Weekly Sales News – 3rd August 2021

New Season Lambs – Top price per head – £124 Mrs Carina Cox: Top price per kilo 275p – J Cook

Report on A bigger entry this week with many drawing lambs instead of other jobs due to the recent never-ending rains in the South East, but the trade is quite an encouragement to draw them also. Not quite the prices we saw last week with the averages back but the quality on offer was back also with leaner grass finished types in the pens which even though well sold on the day, did not sell for the same prices in p kg terms thus dragging back the averages. Some smart export grade lambs on the day sold to 275p kg from J Cooke O’Connell with C A Worley Farming Ltd and G H Dean & Co in close second and third place.

Heavier offerings this week were also just a bit back on last week with these sorts trading from 220-235p kg on average with the tops breaking the £120 price barrier to £124 from Mrs C Cox with T Masters close behind at £120. Another super run of over 200 well finished lambs from C & J Georgetti & Sons sold to average £110.

Please keep the lambs coming and contact us with numbers so we can notify the buyers.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: Exceptional trade throughout from the best continental crosses to the plain leaner sorts suitable for grazing. Top continental cross ewes £120 plus and up to £146 for Beltex cross from C A Worley Farming Ltd, Charollais cross £146 from G C Tucker and £120 from D Cornell, Texel cross £134 from H V Link Ptnsp and £124 from R Mair & Son, Suffolk cross £135 from T Masters and £120 from E J Clough, Mules £122 from T Masters and £119 from T Hope and Romneys to £109 from Langrish Farmers. Only very plain sorts below £70. Texel rams to £131 from T Masters.

538 Ewes to £146 Ave £94.30 and 8 rams to £131 Ave £117.30

Keep the ewes coming. Fantastic trade throughout.

Report on trade: Another good entry of finished cattle with a range of quality from the best butcher types to smart handy weights to go for further finishing and a small percentage of commercial and native bred cattle on offer.

Top prices per kg reserved for the smart handy weights with British Blue cross steers in the250p to 269p bracket and grossing £1361 from J Hooker & Son and Limousin cross heifers 236 to 263p and grossing £1172 from R J Husk.

Several runs of well fleshed continental cross beef bred cattle on offer which attracted premium prices notably Blonde cross steers £1269 (247p) from G L Boulden & Sons; Limousin cross steers and heifers £1581 (229p) and £1357 (237p) from Dan Mackelden Ltd; Limousin cross steers and heifers £1426 (237p) and £1272 (234p) from W Alexander (Shoreham); Limousin cross heifers230p to 239p and grossing to £1313 from W S Furnival (Brookland) and Limousin cross heifers the best 220p to 233p and grossing to £1258 from A J Thompson & Sons.

More commercial sorts around 210p notably Limousin cross steers £1361 (210p) from F Sole & Sons; Simmental cross heifers £1315 (211p) from T Watts Farms Ltd and continental cross Friesians to £1317 (208p) from A J Down.

A small entry of native bred cattle with Sussex cross heifers looking well sold at £1057 (210p) and Beef Shorthorn heifers £1210 (199p) from D T Marden.

More cattle wanted to satisfy strong demand.

Report on trade: Another outstanding trade for a real mixture of cattle this week though very pleasing to see new customers being drawn to Ashford and experiencing the best of the competitive trade that the market system has to offer. Good condition coming through on most stock but no point in getting fat cows too fat! Feeding demand still on fire with some good, shaped types 160p-190p. Meat cows 140p-170p. little under 120p kg.

Simmental cross 189p, 163p, £1197, £1040 Burden Bros; Limousin cross 178p, 177p, 175p, 161p, £1253, £1175, £1026 Burden Bros; 170p, £1136 J Berryman; Aberdeen Angus cross 170p, 166p, 160p, £1040, £1034, £1021 Burden Bros; British Blue cross 167p, £966 H O Champneys Ltd; 144p, 143p, £1083 Barfrestone Court Farms Ltd (Non FA); Blonde cross 165p, £1168 Fristling Hall Farm; Sussex 158p, 156p, £920 Sussex Cattle Co; 156p, £1003 A B Jones & Ptnrs (Non FA); 155p, £1120 C E & W S Millson; Hereford 158p, £1079 J Berryman; 150p, 130p, £1144, £1140 T J K & S I Purchese (Non FA); Beef Shorthorn cross 147p, 135p, £847 Fristling Hall Farm; Dexter 127p, 126p, 117p, £550, £489, £425 M Waller (Non FA).

