Weekly Sales News – 5th October 2021

New Season Lambs –

Top price per head £138.50 – Mrs Carina Cox: Top price per kg – 274p – M Woodroofe

Report on trade: A smaller entry of lambs again this week as is often the case in Ashford at this time of year as any leaner lambs are generally sold on a Friday instead of Tuesday, but what a trade once again, a real lift for all types on offer with averages up by 15p per kg. Top spots were taken by Mrs Carina Cox and Mervyn Woodroofe at the above figures but runs of note also from T Holt, who sold heavies to £130, Robinson Farm Partnership with over 200 lambs to average 248p and Wey Street Farms who showed a super run of well finished lambs off grass that averaged over 50 kg and £127.

Numbers are dropping and the price is rising, it’s time to draw those lambs with prices higher than we have ever seen in October.

Important: Please keep us informed regarding numbers for the Tuesday market so we can notify the buyers.

Auctioneer: James Cook O’Connell

Report on trade: A very good trade today for all ranges of ewes with the top price of the day going to W Stewart Wood with a pen of Texel cross ewes making £119. Another good run of Mule ewes from Hall Place Farms averaging £76 with all included. In total just under 450 ewes on offer today which averaged £78 hd which is in line with national averages of the previous day and well ahead of the corresponding period last year.

Top Prices Included Continentals to £119 to W Stewart Wood, Suffolk’s to £113 from A E Daw & Sons on, Mules to £91 from J K W Alexander Ltd and Romneys to £88 from Robin Brown.

For a full report – https://www.hobbsparker.co.uk/auctioneers/livestock-marketing/sheep-sale-reports/

Report on trade: Another strong trade for an increased number of cattle with the very best in excess of 250p and majority ranging in the 220 to 240p bracket. Again, a good attendance of buyers at ringside competing for all on offer with ten individual successful buyers.

A super Simmental cross heifer topped the market at £1514 (269p) and Blonde cross heifer to £1242 (254p) from D W Ferguson Ltd while smart Limousin cross steer and heifer sold well at £1406 (243p) and £1348 (255p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Other top prices included Simmental cross Sussex steers £1550 (234p) and £1544 (231p) and heifer £1484 (240p) and £1470 (248p) from Tom Masters and a run of Limousin cross Friesian steers 230p plus and up to £1484 (238p) from A J Down.

Several native bred cattle on offer with the best 220p plus with Angus cross steer £1456 (228p) from B G & M A Tomsett and pure-bred Sussex steers looking well sold at £1274 (236p) and £1234 (227p) from H G Tompsett & Sons and heavy weight Sussex steer £1476 (210p) from Tom Masters.

More cattle wanted to satisfy exceptional demand.

Report on trade: Surprisingly less cows about this week bur perhaps another sign of the shortness of stock. Scanning is underway but don’t be fooled by the value of your late grass and empty weaned cows should be fattened or sold to the feeders who are eager to have stock to supply the New Year trade.

Another very good trade throughout with flesh regularly 150-170p and no stopping the feeders particularly with youth and shape on their side. Aberdeen Angus cross 179p, 164p, £1202, £1169 (Non-FA) Barfrestone Court; 174p (Non-FA) A J Britton; Sussex cross 167p, £1058 (Non-FA) A J Britton, 149p, 146p, 142p (Non-FA) D McDermott; Simmental cross 158p, £1227 C Cook; 152p, £1106 (Non-FA) Goodwin Bros; 144p, £990 R F & E A Simmons; British Blue cross 153p, £1273 (Non-FA) M Grady; Bazadaise 153p, £1005 (Non-FA) Goodwin Bros; Hereford cross 141p A J Britton; Belted Galloway 150p C Ovenden.

Dairy culls maintaining strong rates with meat cows very dear but in short supply.

Holstein Friesian 145p, 136p, £1163, £1104 W F Farms; 138p, 128p, £974 J W Boyd & Sons; 133p, 129p, £1080, £983 R Torrance & Son.

Overage clean cattle very sharp with Angus cross steers 193p, 192p, £1226, £1184 and Hereford cross 190p, £1190 (Non-FA) from S Siedlaczek. A pair of very “old fashioned” Sussex heifers (4yrs) to £1243 and £1100.

Handy weight bulls a very good trade with Limousin to 145p, £1314 and a British Blue to 157p.

Report on trade: Store cattle are in short supply and those available are keenly sought after and exceptional prices are achieved. Quite simply there are not enough for the demand with specialist feeders having spare yard space and feed.

Strong cattle to feed short term £1100 plus with 28-30 mths Angus cross steer topping the market at £1195 from B W C Brooks, quality 18 mths Limousin cross heifers £1100 from D J Miles and smart pure Angus steers topping the youngster section at £790 from D J & J L Isaac.

More store cattle wanted over the coming weeks.                                                                 

Principal prices include                                                                                                                  

Report on trade: A tremendous entry of breeding cattle today with significant herd reductions from A J Briton and D J & J L Isaac amongst the entry.

