Weekly Sales News – 3rd December 2019


A busy and buzzy commercial sales day in the market after last weeks show spectacular. Plenty of stock in the pens and both local and away buyers supporting the auctions. Don’t miss 3,500 store lambs next Friday.  Read on for this weeks reports….

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

 


Finished Sheep

1,312 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Top price per head – £110 – G P King: Top price per kilo – 230p C A Worley Farming Ltd

Report on trade: This was an improved trade for a similar entry of lambs with all the best lambs making in excess of 200p per kg and topping at £85 (230p) for a pen of superb 37kg Beltex crosses from C A Worley Farming Ltd.  A relative shortage of heavy weights sold particularly well to average 195p with the majority £90 plus and up to £110 from G P King.

For top results present well fleshed clean lambs which could be sold at favourable prices. Please keep in touch regarding entries and up to date prices.

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
3467.0066.98R J Parsons197.0
3573.5066.69R J Adams210.0
3672.0072.00I Lucas200.0
3785.0075.25C A Worley Farming Ltd230.0
3880.5073.77R J Adams212.0
3980.0077.07Botley Farm205.0
4082.5077.08S Wickens206.0
4185.5079.98D C Foy209.0
4290.0083.77Dan Mackelden Ltd214.0
4389.0085.61S T Phillips207.0
4492.5087.99K T D Axell210.0
4594.5088.83K T D Axell210.0
4694.5090.56N C & C G Hedges205.0
4799.5093.17Dan Mackelden Ltd212.0
4891.5091.68W Pynn Contractors Ltd191.0
49102.095.92A R Dunlop208.0
5094.0093.22W G Watkins & Sons188.0
5197.0096.90A R Dunlop190.0
5297.5096.46H & J Noakes188.0
New Season Lambs – pence per kg
Weight RangeNumberTopBottomAverageNational Av
Light 25.5 to 32 kgs72210.0194.0202.8185.7
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs308230.0174.0196.7196.6
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs654214.0154.0197.3199.3
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs188212.0173.0195.5189.3
Other over 52 kgs11183.0121.0163.5172.2

Cull Ewes and Rams

875 sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: An improved trade for cull ewes with the best crossbreds making in excess of £85 and topping at £93.50 for Suffolk crosses and rams to £85 both from A J Holt. Medium ewes generally made £55 to £75 and again a large percentage of plain ewes mainly making from £25 to £50.

Other top prices include Suffolk crosses to £88 from P N & C Burden and £84 N A Balcomb & Son, Charollais cross £90 from N C & C G Hedges and £84.50 from N A Balcomb & Son, Texel cross £89.50 A J Holt and £82 from High Weald Academy, Mules £75 from Maytum Wharf Farm and £73 from P N & C Burden and Romneys to £65 from K Lukehurst.

Store and Breeding Sheep

224 Sold

Report on trade: Strong trade for the store lambs with buyers confident about the long term returns in the first quarter of 2020.  Best stores sold readily in excess of £70 and topping at £76.50 for Suffolk cross from D Thirkell and only small long keeping lambs below £60.

Principal store lamb prices included:          
Suffolk cross£76.50D Thirkell
Suffolk cross£70.00A Gillen – Bussey
Charollais cross£74.50A Rhodes
Texel Cross£73.50T Martin
Texel cross£70.00A S Neaves
Crossbred£74.00S J Edmed & Sons
Romney wethers£63.50Ashby Farms

Sock Lambs

0 Sold

Finished Cattle

62 Sold

Report on trade: A good entry of cattle following last week’s show met a better commercial trade with a more positive undercurrent just beginning to show. Quality was again very variable in terms of weight, age, shape and finish but there are customers for everything. The smart handy weight butchers cattle remain in short supply and more could be sold to advantage. Overage clean cattle also just a little improved with more customers in attendance.

Quality steers from W Alexander (Shoreham), with some weight, sold to 187p per kg (£1110) with commercial Aberdeen Angus from R Price & Son 184p, 182p and £1053. Sussex steers continue to sell well with A H Hoad & Son taking 179p, 175p, 172p and to £1035.

W Alexander (Shoreham) again led the way in the heifers with their Limousin at 195p £1060 and followed by a smart pair of Blonde handy weight heifers from G L Boulden & Sons at 194p.

Some heavyweight young bulls sold to 175p and £1137 from J T Kerr.

A wide range of prices for a wide range of cattle but sharper competition throughout.

