Weekly Sales News – 5th May 2020

Top price per kilo – 249p – P Gorringe; Top price per head – £115  – T Husk, P Gorringe and M A Piper & Son Farms

Report on trade: Again a smaller entry of hoggets were on offer this week as the numbers begin to really wind down and also the teeth are starting to show. We can report a great trade throughout the entry of all sorts and considerably dearer than Mondays published figures. Some real quality were penned with some great Beltex and Texel crosses from a number of vendors to really push the pence per kilo prices up. Top spot was taken by P Gorringe at 249p per kg for some superb Beltex hoggets at 42kgs grossing £104.50. Heavier sorts were often over the £100 mark with a three way tie for top spot at £115. Hoggets are wanted in numbers every week.

New Season Lambs

Top price per kilo – 261p – K Axell; Top price per head – £110 – J Belcher

Report on trade: Numbers are now rising week on week but nowhere near enough on offer across all the weight categories to justify any retailers changing over to new season lambs yet. This time is often tricky for the trade and this week showed that all but the best quality are still well sold at 240p-250p for the mainstream in the middle of our current economic situation we should all be satisfied.

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: A poor entry in terms of size and quality but an improved trade throughout with the average up about £5 despite the poorer quality on offer. Best ewes made over £100 again to a top price of £113 from G Lawrence & Son. Several buyers forward for the grazers now with these trading up £5 on the week.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £96 from P N & C Burden, Texels to £113 from G Lawrence & Son, crossbred to £88 from D Gowland and Romneys to £79 from Wright Farm Ptnrs.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: Over 200 stores on offer this week with a nice run of Suffolk x Mules from Mrs P M Walker. Her 100 ewe hoggets on offer that sold to £86 and wethers topped at £84.

We will offer over 1,000 ewes and lambs and ewe tegs on Friday 15^th May – sale will commence at 11am with ewe tegs followed by ewes and lambs

Report on trade: Not the quality show of cattle this week but strong trade nevertheless with prices on a par with last week.

Fleshed Limousin cross heifers took the pick of the trade notably £1205 (194p), £1146 (190p) and £1107 (190p) from W Alexander (Shoreham) and £1061 (197p) and £1046 (187p) from A J Thompson & Sons. Slightly leaner sorts made around 185p with a Limousin cross steer £975 (188p) from R F & E A Simmons and a Blonde cross steer £1118 (182p) from G L Boulden & Sons while heavier sorts generally made 175p to 180p notably continental cross steers £1178 (179p) and £1157 (177p ) from K & P M Sinden & Sons.

A small selection of native bred cattle were on offer with a handyweight Aberdeen Angus cross heifer £933 (191p) from A J Thompson & Sons and purebred Sussex heifers looking well sold at £1045 (178p) and £978 (180p) from J G, D G D White.

Report on trade: Excellent numbers from both beef and dairy sectors and another strong firm trade throughout. Nothing like the overall quality of last week with no purebred beef cows but none the less plenty of good crossbreds’ were making 130p to 155p per kg with fleshed dry bagged dairy culls mainly 110p to 120p. Mince is very much one of the staples of the moment and whilst forequarter from the prime trade does find its way into manufacturing it is the older cow beef that is most wanted. Keep finding the normal suspects!

Slaughter cows and grazers/feeders were all wanted with good competition around the ring. Leaner dairy cows also looking well sold and smart bulls were wanted.

Headlines included  British Blue cross 154p and grossing £1013 from J Prior & Son, 145p, 134p £874, £865 K I Lingham & Son, 143p Betchworth Estate and 120p (Non FA) E Stretton; Simmental cross 142p, 123p £882, £841 Betchworth Estate Farms and 133p £761 Maythum Wharf Farm; Lincoln Red 142p (Non FA) N Morgan and 129p £1015 AW Vincent; Aberdeen Angus cross 140p £809 J Prior & Son, 127p £1112 Betchworth Estate Farms and 117p, 113p, 112p, 111p £1005 (Non FA) Gallagher Farms; Charolais cross 134p £1061 Betchworth Estate Farms with Sussex 119p £764 A B Jones & Ptrs.

