Weekly Sales News – 5th February 2019

Top price per kilo – 216p – C R Ridley: Top price per head – £100 – J Wayman

Report on trade: Another entry of nearly 2000 hoggets forward this week and selling on a similar trade to recent weeks with quite a variation on the trade for the different classes of sheep on offer. The best heavy weighted sheep sold to a top price of £100 from J Wayman for some 55kg continental cross lambs which was closely followed by H G Allen & Son at £99.20. These heavy sorts were in strong demand as there have been smaller numbers on offer nationally in recent days. Lighter continental, export types were also well sold with a top price per kilo taken by C R Ridley with some smart Beltex crosses reaching 216p.

The overnight sheep that were presented in a dry and clean fashion following Mondays rain were sold to a marked premium to the mornings sheep and we advise our vendors to take advantage of the overnight lairage facility that is offered for stock arriving between 3pm and 6pm on Mondays.

Dagging service is available on all Monday afternoons, please advise us of the number you wish to send.

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: A small entry of ewes on offer this week which was slightly unexpected as numbers have been increasing in recent weeks. Meated ewes were in very short supply and the best on offer got to £77 from D J Cole, with Poll Dorsets topping the ewe trade for the first time in recent memory. Grazing ewes were sold to a similar trade mainly making £30 to £50.

Top prices included Poll Dorsets to £77 from D J Cole, crossbred ewes to £67 from Chichester College and Romney ewes to £62.50 from Langrish Farmers.

Store and Breeding Sheep – 748 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07757 392903

Report on trade: Very few strong store hoggets on offer with the best still up to £70 for a pen of Suffolk x Mules from T Crick. The majority of medium sorts were selling readily around £65 and only small longer term stores below £60. Averages 748 sold to £70 and aver’ £58.20.

Report on trade: The largest entry of finished cattle for some time and while there was a complete range of breeds and quality penned the trade was competitive throughout with 15 individual successful buyers. The few very smart cattle on offer sold readily around 220p notably Limousin cross heifers at £1318 (224p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and £1130 (220p) from S Marsh. More commercial sorts made 180p to 200p with Limousin cross steers at £1236 (200p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and £1211 (180p) from A J Down.

A relatively large percentage of native bred cattle were on offer with the best Aberdeen Angus cross steers up to £1259 (183p) from Barfrestone Court Farms, £1181 (180p) from D W Page & Son and £1210 (176p) from G W Fuller & Son. Leaner sorts in need of further finish were also in demand notably Limousin cross steer £1079 (208p) and Simmental cross steer at £1137 (190p) from Gillshaw Farms Ltd.

OTM up to £1039 (148p) for an Aberdeen Angus cross heifer from G J Reynolds.

Report on trade: A decent entry both in terms of numbers and quality with more flesh, in general, on the cows. More buyers for all grades and the meat cows continue to improve with the farm assured, fleshed heavyweights from both beef and dairy sectors noticeably better. All grades of feeding cows stronger with some plain old cows looking as well sold at 50-80p as the best types at close to 140p per kg! Numbers are tightening nationally and flesh will remain at a premium throughout the late winter and spring.

Best meat beef cows made 120 to 140p, with some good non assured types up over 120p. Plenty up and down on 100p and even the oldest, if sound, finding more interest. British Blue cross 136p P N & C Burden, 116p(2) £1028 (Non FA)  Barfrestone Farms and 116p K & P M Sinden; Limousin cross133p £1047 C & J Georgetti & Sons and 130p £1031 K I Lingham & Son; Simmental cross 129p £1112 P N & C Burden, 129p £1028 C & J Georgetti & Sons and 124p R Coleman & Sons; Sussex cross 127p Campbell Bros; Sussex 122p, 117p £955(Non FA) City of London and 120p, 115p £922  (Non FA) J M & S M Ogilvy; Aberdeen Angus cross 121p £1024 (Non FA) Barfrestone Farms and 119p(2) K I Lingham & Son and Hereford cross 115p £922 B D Brown.

Heavyweight fleshed meat cows from the dairy sector were 10p dearer with the middle ranges also dearer. Plain cows still made 40 to 70p but certainly a brighter outlook. Holstein Friesian 123p, 121p(2), 119p, 117p, 115p, £1058, £1054, £1048, £978, £971 N J & G M Lambert; 119p £1084 P J Forknall; 118p £975 WF Farms; 118p J E Scutt & Sons; 118p J W Boyd & Sons and 111p M W Goddard.

Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.          

Report on trade: An encouraging start to the year for store cattle with the first decent entry attracting a good attendance of buyers and trade was competitive throughout.

