Weekly Sales News – 2nd February 2021

Top price per head – £146 – A Jull; Top price per kilo – 313p – A Jull

Report on trade: Another good entry of over 2,000 finished hoggets this week and a super trade to go with it. Numbers have come under pressure nationally with some sheep not accessible with flood waters and even snow in some areas which in turn has helped the trade to get to the level it is at. We have a new record for 2021 this week with the top price per head for hoggets broken by A Jull at £146 for Charollais crosses. The same lot also was top spot in pence per kg at 313p, but several other vendors broke the 300p barrier today including J Cook, HHB (Raveningham) Farm, D T & K J Tester and Beslee Farms.

The smaller, smarter types of hoggets were what boosted prices in the most part, but it must also be noted seen that there was a large percentage of native bred hoggets, principally Romney, in the entry with these making in excess of £110 on regular occasions throughout the sale. The figures for the heavier section of the sale improved the most on the week with the 45kg plus hoggets boosted by almost £10 in many places with over £120 common and over £130 for many lots.

More fleshed lambs required to satisfy requirements of current buyers. Important to contact us regarding numbers so that we can notify the buyers.

Report on trade: A smaller entry of ewes on offer and a similar trade to recent weeks but the top end ewes were slightly stronger with some super continental sorts selling to £129 from D T & K J Tester with others from Tottingworth Farms Ltd selling to £111. A few regular faces were trying harder to buy grazers this week with Romney types selling from £50 to £60, up £5 on the week, but with the mixed quality nature of the entry at this time of year, averages are roughly on a par with last week.

Report on trade: Stores were again very dear with prices right up behind the finished returns. Again, all the best stores sold for more than £100 with an overall average of £90 and only small long keeping stores below £80.

Report on trade: Another good entry including a big percentage of quality handyweight beef bred cattle. Trade was brisk throughout with buyers competing well for all on offer from the best to those leaner sorts in need of further finish.

The best sold readily and were making more than 225p per kg with a run of 15 mainly continental cross heifers selling exceptionally well from D W Ferguson Ltd with the pick £1465 (235p), £1336 (233p), £1305 (240p), £1277 (237p) and £1275 (239p). W Alexander (Shoreham)’s weekly consignment were keenly sought after with a Limousin cross steer £1324 (225p) and continental cross heifers at £1303 (238p) and £1269 (240p). Other top prices included Blonde cross heifers at £1282 (238p) and £1245 (229p) from G L Boulden & Sons and Limousin x Friesian steers to £1125 (209p) and heifers £1162 (210p) from A J Down.

Heavier sorts made around 210p with British Blue cross heifer £1338 (215p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons, Blonde cross heifer £1352 (210p) from P W & P Sim & Son and Lincoln Red cross steer £1319 (207p) from A & M Lyon.

Leaner sorts for further finishing made around 215p and grossed to £1076 for a Simmental cross heifer from A C Hulme & Sons.

A relatively large entry of OTM saw a run of top-quality continental crosses from R Tilley taking the pick of the trade with the top steers £1519 (216p), £1406 (214p), £1397 (206p), £1376 (209p) and heifers £1290 (192p) and £1216 (200p.

Report on trade: Another big entry of culls this week and trade held firm at very strong rates. The quality of the entry was very much more mixed with a lot of older plain beef cows and many leaner dairy culls included.

Very little meat was on offer amongst the beef cows with fed Aberdeen Angus cross and Sussex cows readily making 130p to 140p per kg. A few best feeders with younger types making 140p to 175p with older cows rarely below 110p.

Beef stars included Limousin cross 176p 150p 141p £1316 J Berryman; Aberdeen Angus cross 1377p £1133 Dan Mackelden Ltd; Sussex 136p (2) (Non FA) J Muscat, 135p £1003 J G & D G D White and 132p 127p H W Richards; British Blue cross 129p £949 (Non FA) J H & A H Godden and 126p £813 A J Bray with Lincoln Red 128p H & S Nesfield and 127p 120p (Non FA) N Morgan.

Fleshed black and whites were again a superb trade with plenty up over 120p and £1100. Half meat cows remain a very good trade with and again the lean cows rarely below 80p.

