Weekly Sales News – 30th April 2019

Top price per kilo – 232p – B Head: Top price per head – £106 – R G Gibson & Son

Report on trade: Another huge entry of hoggets this week with the market bursting at the seams and not a pen that was empty. One of the largest entries of the year were delivered, sorted, penned and despatched and many thanks again to all the team members who worked hard to make it happen.

Trade was most certainly harder this week with huge numbers of heavy sheep on offer both in Ashford and nationally. Over 2,500 hoggets fell into this category this week and prices were in the region of £10 down on the week, with last week seeing small numbers on offer after the Easter break. Handy weights were sold on a similar trade as they are still in short supply and many of these were sold around the 200p region.

New Season Lambs Top price per kilo – 297p – A J Down: Top price per head – £112 – D J Isaac

Just a few on offer again this week but a super trade for all with best examples approaching 300p per kg from A J Down and D Isaac grossing £110 and £112 respectively. More will be expected to come forward in the coming weeks.

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: Over 1,100 ewes penned this week with many vendors holding back sheep for the Muslim fast which hasn’t reaped the rewards which it may have done in the past, with the supply outweighing the demand, in particular of the over fleshed and fat ewes on offer. Best ewes made around £90 with leaner sorts selling better in between £45 and £60.

Report on trade: Not the trade of recent weeks with general prices reflecting the returns available in the finished market. Best sorts sold around £70 while the smaller longer term stores proved more difficult and sold below £50 reflecting the limited time left in the hogget season.

Breeding tegs made up to £98 for a pen of Mules from T Crick.

Averages: Breeding ewe tegs – 268 sold up to £98 averaged £85.60, Store tegs – 531 sold up to £74 averaged £57.50.

Report on trade: A firmer trade than the previous week with ewe lambs to £32 from K Wheeler & Son and wether lambs to £30 from S G Barton. Averages 37 sold averaged £18.51

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

Report on trade: Although quality was in short supply the general trade was similar with the better sorts on offer up to £1147 (200p per kg) for Simmental cross steers from Gillshaw Farms Ltd. Other handyweight Limousin cross heifers sold to £1161 (197p) from Hawkfibre Ltd and £1006 (196p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Heavier sorts grossed up to £1346 (185p) for a Bazadaise cross steer from The High Weald Academy with Limousin cross steers £1313 (186p) from R F & E A Simmons and £1257 (166p) from P Burgess.

Several native bred cattle were on offer with an Aberdeen Angus cross steer topping at £1212 (179p) from A R Dunlop, Sussex steer £1070 (182p) from Mrs V McDonald and Friesian steers up to £866 (148p) from R Price & Sons.

OTM cattle made up to £1184 (180p) for Welsh Black cross steer from R W Jones & Son.

Report on trade: A really good show of cows, bulls and overage cattle and all categories a superb trade with a large audience of buyers prepared to battle hard to secure numbers. A few more fleshed cows this week and this processing beef is keenly sort for both home and export markets. An excellent entry of quality beef feeding cows found exceptional prices as confidence remains high as supplies are clearly going to remain tight.

All beef cow grades were dearer with the best purebred cows readily making 140p to175p per kg  whilst the good fleshed assured crossbreds regularly 130p – 160p. A very few of the oldest and plainest made just around 100p. Confidence is high so if you are not assured get your empty cows sold to assured fatteners, who can hold for the necessary 90 days.

Highlights included Charolais 174p, 168p, 165p, 163p, 150p, 146p, 144p, £1332, £1185, £1147, £1138, £1088, £1061  Vexour Pedigree Herds;  Aberdeen Angus 168p, 141p, 140p, £1158, £1068, £1022  again from Vexour, 136p, 125p, £1130 (Non FA) Gallagher Farms, 136p £1037 A J Thompson & Sons and 135p £908 M J Ashworth; Simmental 166p  High Chimneys Farm and 144p M J Ashworth; Limousin 155p R Coleman & Son, 138p, 134p M J Ashworth and 132p R J Husk; Sussex cross 152p R J Husk; British Blue 142p £1054 High Chimneys Farm; Sussex 136p High Chimneys Farm; Beef Shorthorn 133p £1040 A J Thompson & Sons and Lincoln Red 128p £956 also A J Thompson & Sons.

