Weekly Sales News – 2nd May 2017

New Season Lambs

Top price per head – £95  and top price per kilo – 216p – C Moss & Sons

Finished Hoggets

Top price per head – £91.50 – S B & A E Martin; top price per kilo – 196p – P R Vellacot

Report on trade: A bigger entry of milk lambs were on offer and these were better quality too. Most lambs sold in excess of 200p per kg and to a top price of 216p from C Moss & Sons. More lambs will on offer every week now.

A bigger entry of hoggets were on offer this too week with an improved trade to boot. Most improved were the medium weight sheep which only made up 27% of the entry and there were only a few export grade continentals included in these figures. The majority of the quality sheep on offer would have fallen into the heavy category this week which also showed an improvement of 4p per kg. Top spot in this category were some super heavy weighted hoggets from S B & A E Martin at £91.50 which were closely followed by R H Smith at £89.50. A distinct premium was also on offer today for farm assured sheep with certain supermarket buyers only able to purchase hoggets with this certification. These sheep generally showed a  7p premium over those without.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities 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.

Cull Ewes and Rams – 667 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: A similar trade to last week here with slightly more sheep in the pens. Best sold on the day were the cull rams which made to a top price of £103 from C B Hope. Best ewes sold in excess of £90 and grazing ewes traded on an improved trade with several customers keen to buy ewes to farm on. Most leaner sorts made between £35-£55 with the leaner meat sorts selling between £60-£70.

Top prices were Suffolk crosses to £89.50 from Fincham Farms, Romney ewes to £78 from L Wheeler & Son and Mule ewes to £75 from M Gammons.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: Similar trade for a reduced number of hoggets with a pair of Texel crosses topping at £62.50 from R J Adams.

Several ewes and lambs were offered with the majority attracting prices in the £50 – £55 bracket and grossing up to £132 (£51.76 per life) for aged Suffolk cross ewes with crossbred lambs at foot from M Keeley (Agri Services).

Sock Lambs and goats – 31 Sold

Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: Again a small entry and average trade. Strong lambs to £28 twice. The rest made £5 to £18. 9 Goats sold in the cull ewe pens made £61. 22  lambs sold to £28 and averaged £14.18

Report on trade: A similar entry and with 10 successful individual buyers trade was competitive throughout with prices on a par with recent weeks. Smart handy weight cattle made in excess of 210p per kg notably  Limousin cross heifers at £1212 (221p) from W Alexander (Shoreham), £1131 (210p) from R F & E A Simmons and £1105 (214p) from G L Boulden & Sons.

Commercial sorts generally made 170p to 185p with a Simmental cross steer grossing well at £1234 (172p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and a Charolais cross steer at £1203 (184p) from Gillshaw Farms Ltd.

Native bred Sussex steers sold well up to £1109 (159p) from A H Hoad & Sons and £1074 (175p) from Earl de la Warr while Friesian steers sold at similar levels up to £982 (146p) from R Price & Son.

Report on trade: An excellent seasonal entry, particularly after the Bank Holiday, met yet another outstanding trade with demand for fleshed killing cows at sensational levels. Demand for the feeding cows continues to take confidence from the shortage in the pipeline.

Beef cows were short and the fleshed types particularly so! Best meat cows made 140-150p per kg with younger feeders pushing close to 170p.

Dairy cows are now generally out to grass so most culls from the parlour are leaner types but those well fleshed cows from the yards are finding outstanding demand.

Limousin crosses made 169p from M Goodsell, 148p, £981 P Burgess, 148p R F & E A Simmons and 140p £989 E Chantler & Sons; Sussex 146p Beaute Farms and 130p £912 Wright Farm Ptrs; Charolais cross 142p £1118  Mason Estate Farms and 134p (Exempt) M J Booth; Hereford cross 139p D R Miles and 124p Gillshaw Farms; Aberdeen Angus cross 137p Llewellyn Farms and 133p, 127p T Lyle & Ptrs and Lincoln Red 134p N Morgan. All wanted. Keep looking!!

An outstanding run of well fleshed British Friesian cows from PHR Farms took star billing today! Full of flesh and shape cows sold at 149p, 148p, 144p, 142p, etc topping at £1015 with 19 cows averaging 134.4p. Flesh was otherwise in short supply with Holstein Friesians from J S & M D & Son to 120p twice and £1052. Plain cows look very well sold so keep questioning the non performers even though they have gone to grass.

A few enormous 3yr+ Holstein steers sold to 127p £1012.

