in the Area round of Stockman of the Year at the South of England Show soon – Megan Clifford from Swan YFC and Suki Squibb from Ashford YFC. Good luck to all Kent YFC competitors.

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