Weekly Sales News – 3rd September 2019

Top price per head – £95 – P Gorringe: Top price per kilo – 205p – G H Dean & Co

Report on trade: A bigger entry this week with hugely improved quality on offer too. This helped to keep prices up close to last weeks despite the fall back in trade nationally on Monday.

More continental export grade lambs were on offer this week which sold to a top price of 205p per kg from G H Dean & Co, who had several other pens over 200p also. Heavier sorts were topped by P Gorringe who showed some superb Beltex cross heavy weights which sold to £95 at 47kgs, closely followed by W G Watkins & Sons at £92 & C & J Georgetti & Sons at £90. Several grass finished and second quality lambs on offer also this week which were selling between 170 and180p.

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.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A much bigger entry with a high percentage of lean ewes on offer. 11 Successful individual buyers helped produce a competitive trade particularly for the leaner sorts.

Texel rams topped the market at £92 from V & J Weeks while best continental cross ewes made £82 and Suffolk cross £74 from M B Farms with fleshed Romneys up to £68 from N A Balcomb & Son. The majority of plainer sorts suitable for grazing looked well sold in the £30 to £50 bracket depending on size and breed.

Report on trade: An increased entry and a very fair trade for the quality on offer with second quality sorts probably leaving a better margin than the top end.

The better cattle on offer attracted prices in excess of 190p per kg with a smart Limousin cross heifer topping the market at £1119 (199p) from S Marsh and a run of continental cross heifers made 187p to 194p and grossed up to £1128 from W S Furnival (Brookland). Other top cattle included Blonde cross steers and heifers at £1215 (195p) and £1176 (195p) respectively from W Alexander (Shoreham) and a Blonde cross steer £1123 (189p) from R G Wood.

Native bred cattle looking relatively well sold with an Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1039 (180p) from B G & M A Tomsett and purebred Sussex heifer £805 (178p) from J D Hickman.

Report on trade: A few more culls about this week and another very firm trade particularly considering the general shortage of flesh.

Just a handful of beef cows but some good meat present with better types making 120 to130p per kg. Highlights included Simmental 129p, 127p, £961, £893 from W J Hurley; Limousin cross 123p £753 J Berryman; Aberdeen Angus cross 118p £899 Dan Mackelden Ltd and Sussex 115p(2) J D Hickman.

Dairy culls were generally straight from the parlour and short of finish but a few better shaped Friesian cows pushing towards 120p. Again highlights included British Friesian 117p, 116p, 113p £797 Debden Court; Holstein Friesian 113p, 110p, 108p, £864 M A & F W Owen; Ayrshire 86p and Jersey 70p J Howie.

Report on trade: A varied entry all round this week with calves to suit all tastes and budgets!

A total of 21 continental sired calves forward and sold this week with the best types most certainly highest in demand. Bulls topped at £260 for a Limousin from T Castle & Son with a British Blue from the same vendor to £240. Heifers topped at £250 for a British Blue from J E Scutt & Sons.

Native sired calves were the best sold on the day with trade remaining fairly consistent through the 18 sold. Calves with size, fleshing and particularly registered sires were most in demand. Bulls topped at £180 for an Aberdeen Angus from P J Forknall with heifers to £200 for an Aberdeen Angus from J E Scutt & Sons.

A mixed bag in terms of quality for the dairy sired section this week with 54 sold. Strong calves with rearing potential were well sold with trade for these topping at £80 from J E Scutt & Sons. Second quality calves topped at £65 from Hadlow College with bobbies generally £14 – £25.

Despite only having a small number of weanlings entered, there was plenty of buyers looking to own some. Two excellent suckler bred Charolais heifers sold away to £450 from R Stannard anda run of Aberdeen Angus steers from C Kearl topped at £310.

Vendors: Please do make every effort to enter stock as early as possible to enable proper advertising! This allows both us and them to plan better for the days sale. Please do try to make every effort to register the sire of your native bred (principally Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cross) calves. Calves that do not have registered sires are at a disadvantage when offered for sale!

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.

Report on trade: A short entry this week following the large numbers forward at the last sale. Demand and subsequent prices achieved were similar to the previous sale with a few very best shaped pigs selling for 100p per kg plus. As reported nationally the spot market for pigs and pork is very unexciting and Ashford trade reflects this feeling.  

Finished pigs generally made 50 to 80p per kg with the best shape and handyweight pigs from S J M Evans making 100p and 106p and grossing £82.

In the Cull pig section only sows were penned and these made from 56p to 78p and grossing to £156.

Just on pen of Store pigs were forward – Saddleback young feeders made £56.

Ashford Market Lairage arrangements

Please note our official time for delivery of stock on Monday’s is 3pm to 6pm. Please advise the auctioneer’s office or any of the livestock team if you require this facility.

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

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

Saturday 5^th October – Harvest Supper in the Amos Hall, Ashford Market. 6.30pm for 7pm

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 September at 7pm, please note early start, – visit to British Wool Board, Walnut Tree Farm, Church Road, Smeeth TN25 6SA.

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.

Wednesday 11^th September – Tour at Curious Brewery, Ashford. TN23 7HQ at 6.30. £15per person – spaces must be pre booked

Wednesday 19^th September – Farm walk at P Sargent, White House Farm. TN27 8LN at 7.30.

