Weekly Sales News – 2nd April 2019

Top price per kilo – 249p – Station Farms: Top price per head – £108 – P Gorringe

Report on trade: Another bumper entry of finished hoggets this week with just under 4000 finished sheep penned in total. We can report a further lift in the trade despite the numbers on offer. The overall average was returned at 209p per kg SQQ which was a 5p lift on last week but the heavier sheep were also dearer this week, not just the middle weights.

Some super runs of sheep were on offer from all across the South East for which we are most grateful to our customers for making the effort to travel these long distances. A super run of sheep from P Gorringe sold to a top price of £108 with numerous pens in excess of £100, but was pipped to top price per kilo by Station Farms at 249p for 41kg Beltex. Runs of heavier offerings were received from N & D Attwood, Dan Mackelden Ltd, M A Piper & Sons and W Mandry Ltd with the majority selling in the £90-105 price bracket.

A run of Mule ewe tegs from T Crick were penned in the finished rows but all sold to live at £90 to £97 274 averaging £92.77.

A handful of new season lambs on offer this week which were predominantly Dorset bred and sold to a top price of £98.50 and 253p from Collick and Sons.

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.

Report on trade: A bigger number of ewes both in Ashford and nationally has had an impact on the trade with a huge number that were purchased earlier in the year for further finishing being brought out into the market place following the lift in the trade. This just shows us how volatile this market place is nowadays with the only factor that really affects trade is the number on offer.

Top prices included continental ewes to £113 from N A Vincent, Suffolk crosses to £90 from K & P M Sinden & Sons and Romneys to £73 from H & J Noakes.

Report on trade: An exceptional trade for a mixed entry of hogget with best selling readily in excess of £80 and up to £86.50 for a strong pen of  Suffolk x Mules from E J Gribble with an impressive overall average of  just short of £70. Medium sorts around £70 and only very small long keep hoggets below £60. Averages 693 sold to £86.50 and aver’ £68.80        .

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Report on trade: A good selection of lambs on offer with plenty of buyers for all! Top price of £38 went to J D Hickman for a ewe lamb. Wethers topped at £28 from Mrs V McDonald. Averages 67 sold averaged £20.52

Sock lambs will be sold at 10.30am every week from now through the lambing season.

Report on trade: Several best handyweight butcher types on offer this week which sold readily from 210p to 220p per kg with a Limousin cross heifers at £1196 (220p) and £1016 (219p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and £1084 (211p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Cattle with weight generally made 175p to 190p with a Blonde cross steer £1225 (185p) from G L Boulden & Sons and Limousin cross steer at £1175 (198p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

Sussex steers topped at £1061 (168p) from J G & D G D White and black and whites made to £976 (153p) from R Price & Son.

Report on trade: A tremendous seasonal entry and the strong trade here continues. IN the pens good fleshed cows, in general came from the dairy sector with too few best beef meat cows. A high proportion of older grazing types were penned which continue to meet excellent demand. We had plenty of customers around the ring so please keep the cows coming forward. The Tuesday after Easter, and a short week, might be the only hiccup along the way so prospects remain very positive.

A few fleshed beef cows readily made 120p-135p per kg with some smart, but lively, younger continental feeders 130-140p. The older, leaner native beef feeders found plenty of customers at generally making 100p to 120p.

Highlights included Charolais 140p, 139p, 134p, 128p, £842 (Non FA) from J R Gunner; Sussex 134p, 125p £794 H W Richards, 121p, 118p £898 (Non FA) Wright Farm Ptnrs and 121p (Non FA) £732 D T MArden; Hereford cross 130p £900 (Non FA) S J Edmed & Son; Simmental cross 127p £890 A J Thompson & Sons and Aberdeen Angus cross 123p £826 A J Thompson & Sons.

Some good fed dry heavyweight black and white cows were well received with the very best making up over 120p and plenty 110-117p. Half meat cows look well sold at around 100p with only the plainest and leanest 70p or less.

Highlights again British Friesians 121p PHR Farms and 116p £939 Debden Court Farms; Holstein Friesian 120p, 117p, 116p, 115p, £1037 R C & J L Pickering; 120p, 117p, 115p, 114p, £1005 Oncoland; 110p £942 H O Champneys Ltd and Normande cross 114p J F E Goodsell.

No stock bulls offered this week. More cattle are wanted – Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.  