In the dairy lines Holstein Friesian 130p 128p 122p £1127 £1039 J E Scutt & Sons, 127p £1037 D Murdoch & Sons, 124p (2) 122p £1002 Appleton Farms Ltd, 122p £1100 M A & F W Owen and 119p £1132 Leggat Farming Ltd; British Friesian 124p 123p 118p £969 B J Goodsell & Son; Brown Swiss 114p £788 D Murdoch & Sons and Jersey 86p £393 Hickson Bros.

Stock bulls remain a good trade, but assurance and flesh are wanted. British Blue 129p £1555, Aberdeen Angus 96p £1237 (Non FA) and 88p £901 (Non FA). A

Sussex steer 4yrs 159p £1006 (Non FA).

Report on trade: A small entry of store cattle forward this week selling on a strong trade! Steers sold to £780 for a Friesian from C Kearl with heifers to £900 for an Aberdeen Angus cross from AC Hulme & Son.

Regular buyers keen for cattle. Please contact now for forthcoming sales.

Report on trade: A mixed entry today with nearly half of the entry dairy sired. Trade was as strong as ever for the beef calves with dairy calves a little easier compared to last sale.

Continental calves continue to be a flying trade with a top of £350 for a Simmental bull from D Murdoch & Sons. Heifer trade to match with a top of £255 from J Gormley with a Limousin.

A mixed batch of natives this week all found keen buyers! Bulls sold to £310 for a suckler bred Beef Shorthorn from J Howie while Aberdeen Angus cross from A & W J Hitchcock sold to £270. Native heifers looked well sold with a top of £245 for an Aberdeen Angus from A & W J Hitchcock.

There was plenty of choice in the dairy section this week with a top of £100 for an Ayrshire from J Howie. Middle grade dairy calves easier on the week and selling generally in the £40 to£50 range.

A pair of well reared heifers from Garrett & Mannering in the weanlings this week with a British Blue making £340 and Hereford £280.

Please note Covid-19 regulations mean we will be again implementing a “Drop and go Policy” and no vendors will be permitted to attend the market other than to deliver stock.

Please help us to ensure your market remains open and operational.

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

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 TB1 Holdings.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

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

For Sale – 7 Holstein / Friesian in calf heifers on a Kent farm, due to beef (4) and sexed Holstein semen in March and April. Contact Peter on 07795 200357 for details

Wanted – a pedigree Red Aberdeen Angus bull to run with Sussex cows on a Kent farm. Details of availability to Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Hay, Straw and fodder

For a small charge we are quite happy to advertise your hay, straw and fodder for sale in this register which will now run until early May for further details please ring our auctioneer’s office on 01233 502222 or Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

For Sale – 120 5’ Round bales of 2020 hay. Rolvenden area 07860 469597

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

News from the East Sussex Farmers’ Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund charity was created in 1935 by a local farmer and its purpose is to support farmers, farm staff and those involved in the wider land-based industries. Support can also be given to family dependants.  Beneficiaries are normally resident in East Sussex or neighbouring counties.

Income from property and investment legacies help to finance the fund in addition to generous donations. The fund is overseen by five local trustees with strong agricultural connections.

Help can be for those currently in work, or who have retired or who are unable to work due to illness or disability. The fund can also assist those entering land-based education and help with relevant CPD for furthering their land-based careers.

If you feel that we can help you or you are aware of someone who might benefit from help, please let us know and we will be pleased to support. To contact the Honorary Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Des Lambert – 07912 464746, 01273 890841 or email des.lambert@btinternet.com.

Help and support from The Farming Community Network

Farming Community Network (FCN) volunteers regularly attend local livestock markets and whilst we cannot be present at sales currently, our helpline is still open from 7am to 11pm every day, staffed by people who understand farming.

FCN is a charity and voluntary organisation that helps farmers to stay resilient. We provide practical and pastoral support to those experiencing difficulties in England and Wales.

During these challenging times we are encouraging everyone to think about their own physical and mental health and that of their families and staff.

We can help with contingency planning against the backdrop of the Corona virus outbreak and our FarmWell website (www.farmwell.org.uk) offers a wealth of free information about managing change and maintaining personal wellbeing.

The FCN helpline can be reached on 03000 111 999 or via email at help@fcn.org.uk. Confidentiality is assured.