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

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

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

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

Gravesend & Rochester Agricultural Association Ploughing Match & Gymkhana – Saturday 21^st September – Paddlesworth Farm, Snodland. ME6 5DR by kind permission of D S & M Lingham. Events commence at 9.30. Lots to see and do including steam and horse ploughing, gymkhana, local produce, craft and trade stands, competitions tent, laser clay shooting, duck herding and more. Car entry £5 plus £1 per passenger, foot entry £2. For more information please visit graa.org.uk or for gymkhana entries please contact sue.batchelor@me.com

East Kent Ploughing Match – Wednesday 25^th September – West Court Farm, Shepherdswell, Dover CT15 5PZ by kind permission of J Weir & Sons. For more information www.ekpma.co.uk or ring Sarah ledger on 07802 974 838

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

RABI and FCN would like to invite you to a County Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday 6^th October at Ashford Cattle Market at 17.30 in support of RABI and FCN, followed by a reception. For more information please contact Karen Adams at kadams@diocant.org

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

For Sale – Border Collie puppies from excellent working parents. 3 Boys, tri coloured and black/white – Call Holly on 07850524206

Forthcoming store and breeding sheep sales

Friday 13^th September

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 20^th September

This sale will include the annual show and sale of Central Beltex breeding females and rams plus commercial rams

Friday 27^th September

Romney Day sale of ewe lambs, ewe tegs and breeding ewes together with Romney Sheep Breeders Society show and sale of pedigree rams

Friday 4^th October

Store lambs, breeding sheep and catalogued ram sale

Friday 11^th October

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 18^th October

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 1^st November

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 22^nd November

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 13^th December

Store lambs and breeding sheep

All sales commence at 11am with ram sales at 10am

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales include……

Special Auction Sale of Main Dealer Part Exchange Vehicles

Monday 16^th September at 4.00pm

Special sale of vehicles from many of the regions main dealerships with the normal car auction to follow

Chilli Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 28^th September at 9.30am

Large entries of tractors, trailers, vehicles, arable equipment, haymaking equipment, tractor attachments & spares, livestock kit, garden machinery, workshop tools and a large and varied selection of rural bygones are expected

Up to 500 lots of shrubs and garden plants and hedging and trees will also be offered.

We need your entries for this sale immediately please.

National Farming Awards 2019

Farmers Weekly Awards 2019 – we congratulate 3 nominees, who have connections with the market and Hobbs Parker, who have reached the final stages of these competitions (top 3).

Michael and Ian Sturmer, Lewes for Beef farmer of the year;

British Farming Awards promoted by the Farmers Guardian – we congratulate 3 nominees, who have connections with British Farming the market and Hobbs Parker, who have reached the final stages of these competitions (top 4).

Ryan McCormack, Burden Bros for Arable innovator of the year;

Richard Bartle, Herefordshire for Beef innovator of the year;

Charlie Fermor, Wye for Diversification Innovator of the year (Large) and

Sharinda Lockwood, Canterbury for Sheep innovator of the year.

Good luck to nominees and their supporters – we look for to reporting final results when available

Livestock Hauliers who regularly use Ashford Market

H G Allen & Sons                Ninfield, Bexhill                       07774 654404                                

Beer E (Ted) & J                Dover, Kent                                01304 853174/ 07850 518330

Beesley Tim                        Cranbrook, Kent                        01580 715415/ 07790 273805

Bowens S & A Ltd             Sevenoaks, Kent                       01959 532117/ 07836 793837

Bowers C & Sons              Turners Hills, Sussex               01342 715225/ 07802 358761

Brightling David                 Rye, Sussex                               01797 280552/ 07850 906888

Buxton L J & Sons            Brentwood, Essex                     01277 812674/ 07711 204702

Black David (Lampshire) Hartfield, Sussex                      07759 419844

Cobden Roy                        Chichester, Sussex                  01243 573358/ 07860 587058

Croft P                                  Brightling, Sussex                     01424 838278/ 07885 090331

Drury Kevin                         Wadhurst, Sussex                     01580 860546/ 07860 728204

Gilders Transport Ltd       Cheltenham, Glous                  01242 620311

Gooding R H & Son           Ottery St Mary, Devon              01404 812371                

Appleby Paul                       Hailsham, Sussex                    01323 833720/ 832354
(Harris Bros)                                                                            or 07831 554392

Langrish & Sons                Rye, Sussex                               01424 882250/ 07973 977074

Legg John                            Bookham, Surrey                      07831 446409

Macer Sid                            Billericay, Essex                        01277 622844

Parrett M & S                      Colchester, Essex                     01206 761703/ 07721 901242

Rivers Harvey                    Farnham, Surrey                       01252 723058/07761 554903

Rumens Alan                      Goudhurst, Kent                        01580 211413/ 07860 842098

Sargent Chris                     Catsfield, Sussex                      01424 892620/ 07866 716188

Sheridon UK Ltd                Leicestershire                            01509 881522/07967 399978

or 07739 717154

Standing Transport           West Sussex                              07764 765521/ 01798 873010

Thornby R J & K                 Bethersden, Kent                      01233 820297/ 07860 611439

Wareham’s                          Heathfield, Sussex                   07941 979901/ 01435 863471

Wickens Shaun                  Maidstone, Kent                        01622 850640/ 07860 437027

Wright Harry                       Cromer, Norfolk                        07860 524120

Wright John                         Cromer, Norfolk                        07920 098930

Yeoell David                        Caterham, Surrey                     01883 345819/ 07966 152684

Any alterations or additions to this list should be given to Mark Cleverdon or any of our auctioneer’s team