A run of smart Limousin cross youngsters from R D Christie sold particularly well with the steers up to £715 and heifers to £745 while the best of the yearlings topped at £1050 for quality Limousin cross steers from L Palmer & Sons. Generally stronger continental crosses to feed short term attracted prices in excess of £1000 with quality Simmental cross steers topping at £1140 from J Lukehurst.

A good selection of native bred cattle were on offer were keenly sought after with top quality 24 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers topping at £1140 from A R Dunlop and Hereford steers up to £955 from M Russell.

With 20 successful individual buyers trade was competitive and prices favourable for the time of year.

Please contact regarding possible entries over the forthcoming weeks.

On day of sale please ensure cattle arrive at the market early to ensure proper sorting and accurate administration of paperwork.

Report on trade: Good to report a large crowd of buyers around the cattle ring for the offering of breeders and stores and star lot was a young Blonde cross cow with Parthenaise steer calf which made £1030. The consignment of older Sussex and Lincoln Red in calf cows from R Fidler made £590 to £720.

Calves – 90 Sold

Auctioneer: Tom Hamplett 07966 104532 & Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Report on trade: Competitive bidding for all categories. We were short of young calves in the entry with dairy bred stirks making up the largest proportions of calves forward.

Top call today was for a good young (early January born) British Blue bull calf at £310 from J C & S K Williams followed by a similar calf from D Murdoch & Son making £300. A December born Aberdeen Angus bull from Messrs Williams made £260 and the Scutts sold an Aberdeen Angus heifer for £200.

Young continental heifers made £200 to £220 (all British Blues) and native breds £125 to £190.

Dairy bulls were sold to competitive breeding to average £41.94 with the best £40 to £66 to British Friesian types from P J Forknall.

An entry of Jersey cross and black and white steers at 5 to 8 mths old made from £128 to £160 bar a few. 2 Aberdeen Angus cross steers from Boty Farms (November born) made £340 and £370.

Vendors, please make every effort to register the sire of your calves. This is important in order to achieve the highest prices for them!

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: The pig trade is in no better place yet.

A small but generally good quality entry did nothing to inspire buyers. The cull trade was maintained at recent levels and there was a chink of light for the store pig sellers with the best again selling to a half decent price but little demand for the rest.

The finished pigs penned sold at between 86p and 96p per kg. High Weald Academy sold proper light weights to 96p to gross £82.50 and J & S Harmer heavier models to 94p and £86. 28p to 60p covered the rest offered.

Another large entry of cull sows made from 30 to 52p bar a few very plain models

In the store pig pens D J Coles best growers made £27 and other generally coloured sorts £2.50 to £15.

We remind all pig farmers of the information below

Identification of pigs – again we draw your attention to the fact that it is essential all pigs have permanent identification when offered for sale in a market i.e. slap mark or ear tag. Please ensure you comply with this regulation.

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Farm Expo, organised by the Kent County Agricultural Society, will have its inaugural event in 2019 and will focus on machinery, supplies, and services for the agricultural industry. The event will showcase major national and international providers of farming machinery and services and will host seminars on the industry’s trending topics. With Farm Expo taking place three weeks before the UK leaves the European Union, the key note speaker will be discussing the future of farms, farming and rural enterprises in Britain.

Chairman of the Kent County Agricultural Society, Kevin Attwood, said: ‘as a charity, the Society is committed to education and development in farming and agriculture. Farm Expo is an important event for us to hold in order to best support the local farming community. It will ensure that the latest developments in farming machinery and services, and the industry at large, are available for farmers and agricultural workers.’

Farm Expo offers its visitors the latest farming equipment as well as opportunities to network with others in the industry. The event is free to attend for visitors with free parking.

For further information please contact the Kent County Agricultural Society, Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3JF 01622 633058 or email becky@kentshowground.co.uk

Notices – Brian Bromley, Charing

The family and friends of Brian have advised that he very sadly passed away last weekend. Brian, with his family, had farmed under the trading title of E & M E Brundrett for the majority of his life. He was a well known and prominent member of the wider farming community in the Ashford area as well as an Ashford market supporter.

A memorial service will be held at Charing Church on Wednesday 27^th February at 2.30pm.