Not a big show of dairy culls but another strong trade particularly for fleshed types. Best prices included British Friesian 134p, 132p, 130p, 128p £1006, £997, £947 PHR Farms; Holstein Friesian 127p, 121p, £1031, £986 Hall Place Farms and 126p £991 J Leggat & Son; Dairy Shorthorn 128p £861 Parrett & Son and Jersey 113p, 109p, £681, £592 Hickson Bros.

A few more well over age clean cattle sold very well indeed. Sussex steers ( up to 960kg) grazing the Surrey Hills for the last 7 years sold to 136p, 129p, 126p, 125p £1195, £1166, £1150, £1142 – 7 averaged £1136!! Holstein steers 3yo+ but fleshed to 135p, 131p, 129p, 128p, £1099, £1049, £1044.

Best bulls again a tremendous trade with a heavily muscled British Blue to 166p £1506; Limousin 146p £1455 and Holstein fleshed bulls to 115p, 105p, £1139.

Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.          

Report on trade: A large entry of store cattle met a very decent trade with customers in attendance to compete for the complete range of breeds, quality and age of stock on offer.

Strong cattle to finish short term sold readily in excess of £1000 with British Blue x Friesian steers topping the market at £1140 from O & P Gower, the best of the continental cross yearling steers to £1050 from R A Lucas and the top native bred cattle to £1080 for 15 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers from Gallagher Farms. A relatively high percentage of dairy bred and second grade youngsters were well received with fresh customers looking for cattle to graze through the summer and generally prices for these in the £500 to £700 bracket.

Several buyers in attendance for heifers suitable for breeding and these attracted good premiums with the best making in excess of £1000 and up to £1035 for a British Blue x Friesian heifer from O & P Gower.

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

Sale report – Friday 26^th April

Sussex Cattle Societies Spring Show and Sale of Pedigree Breeding Cattle – 9 Bulls and 22 Females Sold

Report on trade: Both bulls and females caught the buyers attention at this annual sale for the breed. While the sale did not produce any exceptionally high prices averages were respectable for both the males and females offered.

Young Bill Peters, now managing the Titsey herd of Sussex cattle on the Innes family estate at Oxted, was judge for the day and chose a male champion from J & S Harmers Offham herd Endeavour 3^rd born in July 2017 bred on the family farm outside Lewes, East Sussex. Reserve champion was Spanton and Paterson’s Maygate Poll Regent 3^rd bred on Allens Farm, Mayfield, also in East Sussex

Female champion and reserve both came from the L Stevens and Sons run of maiden heifers bred on the farm at Lower Halstow, Sittingbourne in North Kent.

The sale ring saw Joesph Muscat, Warlingham, Surrey and keeping a Sussex herd principally on a farm near Wrotham in Kent, purchase the champion for 2,00gns; Box Farm Ptnrs, Andover, Hampshire purchased the polled bull Goldstone Vision 7^th for 3,800 gns and another polled bull Southover Duke 1^st made 3,400 gns for first time seller G Bridges, Crawley being purchased by F A Starley, Henfield, West Sussex. One further bull made over 3,000 gns for J C & C Lewis, Sheerness  whose 2015 born Holm Place Endeavour 3^rd proven bull making 3,200 gns to The Royal Farms, Windsor

The female sale saw and entry of all maiden heifers penned from G Bridges who sold 2 at 1,000 and 980gns, L Stevens & Sons who sold 6 to 1,100gns and an average of 1,066gns, J & S Harmer who sold 7 to 1,100 and an average of 998gns and J C & C Lewis who sold 7 younger to 930gns and an average of 828gns

Averages: 9 bulls 2711 gns, 22 maiden heifers 966 gns.

