Weekly Sales News – 5th June 2018

New season lambs Top price per head – £119 – T Masters; Top price per kilo – 276p – C Wimble

Report on trade: We penned a bigger entry of lambs this week but despite these rising numbers, we were still considerably behind the level we saw for the corresponding week last year. This is due to the slow start and poor weather conditions we saw over the lambing period and subsequently. Trade was a little harder than we have seen in recent weeks but still the best on offer are well rewarded with many lambs still making in excess of £100 to a top price of £119 from T Masters who showed a super run of lambs to average £111. Best of the export grade lambs sold to 276p from C Wimble for some 39kg smart Beltex cross lambs.

Hoggets Top price per head – £126 – Whiteleaf Farms; Top price per kilo – 216p – Giffords Farm

A bigger entry of hoggets than anticipated for the time of year with over 1000 penned once again sold on a mixed trade with the best very well sold. There was also a large amount of end of season types on offer which will have a negative impact on the averages.

Best meated heavy sorts sold to £126 from Whiteleaf Farms with many of the other heavy sorts selling in excess of £100. Numbers are sure to decline from this point onwards with the majority of butchers and wholesalers switching their preferences to new season lambs now.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities and dagging 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: Numbers are short at the moment prior to the weaning period where numbers will certainly rise in the near future but with the short supply and the upcoming end of Ramadan fasting period, trade was strong with the best meated sorts selling very well. Several ewes selling in excess of £100 to a top price of £117.50 from G Stokes. Less leaner sorts on offer this week but ewes starting to be purchased for further farming between £50-70.

Top prices included Suffolk Crosses to £117.50 from G Stokes, Continentals to the same price from S Curran, Mules to 104.50 from S King and Romneys to £92.50 from Lovejoy Farm Partnership.

Report on trade: 2 Pens of ewes and lambs were offered with Mules with lambs making £133 (50.54 per life)

Report on trade: This was a strong trade for an increased entry of finished cattle with competitive prices available for the range of stock on offer.

A good selection of bulls sold well with the pick topping at £1570 (192p per kg) for a heavy Blonde from G L Boulden & Sons and a Limousin grossed up to £1357 (189p) from Brede Barn Farm.

Our regular vendors were well rewarded with a Limousin cross steer topping the market at £1354 (219p) from W Alexander (Shoreham), smart Limousin cross heifers at £1120 (210p) from R F & E A Simmons and the run of continental x Friesian steers and heifers from A J Down selling at levels similar to recent weeks with the majority £1100 plus (190p plus) and up to £1221 (196p) for a Limousin x Friesian steer.

More commercial sorts were making in the 180p to 190p bracket with Charolais cross heifer at £1178 (183p) and a Hereford cross steer topping the native bred sorts grossing well at £1286 (178p) from A & M Lyon.

OTM cattle made up to £1115 (167p) for an Aberdeen Angus cross steer from Castle Hill Farmers.

Report on trade: Another quite outstanding day in the cull section with records probably broken with both cow and bull returns getting to extraordinary levels! Numbers are tight everywhere and it goes without saying that this must be the time to give all those older, awkward, bad tempered and troublesome breeding cows the big question mark! It might be that they ought to be kept from the bull this summer to avoid the annual dilemma at weaning but questioned they must be!

Some very good beef cows were on offer but no purebreds and simply well fleshed, and well bred, crossbreds both for slaughter and feeding. Headline prices included Limousin crosses to 176p and grossing £1501 from M B Farms, 171p £1125 P N & C Burden and 163p A C Hulme & Sons; Aberdeen Angus crosses 176p, 165p A C Hulme & Sons and 158p D W Ferguson Ltd; Lincoln Reds 168p A W Vincent; Hereford cross 160p £1101 (Non FA) E Wood; Sussex 149p, 140p £950 Little Exceat Farm and 143p J G & D G White.

A small show of dairy culls this week but all were wanted. Obviously fewer dry fed heavyweights are left in the yards!! Holsteins 143p, 130p, 128p Oncoland Ltd and 133p W S Furnival Ltd and Jerseys 132p, 119p £750, £693 Hickson Bros.

Some very good stock bulls on offer and what a trade! Flesh was wanted. Limousin 151p £1496 and 121p £1205; Simmental 149p £1691; British Blue cross 142p £1385 and a Blonde 127p £1480.

Report on trade: A good entry of store cattle for the time of year with a wide range of quality and breeds on offer. The sale was very well attended with potential customers and the abundance of keep is creating keen, competitive and strong prices throughout.

A relative large entry of young dairy bred stock on offer which attracted prices in the £400 to £600 bracket while the best of the beef bred yearlings sold in the £800 to £930 bracket.

A small entry of strong cattle to finish short term sold exceptionally well topping at £1300 for superb 24 mths Limousin cross steers from P N & C Burden and quality 26 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers topped the native breeds at £1185 from B W C Brooks.

Remember if you have cattle to sell please ring any of our team of auctioneers and fieldsmen for advice and to ensure cataloguing and proper advertising within our sales.

Principal prices included:                                                                                                               

Report on trade: 3 Beef cows and calves were wanted to graze and made to £1090 for a pedigree Beef Shorthorn first calved cow and steer calf from M Pallet

Auctioneer: Richard Wood

Report on trade: Dairy farmers minds have turned to summer work and silaging in particular and only eight come to market to sell calves this week. The entry of young calves was split evenly between dairy bulls and beef crosses and in addition 23 stirks (late November to January born) were offered.

