Weekly Sales News – 2nd March 2021

Top price per head – £156 – P Gorringe; Top price per kilo – 322p – P Gorringe

Report on trade: A smaller entry of hoggets this week with 2,200 penned and a similarly fantastic trade seen for all on offer with 2021 records broken once again this week. Top price of £156 once again went to P Gorringe for a pen of superb Beltex cross hoggets. Challengers to the title are always welcomed but taking the title for 4 consecutive weeks with over 2,000 hoggets penned weekly is an achievement to be proud of. He was pushed close this week with a super run of hoggets from N & D Attwood with heavies to £149 and all making over £140.

A greater number of heavier offerings this week saw more 50kg plus penned than we have seen for some time meant the gross average was up at £119 all through the entry. We did begin to see the lift in prices at about this time last year, however the prices seen this week are still up by almost £20 on the comparable week. Smaller export grade of hoggets were in shorter supply this week but the best end of these were still sold well and regularly made in excess of 300p per kg.

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 few more were forward this week with about 600 penned and trade was improved on last week. This as much down to quality as it was down to an improvement in trade which was at a similar level. Some superb ewes from P Gorringe sold to £140 with several others over £120. Other strong ewes from H V Link Ptnrs and D Howard Farms Ltd sold to £115. Less grazing sorts were on offer but selling to £70 this week for the best.

Report on trade: Another flying trade here with best crossbred stores selling readily in excess of £110 and topping at £115.50 for Texel crosses from D C Foy. Top Romneys made £110 for a pen of ewe hoggets from M Wenham and wethers were looking well sold up to £108 from R C Fagg and T Pengilley. Medium sorts made around £100 and only small long term sorts were below £80. Average £94.40

If you have stores to sell we have the customers keen and willing to pay top price.

Report on trade: A good quality entry of finished cattle this week saw the best beef bred cattle selling exceptionally well around 235p per kg and topping at £1334 (250p) for a superb Parthenais cross heifer from S Marsh. This was closely followed by a smart Limousin cross heifer at £1354 (249p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

The highlights included a run of top quality Limousin crosses with weight from W S Furnival (Brookland) with steers grossing well at £1606 (235p) and £1602 (223p) and heifers £1463 (238p) Further high prices included Limousin cross heifers £1207 (235p), £1184 (235p) and £1177 (236p) from D W Ferguson Ltd, £1295 (236p) from L E Humphreys & Sons and Limousin cross steer £1407 (235p) from G L Boulden & Sons.

The best of the dairy bred cattle made around 210p notably continental x Friesian steers £1233 (210p) and £1168 (211p) and British Blue x Friesian steer £1144 (216p) from A J Down. A Lincoln Red steer looked well sold at £1334 (209p) from A & M Lyon.

A small selection of bulls included a Limousin £1568 (198p) from W S Furnival (Brookland) and British Blue x Friesian £1279 (190p) from T Castle & Son. An OTM Charolais cross heifer made £1120 (210p) from N Morgan.

Report on trade: We are running short of new superlatives with which to describe the cull cow trade with a shorter entry finding more customers in attendance. There is no let up in the extraordinary prices made with a reasonable entry on offer but certainly not with anything particularly exciting in terms of quality. Meat beef cows 130p to 160p per kg and feeders regularly 140p to 180p.

Beef highlights included Limousin cross 174p 149p (Non FA) F W Hare & Sons amd 158p £1062 J Berryman; Simmental cross 157p 140p Lawrence & Sons, 145p £1134 R F & E A Simmons and 144p £1076 (Non FA) W Pynn Contractors Ltd; Aberdeen Angus cross 150p £915 K I Lingham & Son; Sussex 145p £844 J Berryman and 135p £868 A Kinnear; British Blue cross 145p £1077 K I Lingham & Son; Charolais cross 136p Seymour Stevens Ltd with Hereford cross 129p Lawrence & Sons and 121p Seymour Stevens Ltd.

Dairy culls were a terrific trade too and more wanted. Some good fed cows are now making over 130p and over £1200! Few black and whites made under 100p.

Headlines included British Friesian 138p £963 PHR Farms, Holstein Friesian, maidens 146p 142p J E Scutt & Sons, cows 132p 128p 124p £1248 £1229 J S & M D Antrum & Son, 130p 127p £1202 £1107 Leggat Farming Ltd and 129p J C & S K Williams; foreign bred cows to £946 and £873 with Jerseys 95p 83p £468 £446 Hickson Bros.

Report on trade: A large quality show of store cattle sold exceptionally well throughout with prices at record levels and reflecting the returns available in the finished market and lack of availability throughout the country. The sale was well attended with potential customers and cattle were bought to go to the Westcountry, Midlands, Northern England and the Eastern Counties in addition to the local area.

Best well grown yearling continental crosses sold readily in excess of £1000 and up to £1180 for Limousin crosses from A J Thompson & Sons while a pen of superb Charolais heifers topped the market at £1190 from N Morgan.

A good selection of native bred cattle were well received with top yearling Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1130 from F Pearce & Sons and smart 18mths purebred Sussex steers £1170 from J C & C Lewis.

We have the customers keen to buy from all corners of the country. More cattle wanted every week at Ashford Market with competitive prices available throughout.