A larger show of bulls on a breeding day saw a good trade with British Blues to 154p £1558; Limousin to 127p, 124p £1136; South Devon to 103p, 96p, £1132.

Report on trade: Despite the reduced entry the sale was well attended ensuring competitive returns for all cattle on offer. The entry comprised a bigger percentage of native and dairy bred cattle with several runs of stronger cattle to finish which were well received and topped at £1065 for 18 mths British Blue x Friesian steers consigned by J S & M D Antrum & Son.

The native bred cattle were again keenly sought after with strong Aberdeen Angus steers topping ay £1145 and Sussex steer to £890, both lots from D R Miles.

If you have store cattle to sell you would be well advised to enter over this coming weeks while trade remains strong.

Principal prices not already mentioned above included:        

Continental crosses                                                                                                                         

Report on trade: For the second sale in a fortnight local bull sellers were well rewarded for bringing stock to Ashford. Purebred Sussex bulls made to £1350 from John Paine Farms and a South Devon £1400 from Messrs Gardners. Limousin saw 7 from 2 vendors average £3121. W A Ketley & Sons sold a black Limousin for £3850 and a limousin x British Blue at £3300 while East Kent breeders R Coleman & Son saw their 2 best out of 3 make £3750 and £3400. I Calderbank with his British Blondes made his first trip to Ashford and was rewarded with £2400 for a registered bull, £2250 for a pred bred and £1250 for a three quarter bred.

If you are still looking for bulls to work this season we do have contacts with stock for sale. Please ring Mark Cleverdon to discuss your options.

Females offered looked well sold with nothing young and of real quality in the pens. Cows and calves from F S husk made to £1200, in calf cows £900 and a pedigree Sussex cow with Aberdeen Angus calf £1080.

Females will be offered again in two weeks time and we are looking for more entries.

Notice from Trading Standards on Sheep tags

Sheep producers are reminded that all sheep now require electronic tags, either single, double or re replacements. Please refer to Defra guidelines for the necessary type of tag required depending on the sheep you are presenting for sale.

Sheepdogs for sale

15mth old registered well bred collie bitch. Just broken sides and a stop and easy to handle video available. Also 3 5mth old registered collie dog pups whose breeding includes Ross Games Roy and Kevin Evans Sawmill Jess . Microchipped, vaccinated and very keen. Please ring 01403 864361 or 07718902953. West Sussex

RABI, FCN, Kent Herdsmans and Ashford Cattle Show  news

RABI Fund raising events over the next few months include:

Kart Racing – April or May, date TBC. Buckmore Park. Ring Charles Tassell 01622 858733

Elmley Bird Sanctuary private tour and barbeque  – Sunday 14^th May. Emley, Isle of Sheppey. ME12 3RW. Ring Roger Pickard 01227 832045 for full details

Watch this space for details of more events next week and ongoing

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 8th May at 7.30pm – visit to Jane Wanstall’s Christmas Tree business at Christmas Tree Farm, Matfield. TN12 7JJ.

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

DEFRA and our Local Authority trading standards officers regularly remind us of our responsibilities regarding unfit animals. No unfit animal should be exposed for sale in a market.

We have been reminded by the Local Authority that it is against current Welfare and Market Regulations to move stock to market, or any other holding, in the final stages of pregnancy (final 4 weeks). Please be careful with dates on breeding stock and cull stock that might turn out to be in lamb or in calf.

All animals should be fit to travel. All in milk cows should to be milked out prior to movement to market. Do not present lame sheep or those, for any reason, which are not fit to be transported. Thanks for your attention to these matters.

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NJP Shepherding services Offering:

• lambing, drenching, fly-control, vaccination and bolusing.
• transport of smaller numbers for moves, market or slaughter.
• gathering services with our own dogs.
• electric fencing work.
• decades of successful shepherding knowledge and experience.

From holiday and sick cover to complete flock management.

Let us help you to get ahead of your flock.

Please contact Nigel: 07810 203324 or 01304 824004, Sarah: 07812 392194 or e-mail nigelpeddle@btinternet.com

Headcorn Aerodrome, Shenley Farm, TN27 9HX.

Saturday 13^th May.

Annual Collective Sale, 4 sale rings.