A selection of Hereford cross, Angus cross, Limousin cross, British Blue cross and Sussex cross, the cows from A J Britton were scanned on Monday night and proved to be between 3 ½ months and 6 months in calf. A credit to Alan, the cows were forward in tremendous condition and well followed by purchasers throughout. Hereford cross cows the top of the trade on the day with a top of £1,290 for 2016 born pair, further top prices for Herefords included a 2016 born duo at £1,280, £1,250 again for a 2016 born pair and £1,210 for yet another 2016 born pair. Continental cross cows equally well demanded with a 2015 born pair topping the trade at £1,280 with others to £1,240, £1,220 and £1,180.

Cattle forward from D J & J L Isaac included a Pedigree Angus outfit selling for £1,460, and Pedigree Angus cows which had not seen the bull to £1,210. In calf cows from J Fuller, scanned in calf, sold to £1,140 for a pair of Limousin’s and a single Angus cow, all 2015 born and 6m in calf.

A handful of Angus stock bulls of various ages forward from C Cook sold to a top of £1,190 for a 2016 born model. A yearling Angus sold for £1,000 and other aged bulls to £1,080 and £960.

Report on trade: There is no excitement in the pig trade and limited demand particularly for cull and store stock. Only the best butchers stock commanded a little more respectable prices. You only need to listen to the news to begin to understand why.

In the finished pig pens best white pigs from Brooker & Son made 119p per kg and £99.96 with S Scott & Son’s best 110p and £92.40. Light pigs from Canterbury Oast Trust made 97p and £72.75. Other pigs made 26p to 87p.

Only a few cull pigs were penned with good sows with weight making to 16p and £30.

3 Pens of store pigs were offered – the best black weaners made £16 and 2 other pens £9 and £5.

Forthcoming store and breeding sheep sales

Friday 29^th October

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 12^th November

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 26^th November

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Friday 10^th December

Store lambs and breeding sheep

Sales generally commence at 11am unless advised otherwise

News from the East Sussex Farmers’ Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund charity was created in 1935 by a local farmer and its purpose is to support farmers, farm staff and those involved in the wider land-based industries. Support can also be given to family dependants.  Beneficiaries are normally resident in East Sussex or neighbouring counties.

Income from property and investment legacies help to finance the fund in addition to generous donations. The fund is overseen by five local trustees with strong agricultural connections.

Help can be for those currently in work, or who have retired or who are unable to work due to illness or disability. The fund can also assist those entering land-based education and help with relevant CPD for furthering their land-based careers.

If you feel that we can help you or you are aware of someone who might benefit from help, please let us know and we will be pleased to support. To contact the Honorary Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Des Lambert – 07912 464746, 01273 890841 or email des.lambert@btinternet.com

Bovine TB Test Dates

It is very important that the date (first part of test) is recorded on cattle entry forms for all cattle sold from TB1holdings. Any recent whole herd test dates from TB4 holdings must also be recorded. This information is critical to purchasers who may be required to test animals again and who will wish to avoid the risk of a false positive by testing again within the 60-day period.

Please advise of test dates when making cattle entries for cataloguing from TB1 Holdings.

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

Required – Herd Manager for the Torry Hill Estate, Sittingbourne, Kent. A herd manager is required to manage a traditional pedigree Sussex herd in the North Kent Downs AONB.

Accommodation provided. Contact recruitment@torryhill.co.uk for further details.

For Sale – Litter of Spaniel cross Collie puppies for sale please call 07944 398818 / 01622 842105.

Help and support from The Farming Community Network

A recent report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that agriculture has the worst rate of fatal injuries of all the major industrial sectors.

Just three weeks after Farm Safety Week, the HSE has reported it has been notified of a further 4 fatalities on farms, including the death of a 3-year-old boy.

Usually there are simple actions workers can take to reduce risk, for instance.

1. Making sure to switch off the power to vehicles or machinery before attempting to carry out repairs.
2. Keeping people, especially children, away from moving vehicles.
3. Using the right equipment for working at height.
4. Ensuring, where possible, that cows with calves are not in fields with well used footpaths.

Risk management is a vital part of all work on farms, every job needs to be thought though and correct safety measures put in place.

Guidance about managing livestock, reducing the risks to children and the public and maintaining farm vehicles and machinery is available on the HSE website.

If you have been affected by a farm accident or are worried about farm safety in general or perhaps struggling with the pressures of a delayed harvest this year, please contact FCN via our telephone Helpline (03000 111 999) or e-Helpline (help@fcn.org.uk) or perhaps speak to one of our volunteers in the market.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The September edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker is a regular contributor to the editorial content.

In addition, our Property Consultants Outlook for Autumn 2021, is included with this month’s publication and again are available here in the market. Articles from our Property Consultants team and Planning Consultants make interesting reading for all landowners and occupiers.

Auction announcement

We are pleased to announce a collective machinery sale of farm and garden machinery and equipment and many other items on Friday 5th November. Entry forms are now available