A small show of dairy culls but very similar levels. British Friesian 151p, 145p, 143p (2), £1038 Debden Court Ltd; Holstein Friesian 145p, 129p, £1301 M A & F W Owen; 137p, £1024 W G & T A Manford; 135p J W Boyd & Son.

Overage Holstein steers 183p (2), 172p, 167p, 166p, £1400, £1363, £1296 E T Ledger & Son.

Stock bulls, Limousin 201p, £1985; Aberdeen Angus 111p, 105p, £1170, £1160.

Keep feeding them! They are certainly wanted! Many thanks.

Report on trade: Demand is far exceeding supply and prices are at excellent levels. An increasing number of customers around the sale ring, and if you are minded to sell cattle early this Autumn you will be very well rewarded

Young bulls – A few yearling dairy bred bulls sold to £780, £710, £675. Yearlings – some nice cattle on offer. Limousin cross steers 12 mths £1110, heifers £970 W F Kirk; Simmental cross steers 12 mths £1075 W Gutsell; British Blue x Friesian steers 8-12 mths £570 heifers £570 Barfrestone Court Farms Ltd; Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers 10-12 mths £500, heifers £500 Barfrestone Court Farms Ltd; Blonde cross heifers 12-14 mths £1095, £925 J Prior & Son; Simmental x Friesian steers 12 mths £1050 H O Champneys Ltd. Overage – More wanted to fill yards and move cattle forward for Autumn and Christmas trade. Sussex x Friesian steers 26-30 mths £1125 E T Ledger & Son; Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers 2 yrs. £1080 Barfrestone Court Farms Ltd; Good trade. More wanted

Report on trade: A handful of breeding cattle sold today with £1,490 the top for a Sussex bull to work from D A Innes. Cows and calves look well sold to a top of £1,480 from D T Marden who also sold outfits to £1,410, £1,390, and £1,370 being a mixture of Hereford and Sussex cross cows with Sussex and Hereford cross calves at foot.

Report on trade: Yet another barnstorming trade today seeing 61 calves sold with exceptional returns throughout.

Continental bulls as dear as I have seen them. British Blues led the day with a top of £435 from T Castle & Son who also sold to £425. D Murdoch & Sons had British Blues to £390 and Hickson Bros to £360. All in British Blue bulls averaged £365. Limousin trade continues to be strong with a top of £320 to T Castle & Son. Simmentals looking well sold at £345 from D Murdoch & Sons and £250 from Parrett & Son. Native bulls a serious trade to match their cousins from over the brook with Aberdeen Angus to £385 from Kingcott Dairy, £285 from D Murdoch & Sons & £250 from J W Boyd & Sons. A single Sussex from W G & T A Manford to £150.

Heifers looking sharp on the day again with continentals to £340 for British Blues from Hickson Bros, T Castle & Son sold British Blues to £330, £320 and £315. Limousin’s from T Castle & Son to £330 and £320. The Simmental pen from Parrett & Son looked well sold with a top of £290. A lovely entry of native bred heifers saw Aberdeen Angus to £280 and £255 from Kingcott Dairy, Herefords to £275 from Goddard & Son and a few Sussex this week sold to £195 from W G & T A Manford.

Dairy calves a little easier this week with the entry made up of mainly smaller less fleshy types. Rearing types still a good trade at £70 plus. Top price today was £90 for a Holstein Friesian from J Warnock & Son and also a British Friesian from D Murdoch & Son.

A small entry of weanlings selling on at an almighty trade! £555 The top of the day from a 5mths British Blue from H O Champneys Ltd. A slightly younger British Blue from N P Miles sold to £450. A single Hereford from N P Miles changed hands at £480 and a pair of Aberdeen Angus from the same home sold for £465 apiece.

Weanling heifers an even stronger trade with a pair of Simmentals from H O Champneys selling for £515 and a trio of British Blues from the same home to £500.

Plenty of buyers about for both calves and weanlings with some fantastic returns being achieved, if you have any to sell why not pick up the phone and see what the live ring can do for you!

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.

Please note if you do not 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

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

Auction of Boats and Marine related items

Hobbs Parkers car auctions team have arranged an online auction to be held on Tuesday 7^th and Wednesday 8^th September.