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

Wanted – Big bale hay feeder for 8’ x ‘ bales for a North Kent farm. Ring 07976 921689

Wanted – general farm worker for a mixed farm in Sellinge, Ashford – Work will include feeding cattle. Ring 07774 408059 for more information

For Sale – 84 Suffolk x Mule ewe tegs which have been scanned in lamb to a Charollais ram (181%) and are due to lamb from 12^th March – on an Essex farm. Ring Mark Cleverdon for details

Wanted – Cattle grazing wanted for 50 store cattle or 30 cows and calves anywhere in Kent. Any grazing considered but marsh grazing preferred. References available and good rates of rent paid. Please contact either Richard 07889882422 or Roger 07933229030.

Wanted – general farm worker for a mixed farm in the Reigate area. Work will include supporting a beef calf rearing unit. Accommodation available. Please ring 07885 649666

For Sale – 130 Romney in lamb ewes due to Romney rams from the 2^nd week of March on a Romney Marsh farm. Ring Simon Husk on 07885 968077

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principal livestock market selling over 250,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2018.

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.

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – 100 4’ round bales of 2018 made hay – stored undercover on a West Kent farm. Ring 01732 750320

For Sale – 25 double wrapped 4’ round bales of 2018 made hayledge on a farm east of Ashford. Ring 07778 057902

For Sale – 100 4’ round bales of pea straw, 100 4’ round wrapped bales of whole crop wheat silage, 100 4ft round bales of winter oat straw on a Romney Marsh. Ring 07976 553752

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

Please see website for further details.

Sunday 17^th February – Charing, Kent. TN27 0JS

Sunday 3^rd March – Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB

Saturday 16^th March – Parham, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Sunday 24^th March – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Sunday 7^th April – Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB

Saturday 13^th April – Penshurst, Kent. TN8 7DD

Saturday 20^th April – Charing, Kent. TN27 0JS

Monday 22^nd April – Aldington, Kent. TN25 7EJ

Saturday 27^th April – Parham, West Sussex. RH20 2ER

Saturday 11^th May – Peper Harrow, Surrey. GU8 6LA

Something different ……

Two Kent livestock farmers have featured on the recent television series “The Farmers’ Country Showdown”. Di Smith from Alkham with her Dexter cattle at the Norfolk Show was in programme No. 8 and Ed and Gemma Lovejoy with family No. 16.

Both programmes are available on BBC iplayer

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The February editions of these popular regional farming magazines are now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 11th Feb 2019, 7.30pm – AGM followed by a talk given by Karin Cornock, Practice Manager, Ladydane Veterinary Practice, Faversham – to be held at the Conningbrook Hotel, Canterbury Road, Ashford. TN24 9QR.

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

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

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI)

Farmhouse Breakfast season

Tuesday 12^th February. The Alma, Painters Forstal. ME13 0DU.

Thursday 14^th February. Medway Yacht Club, Lower Upnor, Rochester. ME2 4XB.

Thursday 21^st February. Dog & Duck, Plucks Gutter, Canterbury. CT3 1JB.

Friday 1^st March. Stockpot, Ashford Market, Ashford. TN24 0HB.

For further information or to book your place ring Charles Tassell 07973 412179 or Charles@Tassell.co.uk.

More dates and venues will be confirmed as will further fund raising days and events

2019 Calendars

We still have 2019 Hobbs Parker calendars available for you, your friends or family. If you have not received your copy or would like a calendar please call in or give us a call and we can send one out to you.

Market manager’s news

Ray Scott (weekend boot fair and stall market manager) and his team of helpers would like to thank everyone who supported their fundraising raffle at Christmas. A cheque for £1400 will be presented to Demelza House Childrens Hospice.

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, Pigs & Calves) 07741 845230

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

Tom Hamplett (Calves) 07966 104532

Ashford Market Collective Machinery and Equipment Sale

Friday 15^th February

10 Lots – Tractors and vehicles including a Ford 6610 tractor with loader, a JCB 3CX 4 in 1 digger , Iseki Landhope compact tractor, Yamaha Grizzly 350IRS and 450 quadbikes, Kubota RTV900 tractor and others

10 Lots – Trailers including Ifor Williams and Indespension flatbeds, a quadbike trailer and others

50 Lots – Farm implements and machinery

250 Lots of Garden Machinery and equipment including Jacobsen – Ransomes G-Plex 111 triple greens mower, Toro Reel-master 216D triple mower and other ex local authority mowers, chainsaws, strimmers etc.

250 Lots – Fencing and workshop equipment

100 Lots – Livestock equipment

100 Lots – Building supplies and timber

160 Lots – New farm and workshop tools & accessories

170 Lots – Rural and business miscellany

500 Lots – Plants, shrubs and trees

Something for everyone! Viewing from 8a.m. on Friday morning, sales start at 9.30a.m.

Full catalogues with many photographs on our website www.hobbsparker.co.uk