Report on trade: A firm trade particularly for Black and Whites with many buyers looking to fill orders, more could have been sold to vendors advantage.

Plenty of continental types forward this week with a good mix to suit all budgets. Top price in the continental bull section was £300 for a British Blue from W S Furnival Ltd, other notable prices include £270 for a British Blue from H O Champneys Ltd and £260 for a Limousin from J W Boyd and Sons. Continental heifers sold well to a high of £260 (x2) from H O Champneys Ltd for Simmental crosses. Most continental heifers sold in the £140-£200 region.

Less native bred calves about this week with only one bull from A & W J Hitchcock which sold to £190. Native sired heifers were mixed in terms of size with prices to match. The best on the day sold northwards of £150 topping at £165 for a registered sire Aberdeen Angus from H O Champneys Ltd. The slightly smaller types sold generally between £100 – £150.

A strong trade was seen for dairy bred calves and not just because of the smaller entry. Not a single dairy calf sold for under £50 with many well framed rearing calves close to the £100 mark. Top price of £100 went to W S Furnival Ltd, John Gormley also deserves a mention for his offering seeing his black and whites sell to £85 (x2). More dairy bred calves are needed to fill orders in a fortnights time please.

Two black and white December born bulls forward from Ben and Holly Dyer were well sold as a pair at £215 each.

Vendors: Please try to inform us of entries for the calf and stirk sale as early as possible to enable us to inform buyers of the expected entry. This allows both us and them to plan better for the days sale also 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: Demand for pigs offered was in line with numbers forward to produce a fair trade for both finished and stores at similar levels to the sale 2 weeks ago. The cull trade here in Ashford was again at good levels in line now with national figures.

In the finished pig pens the best sold to 114p per kg for 3 pens from C B Hope with the heaviest grossing just over £100. C Guest sold 3 gilts at 106p, HMP East Suttons saddlebacks made to 92p with the rest 40p to 94p.

The cull pigs traded at 44p to 55p for sows and 20p for a boar.

A larger entry of store pigs again saw a similar demand to the last sale. 3 Farms sold well bred and shapely young pigs – P & R Marshall to £36, D Pope £46 and R Vidlers youngest £26.

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.

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

Our next Auction Sales include……

Bank Holiday Bumper Car Auction Sale

Monday 6^th May at 10.00am.

For full details see enclosed list of stock etc

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

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 14^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.

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 25^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 **

A show press release is published elsewhere in this report

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

Wednesday 26^th and Thursday 27^th June – Royal Norfolk Show, Norwich. Full details from Holly Whittaker on 01603 748931 or visit www.royalnorfolkshow.co.uk

Kent County Show – 5^th to 7^th July – All show enquiries to 01622 633051.

Competition schedules are now available and Hobbs Parkers are again pleased to be sponsoring cattle and sheep sections

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 07747 838653 or 01233 756468

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

Please see website for further details.

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

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

Wanted – herdperson to work with 300 milking cows on a West Kent farm. Ring 07810 444218 for details

Wanted – Stockman/farm labourer wanted at Roundoak Farm Sutton Valence. This is a permanent position all aspects of stock care and maintenance plus ground maintenance. Clean driving licence essential. Please call 07967 009509 or email ruth.roundoak@gmail.com if interested

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs, 91 Club, Kent Herdsmans Club and FCN news

Kent Herdsmans Club

The next meeting is on Monday 13th May 2019 at 7.30pm – visit to Mike Keeley’s Farm,

South Hill Farm, South Hill, Hastingleigh, Ashford. TN25 5HL

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

91 Club news

Do you fancy a 3 day trip from Wednesday 22^nd to Friday 24^th May to include visits to farming establishments and other rural businesses in West Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.??  If so please contact Pip Collick on 07885 933082 for more details.