Finished cattle averages – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Light steers (370 – 550kg)5183.5124.5166.5
Medium steers (551 – 650 kg)18186.5138.5165.4
Heavy steers (over 650kg)8164.5129.5144.6
Light heifers (330 – 500kg)5193.5158.5183.5
Medium heifers (501 – 590kg)9194.5156.5167.9
Heavy heifers (over 590kg)3160.5145.5151.5
Leading steer prices
ProducerWeightAge and breedP per kgGross £
W Alexander (Shoreham)59519 mths Limousin187.01,110
R Price & Son54620 mths Aberdeen Angus184.01,002
R Price & Son58017 mths Aberdeen Angus182.01,053
A J Thompson & Sons52019 mths Limousin180.0933.0
A H Hoad & Son58021 mths  Sussex179.01,035
 

Leading heifer prices

W Alexander (Shoreham)54520 mths Limousin195.01,060
G L Boulden & Sons47515 mths Blonde194.0919.0
G L Boulden & Sons48919 mths Limousin194.0946.0
W Alexander (Shoreham)50020 mths Limousin189.0943.0
W Alexander (Shoreham)46920 mths Simmental184.0861.0

Cull Cows and Bulls

89 Sold

Report on trade: A very good day in the cull section with excellent numbers meeting a stronger trade with more buyers around the ring and keen to take both fleshed cows and the higher number of feeders on offer. Cows will continue to firm as we now look towards demand increases both for mince in the New Year as a staple product but also as an ingredient in so many of the retailers ready meals.

A few more fleshed beef cows were well received. Smart feeders readily made 110p to 135p per kg with assured beef cows 110p to125p, non-assured a little behind if fleshed but no difference if a feeder. Younger plain lightweight cows a little brighter but the oldest and plainest still hard work.

Top calls include: Charolais 133p £953 (Non FA) R Martin; Sussex 126p (Non FA) A Barr & Son; Simmental cross 123p, 113p £949 (Non FA) F Pearce & Sons; British Blue cross 121p, 118p £844, £839 Gale Estates and 120p £973 (Non FA) R Martin; Hereford cross 122p, 119p, 116p (Non FA) F Pearce & Sons; Aberdeen Angus cross 116p, 108p (Non FA) F Pearce & Sons, 106p £765 Raveningham Estate and 105p £704 (Non FA) S Rampling with Limousin cross 111p £808 Dan Mackelden Ltd.

We saw more demand for the fleshed dairy culls, solid demand for the half meated cows but going still difficult for the plain, old and ugly. Bulls remain difficult.

Dairy headlines included British Friesians 109p, 96p, 94p £911; B J Goodsell & Son, 105p £768 E P Knight; Holstein Friesian heifer 130p £945 Oncoland and cows 95p £808 Ledger Farms; 95p £751 J Leggat & Son, 94p £776 Oncoland; 91p D Murdoch & Son; 90p £742 J E Scutt & Sons; Brown Swiss 97p £660 D Murdoch & Son and Guernsey 73p £500 W G & T A Manford.

Bulls sold included Aberdeen Angus 86p; Holstein 71p, 70p, 69p; British White 68p; Hereford 62p and Limousin 59p.

Cull cattle section – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Beef cows48132.529.589.9
Dairy cows34129.519.573.8
Bulls785.558.568.8

Store Cattle

170 Sold

Report on trade: A good number of store cattle forward this week and whilst no fireworks there is just a little more positive thinking amongst buyers and rates are certainly no worse. Quality and growth for age the governing factors so please do them as well as you can!

A good tidy up of bulls and rigs before Christmas saw a good trade. Sussex bulls, 8-9 mths made £545 and £460 from Mrs V M McDonald.

A wide range of suckled calves found a few more local and regional customers. Top calls included Limousin steers, 8-9 mths £690, £685, £655, £650 and heifers £530, £520 from Beslee Farms; Hereford steers 8 mths £400 and heifers £370 S & A Rampling and Limousin steers 12 mths £700 and heifers  £560 C D Millen.

Several runs of Aberdeen Angus cross cattle amongst the older stores. These included steers 16-22 mths £900, £770, £620 Barfrestone Court;  steers 24 mths  £850 Ross Farms; steers 22 mths £930 and heifers £845 Raveningham Farms. Lincoln Red steers at 22 mths  made £920 G C Amos; Sussex steers 20-22 mths  £830, £720, £700  Raveningham Farms; South Devon steers 18 mths £870, £780, £650 A Reynolds; South Devon heifers 18 mths £555 E & J Beer; Limousin cross steers 18 mths £760, £700 and heifers £835 F S Husk; Hereford cross steers 18-20 mths £845, £720 and heifers £740, £700 J Marshall with British White cross steers 22m £725 G C Amos.

