Weekly Sales News – 30th July 2019


This week we can report the sheep trade was maintained at similar levels to recent weeks. Cattle numbers forward were limited and we will see more next week.

For forthcoming sales information – www.hobbsparker.co.uk/auctioneers/livestock-marketing/forthcoming-sales/

 


Finished Sheep

1,698 Sold

Top price per head – £88 – Passmore Coombes: Top price per kilo – 203p – C A Worley Farming Ltd

Report on trade: A smaller entry of lambs on offer this week. No doubt many of the grass finished lamb vendors are wishfully holding for the trade to possibly lift a little while the intensively fed lambs must be sold when they are ready.

Trade has been steadily consistent in recent weeks, at a disappointing level for these feeders but at least we saw a strong trade early in the season. Best lambs just managed to break the 200p per kg barrier from C A Worley Farming Ltd this week at 203p, showing that the export trade is still there for the best. Heavier lambs however are the ones who have taken the largest hit in recent weeks.

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.

                                            New Season Lambs
KgsTop PriceAve PriceTop Vendorp per kg
3660.0059.50J Pearce167.0
3770.0062.50S J & J L Vine Partners189.0
3877.0067.73C A Worley Farming Ltd203.0
3978.0069.18C A Worley Farming Ltd200.0
4072.0069.42Mrs V McDonald180.0
4177.0071.02G H Dean & Co188.0
4274.0071.37Passmore Coombes176.0
4388.0073.21Passmore Coombes205.0
4479.0075.74C & J Georgetti & Sons180.0
4580.0077.94C & J Georgetti & Sons178.0
4682.0079.43C & J Georgetti & Sons178.0
4785.0081.99L E Humphreys & Sons181.0
4879.0079.20M Gammons165.0
4984.0082.51C & J Georgetti & Sons171.0
5085.0080.63Ms H V Link170.0
 

New Season Lambs – pence per kg

Weight RangeNumberTopBottomAverageNational Av
Superlight 17 to 25.4 kgs8155.0155.0155.0155.0
Light 25.5 to 32 kgs194.094.094.0165.7
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs529203.0132.0175.4178.1
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs911205.0128.0172.1176.6
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs239181.0156.0171.3173.4

Cull Ewes and Rams

900 sold

Report on trade: With a large entry penned this week these included many leaner sorts following many lambs being weaned recently for both the store sale and the lambs that are being fed concentrate. Trade was similar to last week with the best ewes selling in excess of £80 to a top price of £84. Numbers coming out will dictate trade going forward.

Breeding Sheep

0 Sold

Sock Lambs

0 Sold

Finished Cattle

17 Sold

Report on trade: A reduced entry this week with best quality in short supply. Heavy weight sorts grossed in excess of £1100 notably £1123 (161p) for Simmental cross steer from E T Ledger & Son Ltd and £1120 (168p) for Limousin cross steer from R F & E A Simmons.

Several native bred cattle on offer with purebred Sussex heifers looking well sold to £872 (179p) from C D & J Bishop and Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1070 (172p) and heifer to £934 (182p) from G Stokes.

Finished cattle averages – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Medium steers (551 – 650kg)4171.5169.5171.0
Heavy steers (over 650kg)3167.5148.5158.8
Light heifers (330 – 500kg)3178.5175.5176.5
Medium heifers (501 – 590kg)6181.5117.5163.7
Heavy heifers (over 590kg)1158.5158.5158.5
Leading steer prices
ProducerWeightAge and breedP per kgGross £
R F & E A Simmons59527 mths Limousin172.01023
R F & E A Simmons58527 mths Limousin172.01006
G Stokes62422 mths Aberdeen Angus172.01073
R F & E A Simmons63021 mths Limousin170.01071
R F & E A Simmons66928 mths Limousin168.01124
Leading heifer prices
G Stokes51522 mths Aberdeen Angus182.0937
C D & J Bishop48928 mths Sussex179.0875
G Stokes49020 mths Aberdeen Angus176.0862
C D & J Bishop48028 mths Sussex176.0845
F Henderson57029 mths Limousin175.0998

Cull Cows and Bulls

23 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A reduced throughput and a very decent trade to average 94.9p per kg overall in line with previous weeks. A Simmental cross cow sold at £688 (110p) from D J Miles while the best of the Holstein/Friesians sold readily around 110p while the majority of the plainer sorts making 70p to 80p.

Top prices included Holstein/Friesian to £942 (112p) from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd, £930 (114p) from Appleton Farms Ltd, £919 (114p) from R & J Ledger and £891 (108p) from WF Farms.

