Weekly Sales News – 3rd March 2020

Top price per kilo – 266p – P Ashlee; Top price per head – £120.50 – Gostrode Trust

Report on trade: Another big entry of hoggets this week with just under 3,000 penned and over 5,000 sheep penned in the market altogether. We would like to once again thank our vendors for travelling long distances from all across the south of the country to the South Easts premier livestock market with some new vendors every week along with the regular faces. Several pens of lambs selling on excess of £100 to a top price of £120.50 for Gostrode Trust for some heavy continental crosses. Export grade sheep were also well sold with Beltex crosses from P Ashlee making to 266p and smart, handy weight hoggets from C Wettern, Lewes selling to £98.50.

Please Note – The sale of finished sheep will now commence at 09.30am. The sale will be followed by Store Sheep, cull ewes and breeding sheep in that order.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could “help us to help you” by arriving earlier to assist with appropriate sorting and penning of sheep. Lairage facilities are available from 2 to 6pm every Monday and we can accept stock from 6am every Tuesday

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: Another big entry of ewes which was certainly brought on by the super trade last week, bringing over 1000 ewes forward. Trade was not quite as sharp as last week but as written in these pages numerous times before, numbers dictate the trade for cull ewes. Supply and Demand. Top spot was taken by Bocketts Farm at £130 for a very smart Charollais ewe with Texel crosses from Langrish Farmers at £122.

Top prices included continentals to £130 from Bocketts Farm, Suffolk Crosses to £120 from E J Stanford & Sons, Mules to £100 from P N & C Burden and Romneys to £92.50 from Langdon Farms.

Report on trade: Despite the recent wet weather and pressure on feed particularly in the south east the trade for stores remains remarkably strong with best £92 plus, an overall average of £72.70 and only very few stores below £60. Undoubtedly top run of the day was 215 Suffolk crosses from M R Morton which topped at £96.50 and averaged of an impressive £92.

A nice entry of in lamb ewes attracted a good attendance of buyers and we had a competitive trade throughout. Top prices included £127 for Mule tegs due early April to Suffolk and Texel cross rams and Suffolk and Texel cross flock aged ewes due early April to Charollais to £125 from E Chantler & Sons. Averages 226 sold from £63 to £127, aver £102.

If you have stores to sell you would be well advised to take advantage of these strong prices.

Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Report on trade: Demand was slack this week and prices suffered a little. £10 to £22 covered most of the entry with a few smaller lambs less than this. Average £8

Report on trade: Although quality was good the small entry was disappointing after several weeks of favourable prices. Best handyweights sold readily in excess of 205p per kg, notably Limousin cross steer £1216 (214p) and Limousin cross heifer £1194 (210p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and Blonde cross heifers £1225 (210p) and £1161 (206p) from G L Boulden & Sons. Lighter sorts suitable for further feeding attracted strong competition with a run of Limousin cross steers from R J Husk selling well up to £996 (222p) and others at £870 (215p) and £912 (202p).

Native bred cattle made up to £1092 (205p) for an Aberdeen Angus cross steer from W Alexander (Shoreham) and a Sussex cross heifer made £1040 (195p) from R Price & Son.

OTM cattle made to £1027 (161p) for Sussex steer from T Monnington.

Report on trade: Good numbers once again overall and though the beef cows are now getting very short at this time of the year there was a strong offering from the dairy sector with a lot of good fed heavy cows from the yards and the leaner ones from the dairies finding more competition as the drier bagged types also go for feeding.

The trade is particularly strong for the best heavy beef cows and we saw quality types for both slaughter and feeding making 130p to 150p per kg with the best pushing on towards £1200. Very few feeders were penned but few of any age made under 100p so have a good look around for your non performers and out of sync calvers.

Beef headlines made by Simmental crosses 147p, 132p, 131p, 130p, 128p(2), £1181, £1157, £1128, £1073, £1056 from G Bates Ltd; British Blue cross 139p £1129 J E Scutt & Sons and Limousin cross 135p £1129 G Bates Ltd.

Dairy culls were dearer with some of the best over 120p and top returns over £1000. Leaner steakers looked much dearer both to kill or keep.

Highlights included Holstein Friesian 126p, 116p, £910 J E Scutt & Sons; 126p, 114p £857 WF Farms; 119p £1037 Leggat Farming; 118p £881 Oncoland; 115p, 111p £1034, £1002 W S Furnival and 113p, 110p (2) £1012, £921, £871 Appleton Farms. Montbelliarde crosses made 110p £783 from D Murdoch & Sons.

Report on trade: Despite the small entry the sale was well attended with potential buyers and trade was competitive throughout. Although not the quality entry of recent weeks Aberdeen Angus cross steers and heifers sold well up to £870 and £850 respectively and a smart 9 mths Blonde cross steer look well sold at £750 from M Palmer.

More cattle entered for forthcoming weeks and we do not expect any shortage no shortage of customers keen to restock empty yards and cattle to graze this summer.

Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Report on trade: We can report a large entry of calves in both sections and good demand with plenty of both active and prospective customers for stock. It was good to sense some confidence around the ring encouraged at least in part by the current values being seen in the store cattle sales.

Second vendor in the sale was W S Furnival and he went away smiling after his Limousin cross bulls made £230 twice and a British Blue bull £200. Simmental and Aberdeen Angus cross heifers made to £240 and 220 from H O Champneys Ltd. Top run this week came from J E Scutt & Sons with British Blue bulls to £300, heifers £300 and Aberdeen Angus bulls £260 while top priced individual calf was a Simmental cross bull at £360 from D Murdoch & Sons.

Dairy bulls offered nearly all found more than one bidder looking to buy and the majority made £20 plus to £122 for Danish Red bulls from Kingcott Dairy.

A large selection of weanlings were penned with buyers looking on and more trying to buy (is spring here!! lets hope so – grass is definitely moving which is a great sign). A & W J Hitchcock’s Aberdeen Angus bull made £305 and Friesian bulls £120 and H O Champneys Ltd Simmental bulls made £320 and heifers £330 with their British Blue bulls £320 and an Aberdeen Angus heifer £300. Dutton Ptnrs sold 24 head to include British Blue bulls to £330 and Sussex crosses to £260.

A few enquiries from potential buyers of weaned calves are starting to come in, please do contact us if you have any to sell.

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.

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.

British Wool Board announcement re Wool sheets

Tuesdays 10^th, 17^th and 24^th March – Wool sheets will be available here in Ashford Market for farmers and smallholders to collect.

Please note if you don’t 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

If you are affected by TB in any way you may wish to note that

Defra have relaunched the TB hub website, Visit the site at https://tbhub.co.uk/ to start exploring and hopefully understand better the efforts being made to deal with this problem.

Hay, Straw, Fodder and Forage Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – Top notch barn stored round and mini-hesston bales 2019 hay. Bulk whole oats in half tonne bags also available. Delivery arranged. East Sussex. 07768 771933.

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

For Sale – Border Collie puppies – 4 dogs and 2 bitches – in the Ashford area. Ring Tom on 07707 879642

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates and news

The Kent Ploughing Match Association are holding their ploughing championship on Saturday 14^th March at 9.30 at Hollands Farm, Hawley, Dartford, DA1 1PX

Heathfield Agricultural Show is on Saturday 23^rd May at the Heathfield Showground, TN21 8UE. Livestock schedules available from here in the market.

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

Sunday 22^nd March – Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent, Penshurst – 1.30pm

Saturday 28^th March – Crawley & Horsham, Parham – 1.45pm

Saturday 11^th April – Ashford Valley Tickham, Charing – 2pm

Monday 13^th April – Aldington Races, Aldington – 2pm

Saturday 18^th April – Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent, Penshurst – 2pm

Saturday 25^th April – Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray, Parham – 2pm

Sunday 3^rd May – Mid Surrey Farmers Drag, Godstone – 1pm

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

RABI

Friday 27^th March – Charity Clay Shoot, West Kent Shooting School, TN12 7DG. Arrival time 9.30am to start at 10am, £75 per gun, 70 bird, teams of four, experienced shooters only. Entry includes tea, coffee, and bacon sandwiches on arrival, BBQ lunch with salads, wine, beer or soft drinks

Thursday 23^rd April – 10^th Anniversary dinner to celebrate Great British Beef week (and St Georges day) in the Amos Hall, Ashford Market. Guest speaker Minette Batters, NFU president.

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179, email charles@tassell.co.uk or contact the regional co-ordinator Sally Field on 07799 798441 or email sally.field@rabi.org.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club.

Monday 9th March 2020 at 7.30pm. A talk by Kent Police Rural Task Force at the Conningbrook Hotel, Ashford.

For all details on Herdsman’s Club events please contact Chairman John Shrubsall, 07768325929or Jo Masters 01580 240568.

Ashford Young Farmers – 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

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principle livestock market selling over 255,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2019.

Weekly sales throughout the year of all classes of stock, principally on Tuesdays, run by a fully professional team of auctioneers and support staff provide an unmatched level of service and commitment to the livestock farmer in the area. Come and see us on market day soon and bring your livestock for us to sell.

Ashford Cattle Show News

Congratulations to all trophy winners who attended the presentation evening recently.

Revised date – The AGM will be held on Wednesday 18^th March at 6.30pm here in the Market.

George Horne, show president, was very proud to present 2 cheques on the prize-giving evening to his chosen charities being £2215 to RABI and £2060.70 for Kent M S Therapy.

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

Martin Crowhurst (Cattle & Sheep) 07710 803903 or 01797 343936

Simon Husk (Cattle & Sheep) 07885 968077 or 01304 842393

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle and Pigs) 07741 845230

John Rossiter (Sheep, Machinery plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

Tom Hamplett (Calves, Weanlings & Rams) 07966 104532