Entries invited and for more information on entering your vessel, or for the Auction process please contact Hobbs Parker auctioneers or enquire at Ramsgate Harbour Office.

Coronavirus Policy Update

The Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) welcomes the Government announcement that Step 4 of the Covid-19 road map will proceed as planned in England on Monday 19^th July. As the majority of legal restrictions end in England the Government guidance emphasises personal responsibility.

We have been extremely grateful of the support of buyers, vendors, hauliers and staff during this difficult and challenging period while restrictions have been in place over the last 15 months.

While we are delighted to welcome back farmers to the market, we encourage all our clients to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions to continue to help protect public health. At Ashford Market, we will be following Government recommendations as from Monday 19^th July.

In particular we ask that you:

• Wear face masks in enclosed spaces and crowded areas including the cattle ring, sales office counter, reception and while queuing for or being served at the Stockpot counter.
• Use of sanitising and hand washing facilities

This policy will continue to help keep everyone safe and reduces the risk of our customers and staff having to self-isolate and will help to make sure we can keep the market and Stockpot open.

Thank you for your help with this

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates and news

Edenbridge & Oxted Show – Sunday and Monday 29^th and 30^th August – For further information contact the show office on 01342 832307 or visit www.edenbridge-show.co.uk

Moreton in Marsh Show, Gloucestershire – Saturday 4^th September – For all details go to www.moretonshow.co.uk

Romney Marsh Ploughing & Dog Show – Sunday 5th September at Ham Mill Lane, Hamstreet, Romney Marsh TN26 2QW (by kind permission of Charles and Ollie Furnival). – For all details contact Diana Wimble 07821 009693, Alan Higgs 07785 783662 or  romneyploughing21@gmail.com

Swale & District Ploughing Match – Saturday 11^th September at Greenway Court, Hollingbourne, Maidstone. For more information ring Chris Hildyard 01795 470556 (email chris@georgewebbfinn.com) or Andrew Mew 07759 320496

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match – Saturday 18^th September at Honey Farm, Munday Bois Road, Pluckley, Ashford, TN27 0SU (by kind permission of the Gwillim family). Full details available from Secretary Liz Copping 07872 501951or on www.wkpma.co.uk

East Sussex Ploughing Match – Saturday 25^th September at Priesthawes Farm, Nr Stone Cross, Pevensey (by kind permission of Mr Chris Wadham) – Full details available from Secretary Paul Croft 07752247469 or Croftjpcroft@aol.com

East Kent Ploughing Match – Wednesday 29^th September at Upper Venson Farm, Eastry near Sandwich CT13 0JH (by kind permission of the Ledger family. Full details available from joint secretaries Sarah Ledger on 07802 974 838 or Lorna Astbury on 07538 547 010 or www.ekpma.co.uk

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

For Sale – 5 black and white Border collie puppies, 9wks old, 3 male and 2 females, have had 1^st vaccinations and are microchipped. Call 07805 839115

Ashford Cattle Show News

It is with great pleasure the Ashford Cattle Show committee announce this year’s president is Mr Trevor Richards.

Trevor has been a valued member of the committee for many years and is a prominent figure in the farming community and representing farmers on wool industry bodies. We thank the 2019 President Mr George Horne for all his hard work, and he has agreed to continue to be part of the committee as we look forward to the 150th Show in 2022.

Trevor accepted the position saying “I am extremely honoured to have been elected President of the Ashford Cattle Show when it celebrates its 150th show in 2022. I follow in the footsteps of my Grandfather (1966) and Father (1979 and 1998) who both held this position. I have been involved in the show for nearly 50 years as a steward, committee member and chairman and have regarded the show as a highlight of the local farming year. To celebrate 150 shows is a remarkable achievement and we plan to do this in style. Get the dates of Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th November 2022 in your diaries”.

The show next year will be a big event, and anyone interested in learning more about how we run the show and how we put on the biggest winter showcase in Kent together please contact the secretary via email ashfordcattleshow@gmail.com. We would love to hear from anyone who is keen to help the committee take the show forward in the years to come.

The Stockpot Café at Ashford Market – reopening fully

Normal service has now resumed with the usual full range of eat in meals, snacks and drinks.

It was good to see the “Seniors” breakfast club meeting reconvened on Tuesday!

We would respectfully ask that masks are still worn when queuing and away from a table in this area.