Weekly Sales News – 29th September 2020

Top price per kilo – 243p – C A Worley Farming Ltd: Top price per head – £107 – Mrs J Walker

Report on trade: A small entry this week being one of the first entries of under 1,000 we have seen for over a year. Weather conditions, demand slowing and the fantastic store trade have all come together and pushed numbers down.

As ever, despite the slide in trade on average, the best sheep still sell extremely well and again to over £100 from Mrs J Walker and 242p for C A Worley Farming Ltd. The ladies topping the stats once again!

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: Almost as many ewes on offer as lambs this week which doesn’t happen very often and trade was a little better than last week. Again, a number of ewes going on for further finishing which is a big help as the wholesale trade for these leaner offerings is very quiet currently.

Most grazing types traded from £40 – £60 with best meated £75 – £85 and rams to £107.

Report on trade: Another good show of finished cattle with plenty of flesh on offer. A good attendance of buyers for all grades maintaining prices at similar levels overall. Best cattle remaining very firm throughout the country but commercial types coming under a little pressure from retailers.

Some outstanding cattle at the top end saw Limousin steers from S Marsh to 238p £1259 with heavier Limousin from W Alexander (Shoreham) to 226p £1421. Other best steers from R F & E A Simmons made 214p – 216p. A good show of commercial cattle with fed Limousin x Friesian to 204p £1190 and Hereford x Friesian steers to 201p £1253 both from A J Down.

We saw some real quality in the heifers this week including Limousin from W S Furnival (Brookland) to 236p, 234p, 230p (8 ave 227p) grossing to £1296 (8 ave £1221). S Marsh was very much in the same bracket selling to 232p and 230p and W Alexander (Shoreham) was not far behind at 227p and 220p, £1280. A good run of commercial continental heifers from D W Page & Son 190p – 210p grossing up to £1432 for a Charolais heifer.

Good interest in the natives saw Aberdeen Angus steers to 196p, £1153 H G Tompsett & Sons Ltd, heifers to 197p, £1277 E & J H Maylam; Sussex steers to 196p, £1200 D W Page & Son, heifers to 197p, £1051 Langrish Farmers and Hereford heifers sold to 192p, £958 M J & C W Barnes.

Interest in the over 30 mths cattle remains strong with a strong Sussex steer to £1397 (174p).

Report on trade: Fewer forward this week and very few beef cows, a high proportion of plain dairy culls and a terrific show of overage (3-5yrs) steers. Trade maintaining strong rates and it is really only the plain cows that are suffering any degree of reduction as processing costs on lean carcases hit home.

Very little flesh in either best or dairy sector but a strong trade for all keeping types including the better shaped dry bagged cows from the dairy.

Beef highlights – Limousin cross 178p, £1145 W G Vant & Sons; Aberdeen Angus cross 165p (Non FA) Mrs B P Britton and 155p, £1035 J M Frood & Son with Simmental 148p, 138p, £949 J M Frood & Son.

Dairy best included Holstein Friesian cows 129p, 118p, £938 R & J Ledger; 119p, £758 Goddard & Son; 118p, £934 Oncoland and Jersey 78p, 71p S E Lane & Ptnrs.

Overage, Aberdeen Angus cross steers 3yrs+ 169p, 164p, 163p, £1300; Charolais cross steer (3yrs+) 169p, £1297; Holstein steers 169p, 164p, 159p, £1228, £1188 all from R W Jones & Son; Holstein steers 162p, 153p, 149p (2), £1089 (2), £1077, £1070 E T Ledger & Son Ltd and an Ayrshire steer 159p, £927 C Broucke.

Just the one bull this week but as good a Belted Galloway as you could hope to find made 118p £928.

Report on trade: Store cattle trade remains positive with the strong finishing cattle particularly firm. Anything to finish this winter/spring is an excellent trade and whilst next years cattle have cost issues surrounding this winter rates are holding up well.

Young cattle included  well reared Friesian steers 6-8 mths £330 Hall Place Farms and Charolais cross steers, 6-7 mths £730 and heifers £615 M J Goodsell.

Yearlings included British Blue x Friesian steers 12-15 mths £790, £740 and heifers £630, £550 Hall Place Farms with Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers 14-16 mths, heifers £520 from the same home.

