Weekly Sales News – 3rd October 2017

Report on trade: A small entry of lambs on offer this week which sold to a much slower trade which was the way things had played out on Monday around the country with the wholesalers complaining of a lack of demand nationally for both lambs and ewes. The lamb trade has recently taken a dip from the levels we have become accustomed to in recent weeks but the best of the continental export grade lambs were sold in the region of 200p per kg to a top price of 203p from G H Dean & Co. The heavier lambs were most affected by this downturn with the top end making i£80 to 85  to a top price of £89.80 from Mrs J Walker.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities are available every Monday evening.

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: Another good sized entry of ewes were on offer with still a good number of leaner ewes penned for the grazing men but these types would be a lot easier to secure now that many of the buyers have filled their orders for the year. These leaner sorts traded between £35-45 with the best meated sorts on offer selling to £80 from C A Worley Farming Ltd. The ewe section had the same felling as the lamb section with a lack of wholesale demand having a bearing on prices achieved.

Top prices included rams to £100 from G Lawrence & Son, continental ewes to £80 from C A Worley Farming Ltd, Suffolk crosses to £70 from P Ashlee and Romneys to £62 from Lovejoy Farm Partnership.

We are now selling these sheep on Fridays – see our Store and breeding sheep pages for reports

Report on trade: A good entry with a range of breeds and qualities on offer were well received with 10 individual successful buyers competing for all on offer. Best handy weight beef bred continental crosses 215p per kg plus and up to £1333 (222p) for British Blue cross heifer from F S Husk and a British Blue cross steer £1251 (220p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

Other top prices included continental cross steers at £1293 (216p) and £1240 (216p) from D W Ferguson Ltd, Limousin cross steer £1272 (200p) from R F & E A Simmons and a heavy Charolais cross heifer grossed well at £1361 (185p) from A & M Lyons.

Several native bred cattle were on offer with the pick including pure Sussex steers at £1159 (204p) and £1125 (188p) from L Stevens & Son and A J S Gaddie and a run of Aberdeen Angus crosses topped at £1201 (215p) from G Stokes.

Support the live market and compare deadweight returns. Buyers are in attendance every  for all qualities of finished cattle and specialist feeders competing well for cattle to feed

Report on trade: A few less cows than anticipated which may suggest that cows might remain in short supply. Certainly with a consistently good trade this year most herds have kept tidy and up to date so it will come down to weaning time and scanning on the beef herds as most dairy herds are in their winter regime already and, of course, the milk price is a little better.

Trade was again very strong particularly for the fleshed cows and the better keeping types. The bottom end of the dairy culls are easing a little by comparison due to numbers coming out short term in the dairy regions.

Best beef meat cows made 130-150p per kg with some good fed empty types on offer. Simmental cross 150p £919 (Non FA) from L Witchell; Aberdeen Angus cross 140p, 137p, 134p, £997 J D Robinson and 135p £800 G R Weller; Limousin cross 139p J Berryman and 136p £1098 L Palmer & Sons; Hereford cross 139p, 135p, 129p £963 J D Robinson and 139p G R Weller; Charolais cross 138p £1293 R H Smith, 138p, 136p, £990 J D Robinson and 136p J Berryman; Sussex 138p £866 G R Weller; South Devon cross 136p G R Weller and British Blue cross 134p J D Robinson.

A few dairy culls only on offer this week but a little dearer overall. British Friesian 148p, 136p, 135p Debden Court; Holstein 128p, 123p(2) £998 J Boyd & Sons and Guernsey 124p, £950 W G & T A Manford.

Older steers on offer and well sold included Sussex 5yr+  £1233 and British Friesian 5yr+  £1035.

Bulls a brighter trade throughout but flesh wanted. Simmental 134p  £1080; Hereford  £1027; Sussex  £949.

Store Cattle – 195 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A similar strong trade for an increased entry of store cattle with a high percentage of single suckled continental cross youngsters selling readily in the £600 to £700 bracket and topping at £740 for smart British Blue and Limousin cross steers from Exors N A Husk.

Strong cattle to feed short term are selling in excess of £900 and up to £1035 for Simmental cross steers from H G Tompsett and Son Ltd and purebred Sussex steers at £1025 from March Farms.

Principal prices include:                                                                                                                  

Report on trade: Every autumn we see one or two weeks when substantial numbers of breeding stock are offered and this year this was the week. 2 herd dispersals dominated the days trading and buyers, while not forward in large numbers bid well for the stock offered.

The Husk family were out in force and had worked very hard to support Kate and her family following the very sad death of Nick earlier in the year. 45 females were offered with 10 of which were cows with young calves and these topped at £1400 for a British Blue young cow with steer calf of show potential and the 10 averaged £1010. Young in calf cows made to £1010 and the remainder of the herd averaged £786. The 2 bulls made £1400 for a British Blue and £1200 for the Limousin.