Cull cattle section – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Beef cows1109.5109.5109.5
Dairy cows22113.547.593.9

Store Cattle

0 Sold

Breeding Cattle

0 Females Sold

Calves

0 Sold

Store and Finished Pigs

0 Sold

General information

Notices – Paul Bowen, Sevenoaks

The family and friends of Paul have asked us to advise that he sadly passed away recently. Paul was haulier and livestock farmer in West Kent (as was his father before him) trading as S & A Bowen. His reputation for good service and sound advice went before him through life and his will be a face that will be missed here in Ashford, in the West Kent farming community and in the stands at “The Emirates”, his second home in the football season.

A funeral will be held at The Kent & Sussex Crematorium, Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 15th August at 11.30am

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

For Sale – Collie puppies from registered working parents with good temperament – East Sussex. Ring 01797 253702 or 07930 624594

Wanted – Collie bitch puppy. Ring 07761 206169

Forthcoming store and breeding sheep sales

Friday 9th August – Store lambs and breeding sheep – over 3,600 lambs expected

Friday 23rd August – Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 30th August – Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 6th September – This sale will include the annual show and sale of crossbred ewe lambs together with South East Texel Groups breeding females and rams plus commercial rams

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Aylsham Show – Monday 26th August – Bickling Hall, North Norfolk.  For details www. theaylshamshow.co.uk

Edenbridge & Oxted Show – Sunday and Monday 25th and 26th August – For further information contact  Jackie Shearman on 01737 645857 or email sesha@edenbridge-show.co.uk ** Hobbs parker Auctioneers are pleased to be sponsors of classes within the livestock section of this event **

Romney Marsh Ploughing Match – Sunday 1st September – Ham Mill Lane, Hamstreet, Ashford. TN26 2QW – Ploughing starts at 10am, Fun dog show at 12pm and also sheep shearing and craft stalls. For more information 07785 783662 or email: romneyploughing@yahoo.co.uk

Moreton in Marsh Show – Saturday 7th September – Gloucestershire.  For details www.moretonshow.co.uk

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match – Saturday 14th September at Poplars Farm, Churn lane, Horsmonden. TN12 8HN. Full details available from secretary Liz Copping 07872 501951or on www.wkpma.co.uk.

East Sussex Ploughing Match – Saturday 28th September – Broad Farm, Hellingly, East Sussex by kind permission of Richard Mortimore-Lee. For more information www.espms.co.uk or 07752 247469

 

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

RABI – copies of a summer newsletter are available here in the market.

Cream Tea and Garden tour – Thursday 8th August at Hole Park, Rolvenden TN17 4JA at 2.30pm. Tickets £15 from Charles Tassell or Sheila Adams 07783 398439

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 12th August at 7.30p.m – visit to Tim Piper’s pheasant shoot to view this years poults etc, Owley Farm, Acton Lane, Wittersham, Tenterden. TN 30 7HL.

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

FCN

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and their families through difficult times. FCN have helped many thousands of farming people deal with issues such as financial difficulties, animal disease, poor mental health, relationship breakdown and isolation. FCN’s volunteers ‘walk with’ those who need support and help them find a possible way through their problems – for as long as it takes.

Nationally FCN have been supporting the recent Farm Safety Week (FSW) which ran from 15th – 19th July. The aim of the event was to help raise awareness that

  • Protecting the physical wellbeing and mental health of everyone in the agricultural community is the focus of this year’s FSW.
  • Agriculture remains the UK’s most dangerous occupation, with a fatality rate 18 times higher than the all industry average.
  • Thirty two people were killed on British farms last year.

During harvest workload, machinery movements and staff numbers all increase and with this in mind, farms and estates are being encouraged to remind their staff of the risks involved by holding a pre harvest health and safety briefing. This should ensure your staff know where to find – 1. First aid kits; 2. Electricity isolation points; 3. Fire extinguishers; 4. Emergency assembly points; 5. The accident record book.

Farms and businesses should ask themselves – Do you have a qualified first aider? To whom is damaged or defected machinery reported?

Check out the health and safety (agriculture) website for guidance – hse.gov.uk (which includes the following downloadable resources); ‘farmwise’ – an essential guide to health and safety in agriculture; ‘what a good farm looks like’ – common risks to health and safety on your farm and Using tractors safely – a step by step guide

Further help and information is always available at fcn.org.uk or by an informal chat speak to any FCN representative in the market on a Tuesday. FCN Helpline 03000 111 999. 7am – 11pm every day.