Report on trade: A reduced entry of store cattle and trade continues relatively buoyant despite the reduced returns available in the finished section compared to the turnoff the year. Although the quality was very mixed the best yearlings topped at £850 for Aberdeen Angus cross steers from Llewellyn Farms and dairy bred Aberdeen Angus cross steers sold to £950 from E J Gribble.

Many more cattle will be sold over the coming weeks so please contact us with entries to ensure orderly marketing and cataloguing.

Report on trade: First entry of the season of breeding bulls were well received by buyers with the highlight of the sale to 2 bulls from Messrs Vaughan who made the “pilgrimage” from South Wales again this year. Their 2 2 yr old Limousins made £3,600 and £3,700. 2 Other young Limousins made £3,000 for the Smith families 2 yr old and £1,00 for a purebred from R F & E W Simmons.

A Ruckmans bred Hereford, bn 2014, made £1350 and a young Simmental £1625.

In the female section mid aged, in calf again Limousin crosses with autumn calves made to £1180 from H P Marriage & Sons and from another Essex farm Limousin cows with young calves made to £1,000

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532

Report on trade: A few less about than the previous fortnight with the entry largely made up of black and whites. Trade was strong for the best types topping at £400.

Not so many continental sired calves forward this week which saw the best types sell to vendors advantage. Only three continental bulls forward which made to £400 for a fantastic British Blue from T Castle & Son. H O Champneys Ltd sold well sought after Simmental crosses to £300 and £290 to complete the continental bull entry. A small entry of continental heifers topped at £190 for a Simmental cross from H O Champneys Ltd.

Native sired calves were predominantly bulls, with only a handful of heifers. A good show of well fleshed and sized native bulls topped at £210 for an Aberdeen Angus from Kingcott Dairy. Most native sired bulls selling made £150 – £200 with a handful of smaller types around the £100 mark. A more mixed show of native sired heifers topped at £170 for a registered sired Aberdeen Angus cross from H O Champneys Ltd.

Over half of this weeks entry were dairy sired, with a variable entry in terms of quality. Plenty of smaller less well fleshed types about with the odd calf bucking this trend including a very strong British Friesian from T Castle & Son which sold for £240. Calves with a bit of size and flesh were £30 – £60, although there weren’t so many of these types forward. Most calves sold on the day for between £15 and £25, with a few of the very smallest processing calves less.

Four British Blue stirks forward from the John Graham Centre sold to £400.

Vendors please do try to make every effort to register the sire of your native bred calves. Calves that do not have registered sires are at a disadvantage!

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.

Report on trade: Well bred pigs were a fair trade, sows again a very good price and a spark of interest appeared in the store pens.

In the finished pig pens the best sold from 102p to 120p per kg for S Scott & Son and B G & M A Tomsetts offerings and grossing close to £100.

The cull pigs traded with renewed spark to 56p per kg and a good boar 40p

Good feeding store pigs made to £36 from P & R Marshall.

We remind all pig farmers of the information below

Identification of pigs – again we draw your attention to the fact that it is essential all pigs have permanent identification when offered for sale in a market i.e. slap mark or ear tag. Please ensure you comply with this regulation.

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Essex Young Farmers County Show at Boyton Hall Farm, Roxwell, nr Chelmsford – Sunday 19^th May – “A great one day Show with something for all the family”. Full details available from Show Secretary on 01245 360442 or email: essexyfc@btconnect.com

Heathfield Show – Saturday 27^th May – For all other show enquiries please ring Show secretary, Nicola Magill, on 01435 864587 or visit www.heathfieldshow.org

** Visit us on our stand – we are pleased again to be sponsoring both Sussex and commercial beef classes in the cattle section **

Surrey County Show – 27^th May – All show enquiries please ring Show secretary, 01483 890810 or visit surreycountyshow.co.uk

South of England Show – 6^th, 7^th and 8^th June – All show enquiries please ring 01444 892700 or visit seas.org.uk

Competition schedules are available for Heathfield and South of England shows here in the market

The Kent County Agricultural Society are introducing a new offering for livestock supply and service stands exhibiting at the 2019 Kent County Show. The Show is host to over 200 cattle, sheep, wool and goat competitions and will take place on the 05, 06 & 07 July in 2019. There will be a limited number of 3m x 3m marquee stands available in a prominent location directly opposite the cattle judging rings and cattle marquee. These are available for £215 for the three Show days and will be promoted to all livestock competitors in the lead up to the Show. For further information please contact Rosie in the office on 01622 633051 or email rosie@kentshowground.co.uk

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – quantities of silage, haylage, oat straw, wheat straw and barley straw ex an East Sussex farm. Also available loose whole oats and wheat in half tonne bags. Ring 01580 819000, 01580 819700 or 07768 771 933.