The Weller family consignment followed as farming policy has changed at Beacon Farm following Tonys sad death again earlier in the year. Forward in calf cows to a Charolais bull made to £900 and 13 averaged ££778. L Witchell sold a young Aberdeen Angus cow and Simmental cross heifer calf at £1260 and Ms J Austens in calf Sussex heifers made to £705.

A detailed report of the Sussex Cattle sale on Friday 29^th September will be published next week.

*******************************************************

Notice from Trading Standards on Cull ewes and Sheep tags

Cull ewes – It is the time of the year that we will see large numbers of fleshy weaned cull ewes in lean condition. There is strong enquiry from grazing buyers looking for this kind of stock.

We respectively remind vendors that these ewes must be in appropriate condition to both travel and to be shown in the market.

Sheep producers are reminded that all sheep now require electronic tags, either single, double or re replacements. Please refer to Defra guidelines for the necessary type of tag required depending on the sheep you are presenting for sale.

Ashford Cattle Show news

Please can we have final confirmation of entries immediately.  Your forms can be delivered to the market.

Any further information on the show arrangements can be discussed with Julie Coney 07887 643002

*******************************************************

RABI, FCN and Kent Herdsmans Club News

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 9th October 2017 at 7.30pm – Mr John Coultrip will talk about his trip to Eastern Europe with film and photos of cattle etc seen at the Conningbrook Hotel, Canterbury Road, Ashford. TN24 8QR.

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

RABI – Forthcoming events were they will be represented or are promoting include:

Saturday 14^th October – Harvest Supper, Amos Hall Ashford Market

Sunday 22^nd October – County Harvest Thanksgiving Service at Biddenden Vineyard, Gribble Bridge Lane, Biddenden. TN27 8DF

Monday 27^th & Tuesday 28^th November – Ashford Cattle Show

Saturday 2^nd December – Maidstone Symphony Orchestra, charity evening in connection with George Jessel, High Sheriff. Mote hall, Maidstone Leisure Centre. ME15 7RN

For further information and to book tickets please contact Charles Tassell on 07973 412179 or email Charles@tassell.co.uk

Tuesday 5^th December – Live Nativity Carol Evening, 6pm in the auction ring at Ashford Market

************************************************************

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.

************************************************************

For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact

Elwyn Davies (Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263

Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357

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

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

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07748 202688

John Rossiter (Cull ewes & store sheep plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

****************************************************************

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principle livestock market selling around 264,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2016.

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

Miscellaneous wanted and Livestock for sale ex farm

3 Polled pedigree Hereford bulls at 17-18 mths old on a farm in Kent – Contact Mark Cleverdon for details – 07748 202688

Wanted – upto 10 pedigree Hereford cows (with calves and/or in calf) for an Essex farmer.

Wanted – between 10 and 20 Aberdeen Angus or British Blue x Friesian bulling heifers, reared on the holding of birth and with high health status in a TB 4 area. Ring 07748 202688 with any details

Wanted Full time Shepherd/farm worker required on a busy forward thinking family farm based in Wittersham, Kent. Over 1000 ewes split into 3 flocks including Pedigree breeding. You will be required to help out in all areas of the business including hay making and other tractor work throughout the year. Must be personable and happy to deal with the general public in our other diversified enterprises. You need to be able to work alone as well as part of a team. Please contact Ed on 07970 913934 or 01797270129

************************************************************

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Commercial Vehicles

Thursday 19^th October at 3.00pm

A wide selection of up to 40 vehicles are generally offered in these sales

Horse & Saddlery Sale

Thursday 26^th October at 10am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Entries expected of riding ponies, event horses and youngstock

New & nearly new saddlery & tack, grooming kit, yard equipment, rugs, harness Riding boots, show jackets, jodhpurs, body protectors, yard clothing & boots

Special 4 x 4, Diesel and MPV Vehicle sale

Wednesday 8^th November at 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale of 4 X 4, Diesel and MPV with the normal car auction to follow

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 10^th November at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Lots will include new & nearly new mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large selection of miscellaneous items.

Special Sports and High Performance Vehicle sale

Wednesday 29^th November at 6.30pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale sports and high performance cars with the normal car auction to follow

*******************************************************

Macmillen Cancer Support Cake Sale

Hobbs Parker were pleased to be support colleagues who ran this event on Friday 22^nd September to raise funds for this worthy national charity.

Donations of cakes to the stall and purchases on the day were both much appreciated.

A cheque for over £1,100 was sent to Macmillen. Those who purchased a part of the cake auctioned during the sale – Messrs Husk, Lukehurst, Davies, Ward and Kingwell helped swell the funds dramatically – Thank you all.

*******************************************************

Marie Prebble – fundraising for Reverse Rett

Hobbs Parker were pleased, on Romney Day, to support Marie fundraising to support the charity leading research to reverse Rett Syndrome for good. Ian Hobden kindly paid £550 for a days dagging to be undertaken by Marie and Ian Lucas