Holstein Friesian heifers 139p £805 H O Champneys Ltd and cows 116p, 115p, 114p(2), 113p, 112p(2) £990, £980, £970, £937, £930 (2) Ledger Farms and 111p, 109p, 107p £895, £852, £845 W G & T A Manford with Guernsey 94p, 91p £720 W G & T A Manford.

Stock bulls included British Blue 146p £1330; Limousin 129p £1304 and White Park 94p £888.

Report on trade: We saw this week a similar strong trade for stores with plenty of customers in attendance keen for cattle to graze through the summer and stronger sorts to finish short term. Best continental cross beef bred yearlings were particularly sought after with Limousin cross steers up to £880 from T Martin and 2 runs of heifers topping at £890 from A J Thompson & Sons and Lawrence & Sons.

Stronger cattle made in excess of £1000 with steers topping at £1060 for Limousin crosses from T Martin and heifers to £1040 for Bazadaise cross from Boyes & New.

A big thank you to all for your help and support of our livestock auction sales during difficult times. We plan to continue offering sales on a weekly basis – next Tuesday 12^th May will see 250 more store cattle penned and bookings are being taken for future sales.

Report on trade: More pigs penned this week and at least 50% were good and top quality. Trade was respectable through the whole sale but values of cull pigs dropped by about 20% in line with national trends and a reported slowdown in meat processing plant throughputs on the continent. Still no stores forward but these are wanted as is often the case at this time of year.

The best finished pigs made up to 132p per kg for a pen of 3 with real shape from C B Hope. S J M Evans sold a single gilt at 128p and N Dance a pair of gilts 126p. Regular suppliers S Scott & Son made to 121p with 17 pigs averaging £86.22. 82 to 100p covered the rest of the pigs offered. 7 Individual buyers bought pigs today

Cull sows made to 50p for 3 very heavy models from N Dance with lighter examples making 42p. Top gross £162.50

Next pig sales – Tuesdays 19^th May and 2^nd June at 9am with stores immediately following the finished and cull.

Notices – David Fifield, Hallett & Co, Ashford

Family and friends have asked us to announce that David passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last week. David was much respected and greatly valued personally and professionally by his colleagues and clients. David was well known to many market users representing Hallett & Co in their office here in the market on Tuesdays since the retirement of Charles McDonald.

Notices – Robert Langrish, Newchurch

Family and friends have asked us to announce that Robert very sadly passed away last Thursday after a long battle with cancer. Robert will be greatly missed as a personality very well known to all in his local community and also to so very many people here in the market. His family will be in all our thoughts at this sad time for them.

Notices – Bill Hyland, Staplecross

Family and friends have asked us to announce that Bill sadly passed away recently. Bill was an extremely popular and very independent character known to many running his own livestock haulage business. Local farmers and many others will miss Bill and the many stories he would tell.

His family promise a celebration of his life as soon as a suitable opportunity arises

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

Wanted – Sheepdog puppy required. Ashford area. 01303 812775 (evenings only)

For Sale – 5 working collie puppies, 4 dogs and 1 bitch, ready end of May. North Kent. Ring 07979 802044

Wanted – All types of fencing work which will be carried out to a high standard at very competitive prices. Small family run company based near Maidstone. For a free quote please phone 07710567395

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates and news

Agricultural shows in the region which are now cancelled include Royal Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey County, Kent County and Essex Young Farmers, South of England and Heathfield. Singleton Rare Breeds event , Aylsham (Norfolk) and Moreton in Marsh (Gloucestershire) are still planning to run and The Bath and West has now cancelled from is rescheduled dates .

The East Kent Ploughing match has been cancelled for this year.

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

Sale of breeding stock

As already stated in the report sales of breeding stock can now take place and are being planned for the coming weeks. We will not however offer sock lamb sales for the remainder of the season.

Farms with sock lambs for sale include

Ashford area – Ben Hope on 07769 636336

Ashford area – Michael Carlton – 07715 651766

Ashford area – Ann Wood – 07930 581237

Rye area – Frank Reeve on 07831 762223

Rochester area – Robert Hanks – 07889 895553