Breeding Cattle

3 Bulls and 21 Females Sold

Report on trade: A varied selection saw a Limousin cross caw and strong bull calf make £935, in calf cows from C E & W F Willson upto £630 and in calf continental cross cows to £700

Calves

156 Sold

Report on trade: The largest entry of calves seen for some time at Ashford market and trade was in line with previous weeks and other national centres.

Just short of 50 continental calves sold today. Stronger and better bred types look best sold on the trade, buyers tending to be a little more selective in their bidding with second grade calf values reflected in this. Continental bulls sold to £220 for a British Blue with age behind it from J Howie. Stronger continentals sold in the £150 – £200 region with smaller and younger grade calves less. Heifers sold to £220 for a British Blue from Hadlow College, this again had age behind it. Strong continental heifers sold between £100 and £180, smaller types were generally £60-£100.

A mixed entry in terms of quality and larger than anticipated in terms of number forward. Bulls sold to £155 for an Aberdeen Angus from W F Farms. Strongest types £120 – £150, smaller second grades less. An entry of smaller second grade heifers on the whole sold to £105 for an Aberdeen Angus from J E Scutt & Sons.

A large amount of smaller plainer processing types forward selling on a similar trade to the previous sale. A handful of better fleshed rearing types still making reasonable money when considering other areas of the cattle trade. Top price of £82 went to the Kingcott Dairy.

A mixture of shapes and sizes made up a small token entry of weanlings for this week. Top price was a Hereford heifer from Mr S Rampling selling for £165.

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.

Calf averages – £ per head
DescriptionNoTopBottomAverage
Continental bulls27220.0030.00120.30
Continental heifers21220.0010.00102.62
Native bulls22155.0010.0063.23
Native heifers12105.005.0026.58
Friesian – 1st282.0055.0068.50
Friesian – 2nd1048.0022.0035.90
Friesian – 3rd and bobbies5820.002.006.60
Weanlings
Native male2120.0050.0085.00
Native female1165.00165.00165.00
Dairy bulls160.0060.0060.00

Store and Finished Pigs

86 Sold

Report on trade: Demand for pigs remains strong and prices are generally a little in front of last year – clean up by about 10% and culls 70%. There will be one more pigs sale this year on 17th December and indications are that buyers will want pigs.

Best finished pigs in pens made to 130p per kg and grossed over £100 and 80p to 100p covered all but the very second quality.

In the cull pig pens the heavy sows made to 68p with the majority of others 60p plus. A good boar made 48p and £100.

A selection of store pigs were again forward. A few buyers were out shopping and found pre Christmas value – young Gloucester Old Spot feeders made £18, with Pietrain cross to £30.

Pig averages
DescriptionNoTopBottomAverage
Finished good – p per kg18130.0105.0114.6
                                 £ per head105.9581.9090.91
Finished others – p per kg2799.061.089.2
                                 £ per head116.8544.1677.97
Sows – p per kg1768.027.056.7
                                 £ per head190.4036.4592.53
Boars – p per kg148.048.048.0
                                 £ per head100.80100.80100.80
Small stores – £ per head1320.0010.0016.00
Strong stores – £ per head1030.0022.0026.00

 

General information

  • Hobbs Parker Auctioneers livestock sales catalogues are always available online on the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk All entries are listed on these regularly updated pagesAshford Livestock Market has its own Facebook page where news and reports are now being posted on a regular basis www.facebook.com/AshfordLivestockMarket/Hobbs Parker Auctioneers email a livestock market short report on the afternoon of every livestock sale day. To receive this email report you need to log on to the auctioneers pages of our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk and click the link to email alerts.

    To ensure you continue to receive the email it should be opened on a regular basis.

    South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

    In addition our Property Consultants Outlook for Winter 2019/20, is included with this months publication and again are available hare in the market.

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

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

    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 9th December, Annual Christmas Dinner

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

    Ashford Young Farmers – copies of their August / September newsletter are available here in the market.

    For all details on Ashford Young Farmers please contact Amy Langdon at amy.langdon1234@hotmail.co.uk

    Tonbridge Young Farmers – Debbie Broad and friends in the area have reopened this club.

    For all details of plans for the future please contact the Broads through Debbie’s Facebook page or email tonbridgeyfc19@gmail.com

    Please remember it is essential we have an early indication from all sellers of stock numbers you wish to sell week by week – we phone and send text messages to buyers and agents every Monday evening and an accurate indication of numbers coming forward is essential with many buyers travelling substantial distances to attend.