For Sale – Up to 50 4’ 2018 silage bales on a Kent farm. Ring 01233 756468

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The April editions of these popular regional farming magazines are now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

Ashford Livestock Market has its own Facebook page where news and reports are now being posted on a regular basis www.facebook.com/AshfordLivestockMarket/

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers email a livestock market short report on the afternoon of every livestock sale day. To receive this email report you need to log on to the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk and click the link to email alerts.

To ensure you continue to receive the email it should be opened on a regular basis.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers livestock sales catalogues are always available online on the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk All entries are listed on these regularly updated pages

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

Please see website for further details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notices – John Hooker, Woodchurch

The family have advised that John very sadly passed away recently. A regular market user for all of his long life he will be missed by his family and all who knew him.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday 17^th April at 14.40 at Charing Crematorium. No flowers please, but donations can be made to RABI. There will be a reception after the funeral at the Stock Pot in Ashford Market.

Notices – Ralph Sheppard, Isfield, Uckfield

The family and friends of Ralph Sheppard have asked us to advise that Ralph sadly passed away last week. Livestock farming and particularly Sussex cattle were Ralph’s life and his company, particularly on the agricultural show circuit, will be sadly missed.

His funeral will take place on Friday 12th April at 12 o’clock at The Downs Crematorium, Bear Road, Brighton. BN2 3PL. All welcome.

Notices – Terry Brown, Stockbury

The family and friends of Terry have asked us to advise that he sadly passed away recently. Trading as M B Farms two further generations have of the family have built a successful and diverse farming business in the area. Terry was well known and respected in both farming and village communities.

His funeral will take place on Friday 26^th April at Stockbury Church at 2pm.

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

For Sale – selection of pedigree Limousin young bulls and cows and calves on an Essex farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information

For Sale – selection of British Blue and Limousin x British Blue young bulls on a Suffolk farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for more information

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

Ashford YFC lambing day Sunday 28^th April at Hope Farm, Wittersham, TN30 7NP from 10am until 4pm by kind permission of The Lovejoy family, £2 per adult and £1 per child. Lots to see and do including live lambing, cuddle corner, sheep shearing demo, a BBQ and many others.

Ashford YFC welcomes new members every Wednesday and to all social events. Whether you’re on your own or come with a friend to a meeting anyone is welcome. Find us on Facebook or for more information contact Amy 07733 481473.

Kent Herdsmans Club

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

Monday 8th April at 7pm (Please note early start) – Visit to Willesborough Windmill, Mill Lane, Ashford. TN24 0QG

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales include……

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 12^th April at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Lots will include new & newly near mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large selection of miscellaneous items.

Headcorn Farm Machinery Sale

Saturday 11^th May at 9.30am

Lots will include tractors, trailers, vehicles, arable equipment, haymaking equipment, tractor attachments & spares, livestock kit, garden machinery, workshop tools, a large and varied selection of rural bygones.

Up to 500 lots of shrubs and garden plants and hedging and trees will also be offered

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

Car Auctions next Auction Sale is on Monday 8^th April at 5pm. Included in this sale will be ……

2016 (16) – Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE TD4 Auto – One local owner from new, Full Land Rover service history.

2011 (11) – Land Rover Discovery HSE – 79,000 miles, two owners from new, last since 2012 , Direct from Barretts group.

2015 (15) – Land Rover Discovery XS Commercial – 91,000 miles, two owners from new, Direct from Cambria Automobiles.

Plus a selection of other popular late model cars. Check our website for up to date entries. Entries arriving continually until the start of the auction on Monday.

Do you have a spare acre of grazing?       

We are currently in the process of making a planning application on a field in Smeeth, near Ashford for 35 new houses.

As part of that application we are required to look after newts and grass snakes.  The idea is that because we are taking away their current habitat, when it comes to building on the site we will have to catch them up and safely deliver them to a new home.

£ That’s where you come in and we are willing to pay!

I need approximately 1 acre of grazing land, not too far away preferably, that you are happy to fence off and let the grass grow up to provide new reptile habitat.  We will, in time, then release the reptiles onto that land.  You will need to agree to leave the land undisturbed.

If you think you have a suitable bit of land please give me a call on 07803 018857

Many thanks

Bill Lightfoot