Buyers were on hand for all calves with demand for reared stirks particularly strong. Headline prices included top calls of £340 for an Aberdeen Angus bull born in February from Boty Farms and a Charolais cross beef bred heifer calf from Mrs L Howard £370. British Blue crosses sold to £290 for a May born bull from J C & S K Williams and £280 from W S Furnival Ltd.

Black and white bulls made to £120 for February borns from W S Furnival Ltd and Oncolands regular run born March to May made £31 to £85.

M Gammons reared calves made to £460 for Hereford bulls and £440 for Aberdeen Angus and then £425 for Hereford heifers and £420 for Aberdeen Angus. The run of 24 averaged £418.

Sales will be offered fortnightly again through the whole of 2018. Please keep in touch whether you are a buyer or seller.

Auctioneer: Richard Wood and Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: There is good demand for pigs with 7 buyers securing finished stock and well bred stores wanted too.

Good finished pigs made to 128p per kg, 122p and 120p from S J M Evans, S Scott & Sons and N Dance. 6 other pens made over 100p. N Dances heavy pigs made to £124 per pigs with 12 averaging £115.80.

The cull section saw sows making to 35p

It was good to see stores in the pens this week. 3 pens of Pietrain cross young pigs making £37 from D J Pope and R M Vidler.

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principal livestock market selling around 250,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2017.

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

Sheep tags – farmers are reminded that all sheep require an electronic tag so we can record the number and return these details to you.

Please ensure all sheep are correctly tagged

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

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British Wool News

On 29^th May the British Wool Ashford depot moved to Walnut Tree Farm, Church Road, Smeeth, Ashford. TN25 6SA.

Trevor Richards, British Wool Chairman and Board member for the English Southern region says “British Wool’s new Ashford depot underlines our commitment to providing a quality, reliable and effective service to all producers in South East England. With increased capacity, we will also be able to offer producers greater flexibility to get their wool off farm sooner.”

On clearing the Brundrett House depot ready for this move a set of 1899 to 1967 Romney Sheep flock books have been found. If anyone has an interest in these please ring Janet Mills on 01233 622444

British Wool invites you to join us for the Ashford Open Day on Tuesday 12^th June from 11am -3pm  at the their new premises – Walnut Tree Farm, Church Road, Smeeth, Ashford, TN25 6SA. This is an opportunity to meet depot staff, tour depot, see wool demonstrations and discuss new season prices.

Food and refreshments will be provided.

To confirm attendance please email agpo@britishwool.org.uk or telephone 01233 622444 by Friday 8^th June.

F C N (The Farm Community Network) news

Men’s Health Week – 11 – 17 June. Local FCN volunteers will be in the market on Tuesday 12^th June promoting the importance of staying well. It is important in order to be able to cope with the demands of modern farming and there are many things we can all do to look after our health.

The Farming Community Network (FCN) in association with some other farming organisations and Men’s Health Forum, have produced a booklet called ‘Fit for Farming’ which is a health manual designed to provide all those working on farms with the guidance they need to keep well and age healthily. The manual also includes details of all the common occupational health concerns for UK farmers. If you would like a free copy of ‘Fit for Farming’ please talk to FCN at the market on Tuesday 12 June.

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

Wanted – Wye Community Farm are building a pole barn for our young farmers livestock, and are in search of donated/cheap fittings including ring feeders, water troughs and pipe, cattle gates, sheep hurdles, feed troughs etc. Happy to collect. Thank you. Contact Richard on 07947 371765 or visit www.wyecommunityfarm.org.uk

For Sale – 8 Beef cross heifers with Limousin cross (April / May born) calves at foot in Kent. Ring 07885 968077

Notices – Jenny Brightling (nee Finn-Kelcey)

David and the family have advised that Jenny very sadly passed away after a hard fought battle with illness over the last few months. Jenny will be greatly missed by all who knew her and whose lives she enriched with her friendship and company.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday 14^th June at Playden Church, Rye TN31 7UA at 2pm.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

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

Ashford Cattle Show summer competitions

Entries are now required for these – thanks to sponsors this year Agrii for crops, Wilkins Kennedy and Hallett & Co for sheep flocks and Michael Owen Animalscan for beef herds.

For Sheep flocks please contact Ian Lockwood 07779297153 email: hello@duckpitvalley.co.uk

For Beef herds please contact Charlie Bull 01797 230503 or 07825 665498 email: bull_herd04@btinternet.com

For Crops please contact Tim Porter 07557 200611 email: tim@fengrain.co.uk

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs and Kent Herdsmans Club News

RABI

Future fundraising events

Sunday 24^th June – Farm tour including Bignor Roman Villa, Pulborough with the Tupper family at 2pm.

Wednesday 27^th June – Champagne, Strawberries & Jazz at the Kent County Showground, Detling. ME14 3JF

Thursday 28^th June – Garden tour at Town Place, Ketches Lane, Scaynes Hill at 7pm.

Saturday 29^th September – Annual Harvest Supper – Amos Hall, Ashford Market, Ashford. TN24 0HB

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Ashford Young Farmers Club

Calling all ex and present Ashford Young Farmers – You’re invited to celebrate the clubs 75th Birthday at Burnt Oak Farm, Bethersden, TN26 3BQ. Saturday 30th June from 3pm onwards with a young farmers bash from 8pm, camping available. We only ask if you could contribute a sweet or savory plate to add to our table. Please RSVP to Amy 07733 481473 or Jenny 07876 695872

Please contact Amy Langdon 07733 481473 or Jennifer Hope 07876 695872 with your contact details to receive your invite.

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 11th June at 7.30pm – visit to Eckleys Rape Seed Oil Plant , Saynden Farm, Five Oak Lane, Staplehurst. TN12 0HX.

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