Principal prices this week included

Continental cross

• 10-12mths Limousin cross steers £935, heifers £845 E Tilley
• 12mths Limousin cross steers £1170, £1070, £1100 R Wade
• 12mths Limousin cross steers £985, heifers £870 H & J Noakes
• 12mths Limousin cross steers £1090, heifers £1070 P N & C Burden
• 12mths Limousin cross steers £1150, heifers £940 M J Ashworth Ltd
• 12mths Limousin cross steers £1180, £1170 A J Thompson & Sons
• 20mths Charolais cross heifers £1110 R Price & Son
• 18mths Limousin cross steers £1110, heifers £1070 J H & A H Godden
• 20mths Charolais heifers £1190 N Morgan

Native bred

• 10mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £890 Miss J A Biddle
• 10mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £885 R Brown & Daughter
• 12mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1130 F Pearce & Sons
• 12mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1035 J Prior & Sons
• 22mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers £1090 S F G Wall
• 10mths Hereford steers £725, heifers £720 Mrs S E Ginger
• 12mths Hereford cross steers £835 Alpha Farms
• 18mths Hereford x Friesian steers £1000 Mrs J Jackman
• 18mths Sussex steers £1170 J C & C Lewis
• 22mths Sussex heifers £900 A D Kinnear
• 18mths Friesian steers £905 P & G & J Carden
• 24mths Friesian steers £750 R Winstone
• 20mths Danish Red steers £920 K M & S Goddard

Report on trade Just two Hereford cows today both from Alpha Farms selling to a top of £980 for a strong 2016 born cow with chance of the bull.

Report on trade: An improved entry this week both in terms of numbers and quality on offer with vendors benefiting financially from both of these facts.

A lovely entry of continental calves saw the trade absolutely flying! British Blues led the day at £360 from AL Betts Ltd, with others notable at £340 from T Castle & Son and £240 from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd. Simmentals as ever a cracking trade here in Ashford with Parrett & Son seeing £350 for their entry. Continental heifers look an even stronger trade with a top of £360 for the female portion of Parrett & Sons Simmentals. A pair of very smart British Blue heifers with a strong future from T Castle & Son sold for £305 and £290 respectively.

Native calves as sought as ever with trade strengthening even more. Bulls sold to £270 for an Aberdeen Angus from J E Scutt & Sons, Goddard & Son sold Aberdeen Angus bulls to £260 and A L Betts Ltd sold a Beef Shorthorn bull to £255. Native heifers were a little more mixed in terms of quality although it must be said trade as firm for these as anything. Top price was J E Scutt & Sons with their run of Aberdeen Angus to £250 (twice).

Dairy calves saw a lift on the fortnight with trade just that bit firmer again. Top of the section was J C & S K Williams with a Holstein bull to £165. The strongest calves for rearing £70 plus and second grade or smaller calves on the whole £40 to £60. Very few bobbies with the Arla restrictions seemingly lifting the size of the dairy bulls.

A reminder that we are able to offer calves from Arla vendors under 56 days old subject to a declaration being signed by the purchaser, any queries on this please do get in touch.

A small entry of weanlings today proved there is certainly a growing demand for these as we get closer to the better weather that is hopefully around the corner. A 4mths British Blue heifer from J E Scutt & Sons topped the day’s trade at £410 with a steer of the same breed to £400. Native weanlings topped at £395 for a 4 mths Aberdeen Angus steer from Garrett & Mannering.

Demand for weanlings is growing week on week, make the most of the tremendous cattle trade while it is here and help us to fill customers’ orders! If you have weanlings to sell, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Covid-19 Protocol at Ashford Market – updated January 2021

Following recent government lockdown legislation relating to Covid-19, Hobbs Parker Auctioneers, here in Ashford Market, will be following recommendations from the Livestock Auctioneers Association and we confirm that from Tuesday 12^h January and onwards

• 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.

Only registered buyers must enter either the penning areas or sales ring.

• customers to wear a face covering whilst at market.
• social distancing, high standards of hygiene and responsible behaviour to others should be maintained.
• strict control of the numbers attending market is asked for and both buyers and sellers should not bring additional people with them to market.

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Lambing season supplies – Just a reminder that Barkers Animal Health retail store, here in the market, is open for collections on a Tuesdays. Please pre order with Mossy, who is available 24/7 on 07739 723623, so goods are ready for you.

Notices – Arthur Harriott, Arundel

It is with great sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Arthur. He was an excellent cattle farmer and businessman who over the years regularly attended livestock markets throughout the whole of the south of England. In addition, he was highly respected within farming and trading circles throughout the country. As a great family man and gentleman, he will be sadly missed by those close to him and many others whose life he touched in many ways.

Notices – Mrs Betty Morris, Smarden

It is with sadness that the friends and family have asked us to report the passing of Betty who was for many years a familiar face on market day in Ashford both buying and selling livestock. She will be missed by those close to her in the local community and many who still attend market and remember her.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

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.

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

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

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

Farm manager and farm worker (growing vegetables and fruit) required for a diverse farming and retail business (including livestock, PYO, farm shop, Christmas trees) based on an 80 acre estate on Pevensey in East Sussex. Please contact Donna for more information donna@wylands.co.uk for full details

Wanted – veterinary student (2^nd year) looking for lambing experience (28^th March to 16^th April). Please contact Oliver on 07763 688510

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.