27 Lots – Tractors and vehicles

72 Lots – Trailers

150 Lots – Farm implements and machinery

250 Lots – Fencing and workshop equipment

135 Lots – Livestock equipment

50 Lots – Building supplies and timber

400 Lots – New farm and workshop tools & accessories

500 Lots – Rural and business miscellania

500 Lots – Plants, shrubs and trees

Something for everyone! Viewing from 8a.m. on Saturday morning, sales start at 9.30a.m.

Full catalogues with many photographs on our website  www.hobbsparker.co.uk

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

The fixture list for the season has been circulated with this report recently. Further copies are available here in the market

Saturday 13^th May – Surrey Union; Peper Harrow, Surrey. GU8 6LA – 2pm

Thursday 18^th May – Fontwell Park; United Hunts – 3pm.

Breeding Cattle for sale ex farm

2 Pedigree Limousin bulls, 18 mths from a Welsh farm

Grazing available

50 acres for sheep this summer in the Brede area. Fenced and watered. Ring 01424 882442

Shearing course

A British Wool Marketing Board shearing course will be held at Rye on Monday 22^nd and Tuesday 23^rd May. This is for all standards, beginners to advanced. Please contact Alison Gould on 01647 24804 or Charles Fuggle on 07885 226428 or email agould@britishwool.org.uk for details

Hay, Straw and fodder

For Sale – 60 Round wrapped bales of 2016 season madehayledge, stored undercover . East Kent. 07775 794556

For Sale – 400 4ft round bales of 2016 season made hay on a West Kent dairy farm. Ring 07769 697934.

For Sale – Large quantities of hay. Ring 07860 623196.

For Sale – Large quantity Quadrant rectangular bales of 2016 season made threshed ryegrass hay. Good quality. Romney Marsh. Ring 07885703458

For Sale – Large quantities of 2016 made and gathered organic hay, haylage and silage. Buckhurst Park, East Sussex. Ring 01892 770220 or email:

For Sale – 100 Mini Hesston 4 string bales of oat straw, 60 Mini Hesston 4 string and 200 4’ round bales of exceptional hay. Transport can be arranged get at cost. East Sussex. Ring 01580 819000 or 07768 771933

For Sale – 157 Massey Ferguson 8’ x 4’ 6 string bales of 2016 season gathered winter barley straw, stored dry. East Kent. Ring 07703 130575

For Sale – 2000 Conventional bales of 2016 season made meadow hay. East Kent. Ring 07885 305520.

For Sale – 150 Claas Quadrant 2016 season gathered winter barley straw, stored dry. Ashford area. Ring 07850 789113.

For Sale – upto 500 Conventional bales of 2016 season made hay. West Kent. Ring 07905 269113.

For Sale – 200 Round bales of 2016 season made meadow hay. Maidstone area. Ring 07813 741636

For Sale – 50 Round wrapped bales of 2016 season made haylage from organically farmed grassland. Mid Kent. Ring 01233 756468.

For Sale – 500 bales of 5` long mini Hesston bales of July 2016 meadow grass haylage with delivery available at cost. Chiddingfold, Surrey. Ring 01428 654695 or 07966 452256.

For Sale – 300 to 400 wrapped 4 string bales of 2016 season haylage and 50 7’ long 6 string bales of meadow hay. Kent / Sussex borders. Ring 07773 384271 or 07973 634519.

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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

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Local Agricultural Show dates

Saturday 20^th May – Hadleigh Farmers Agricultural Association Annual Show at Holbecks Park, Hadleigh, Suffolk. IP7 5PE – Full details available from Show Secretary on 07584 568055 or email: secretary@hadleighshow.co.uk

Sunday 21^st May – Essex Young Farmers County Show at Boyton Hall Farm, Roxwell, nr Chelmsford – “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

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

Monday 29^th May – Surrey County Show. All show enquiries please ring Show secretary, 01483 890810 or visit www.surreycountyshow.co.uk

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Commercial Vehicles

Thursday 11^th May at 3.00pm

Commercial vehicle sale

Shenley Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 13^th May at 9.30am

See elsewhere for full details of the 2,150 lot auction sale

Spring Breeding Sheep and Livestock Equipment sale

Friday 19^th May at 11.00am

Up to 400 ewes and lambs from one Weald farm and a consignment of 80 lots of livestock farming equipment already entered. Further entries of both sheep and equipment are welcome

Horse & Saddlery Sale

Thursday 1^st June at 10am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Entries expected of riding ponies, event horses and youngstock

New & nearly new saddlery & tack, grooming kit, yard equipment, rugs, harness Riding boots, show jackets, jodhpurs, body protectors, yard clothing & boots

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 16^th June 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.