    Ashford Cattle Show 2019

    Both Hobbs Parker and The Ashford Cattle Market Company were delighted again to have supported the Show Committee in presenting this pre-Christmas event here in the market. A full report will be produced by the committee shortly

    Next years show, the 150th, will be on Monday and Tuesday 30th November and 1st December

    A full report of the show is enclosed with this newsletterHay, Straw, Fodder and Forage Crop for sale and / wanted

    For Sale – Dry barn stored barley straw and hay £15/£20 per bale ex farm Etchingham. Bulk whole oats and wheat also available £85 per half tonne bag. Transport arranged if required. 07768 771933.

    For Sale – 100 2019 Haylage bales from a Kent farm. Contact 01303 893183 or 07775 794556

    Livestock for sale by private treaty – ex farm

    For Sale – fresh calved Holstein Friesian heifers by known sires from a recorded herd – available when calved. East Kent

    For Sale – 2 pedigree polled Hereford bulls, 17 mths on a West Kent farm.

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

    For Sale – good home required for an 18 mths old, part trained collie dog – Maidstone area. Ring Paul on 07976 921689

    Wanted – experienced livestock farmer requires a small quantity of large rectangular bale feeders. Maidstone area. Ring Paul on 07976 92168

    Heathfield Show News

    At the Farming Awards Evening, held at the High Rocks Hotel on Saturday 30th November

    the Heathfield & District Agricultural Show won the Best Agricultural Show/Event.

    The awards evening is a favourite in the farming calendar and the award for the best agricultural show/event was a new category for 2019. The annual event, organised by Pitchfork Events / Ramsak, celebrates the best in farming in the region through the awards. The awards recognise as many farmers as possible, with categories covering arable, beef, sheep, dairy, fruit, family farming business and agricultural student of the year. Judges looked for farmers who are passionate, dedicated and hardworking, willing to share best practices with others, with ideas for the future. They are a source of inspiration and innovation to others.

    The Heathfield & District Agricultural Show is one of the largest one day agricultural shows in the country. Taking place on a greenfield site it evolves into a fully equipped and serviced Showground over 2 weeks. Everything has to be supplied from electrical wiring, to marquees, showing rings, roadway, and car parks not forgetting the trade stands.

    The Show relies on help from over 1000 volunteers, 65 of them committee members responsible for organising what actually makes the Show work and the finer details for Show day Nearly 19,000 people visited the Show in 2019. Showcasing cattle, sheep, pig and horse competitions, the Country Ways area where local traditional craftsman display their techniques and their products, the Young Farmers and Plumpton have an opportunity to promote themselves in our Education marquee. New start up ventures compete for free stands in our New Enterprise Zone, the Farmers’ Market reflects the true ethos of the movement with local producers selling and offering samples of their delicious products, and the Arts & Crafts marquee selling local handmade crafts.

    Additionally local businesses from estate agents to agricultural suppliers and local clothes shops and garden nurseries take trade stand space. The Show is a shop window for everything that is great about the High Weald.

    The 2020 Heathfield & District Agricultural Show will be held on Saturday 23rd May. We loo

    Romney Sheepbreeders News

    The Society Flock Competition was judged in November by Helen & Claire Langrish. They had a very strong entry for the competition this year with over 12 entries.

    Class 1 – Pedigree flock of under 50

    1. Adam Rawlinson, Hawkhurst
    2. Martin Holgate, Battle
    3. Les Ramsden, Appledore

    Class 2 – Pedigree flock of over 50

    1. Hugh Skinner, Sissinghurst

    Class 3a – Commercial small

    1. Andrew Dunlop, Hastings
    2. Les Ramsden, Appledore
    3. G & H Bates, Brookland

    Class 3b – Commercial large

    1. Tony Pierce T/A J Saunders & Son, Rye
    2. Langrish Farmers, Rye
    3. W M Cooke & Son (Farmers) Ltd, Rye

    Class 4 – Upgrading

    1. G & H Bates, Brookland
    2. B C Ginger, Sutton Valence

    Overall Champion – Adam Rawlinson – small flock, 50 and under

    Vehicle Parking on busy market days – Congestion in the bottom / livestock parking area

    Please help us to help you. The upper car park on the top side of the market buildings is available for all cars and Land Rovers with trailers.

    Disabled bays – please would market users please respectfully only use these bays if displaying the recognized blue badge