Among the older stores Simmental x Frieisan steers 16-20 mths made £1170, £1010, £940, £865 P C Coleman; British Blue x Friesian steers 24 mths £869, £840, Simmental x Friesian steers 24 mths £910 P R Lanham; South Devon steers 18 mths £880 E & J Beer; Hereford cross steer 18 mths £980 J Wickens; Blonde cross heifer 18 mths £985 J Wickens; Sussex cross steer 18 mths £1080 J Wickens; Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 12-16 mths £790, £755 R Brown & Daughter; Simmental cross heifers 18 mths £745 S J Edmed; Blonde cross heifers 12-14 mths £695, £675 R Brown; Simmental cross steers 18 mths £900, £885, £830 W J Hurley; Aberdeen Angus cross steers 18 mths £1090 K P Vincent; Beef Shorthorn cross steers £855, £815, heifers £875 R Winstone; British Blue x Friesian heifers £880, £775 K E Budd; Simmental  and Limousin cross heifers 18-20 mths £980, £880, £845, £825, £820 Langrish Farmers; Simmental cross steers 20 mths £1050, Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 20 mths £1080, £990 and Sussex steers 19 mths £980 all from C Broucke and Aberdeen Angus cross steers 28 mths £1020, heifers £1100 B W C Brooks.

Report on trade: Another good entry of breeding this week with 4 cow and calf outfits and a genuine herd dispersal of in calf cows from Blythe Model Farms in the entry

A youthful entry of cow and calf outfits topped at £980 from R Thomas for an Aberdeen Angus cross 2016 born cow with April born Aberdeen Angus cross steer calf at foot. The same vendor also sold another Aberdeen Angus cow and calf outfit with heifer calf at foot to £880. All in today cows and calves returned an average of £862.50.

The complete dispersal of the autumn calving cows from Blythe Model Farms attracted a variety of purchasers from both the local area and further afield. A tremendous selection of continental cross cows all due to calve to a Sussex bull between November and January sold on a flying trade from the off. Prices topped at £1,010 for a pen of three 2013/14 born British Blue cross cows and the whole herd returned an overall average of £961.

Report on trade: A few less about this week but demand or trade, dare I say it, but more could have been sold to vendor’s advantage with buyers keen to fill orders at the moment.

A strong trade for continentals again this week with a selection of British Blues and Simmentals forward. Bulls sold to £350 for a British Blue from D Murdoch & Sons with Simmentals from the same vendor to £335, the overall average for the section retuned at £229.44. An entry of smaller and younger heifers this week with top price of £215 from Goddard & Son for a British Blue. A small entry this week returned an average of £166.67.

A mixed entry of natives this week in terms of size and ages. J Howie’s run of Beef Shorthorn’s sold well with steers to £210 and heifers to £170. Top price heifer was an Aberdeen Angus from Kingcott Dairy at £180. Bulls averaged £134 and heifers £129.09. I am receiving lots of enquiries for native calves in particular Aberdeen Angus. If you have any to sell please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

A stand on trade for dairy sired calves this week with a top price of £150 from P J Forknall for a proper Friesian bull calf. Larger well framed calves £70-£110 on the day with the second grade types £45 – £65. Bobbies £20-£30. Black and whites in strong demand down here in Ashford, get them entered to benefit while the trade is here!

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

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

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, 24 mths 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

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

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Barkers Animal Health retail store here in the market will be open on Tuesday and also on Fridays through the sheep sale season. If possible, please pre order so goods are ready for your collection. New local representative Mossy is available 24/7 on 07739 723623 to discuss your requirements

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 (Pigs) 07741 845230

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

Tom Hamplett (Calves, weanlings, breeding cattle & rams) 07966 104532

Covid-19 Protocol at Ashford Market – updated July 2020

In common with the Livestock Auctioneers Association’s recommendations to its members Hobbs Parker Auctioneers ask that their customers wear a face covering whilst at market.

Social distancing, high standards of hygiene and responsible behaviour to others is also recommended.

Strict control of the numbers attending market is asked for and both buyers and sellers should not bring additional people with them to market.

We still recommend a ‘Drop and Go’ policy for vendors but if a vendor has a need to attend, they should always be on their own and respect social distancing.

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.

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

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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