Weekly Sales News – 5th September 2017

Top price per head – £93.80 – C George : Top price per kg – 215p – A Town

Report on trade: A smaller entry on offer today with a very different trade to last week following on from the Muslim EID festival which took place at the weekend. With this in mind, it is worth noting that lasts weeks trade was massively inflated due to the demands of the festival and despite being well received by producers, those levels would be very difficult to sustain over the autumn and in fact the average price per kilo this week was on a par with the corresponding week last year for the first time this season.

The best continental lambs on offer once again were sold in excess of 200p per kg to a top price of 215p form Mr A Town (34kgs @ £73) closely followed by L F Crisford & Sons with some 40kg lambs at £80 and D Walker with 40kgs at £79. Heavier offerings were probably the most down on the week with the best lambs just selling for over £90 to a top price of £97.50 for lambs from C & J Georgetti & Sons.

Producers please note – For top results please present well fleshed lambs which are preferably dry and clean. Lairage facilities 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: A good entry of ewes again and the same story as we saw in the lamb section with a downturn in the prices for the genuine meat ewes being sold to the wholesale demand but this can be expected following the EID festival. The trade for the leaner sorts to farm on was just as buoyant as we have seen in recent weeks. Several farmers are keen to buy some ewes to graze on the growing grass that is prevalent in the south east at the moment.

Top prices included Suffolk crosses to £90 form T R Kirk, crossbred ewes to £80 from E W Homewood, Mules to £75 from the same vendor and Romney’s to £70 form R L Goodman & Son

We are now selling these sheep on Fridays – see our Store and breeding sheep pages for reports

Report on trade: It was very encouraging to see a strong entry of decent quality cattle forward in the finished section. Extra buyers were in the market, drawn in by the store cattle entry, and this further improved that critical element of competition around the ring and demand was excellent from start to finish.

Beef is wanted by all sections of the industry and whilst the supermarket outlets tend to dominate headlines the local retailers, the regional wholesalers, the myriad of catering outlets plus the increasing export opportunities are all critical features to the producer maintaining strong and positive rewards.

“Putting all your eggs in one basket” might be an odd saying but it is as true today as it has ever been and preserving your options is a fundamental issue for any business. Use the big firms but don’t ignore the other options where the greater interaction of competition creates price and where demand opportunities widen long term security and success for producers.

The largest entry of finished cattle for some time met a cracking good trade and all vendors would have been well pleased with their returns.  The best handy weight continental crosses sold readily in excess of 215p per kg with a run of Limousin cross heifers from W S Furnival (Brookland) taking the pick of the trade making up to £1239 (228p) and £1285 (224p).  Other top prices included Limousin cross steer £1206 (214p) from W Alexander (Shoreham), a Blonde Cross steer £1319 (215p) from H G Tompsett & Sons and a Limousin cross heifer at £1059 (215p) from W G Vant & Sons.  Cattle with weight grossed well with a British Blue cross bull topping the market at £1513 (225p) from S Marsh and a Limousin cross sold well up to £1334 (190p) from R F & E A Simmons.

Several native bred cattle were on offer with an Aberdeen Angus cross steer topping this section at £1332 (204p) from M & J Donaldson.

Finished overage cattle (3 yr old plus) are a terrific trade and there is no doubt that these types ought to marketed now to take advantage of the strength of current trade. There is certainly no point in taking them through another winter! The majority of these OTM’s sold in the 130p to 160p bracket with an exceptional Simmental heifer topping at £1159 (186p) from J A & P M Playfoot & Sons.

With 15 successful individual buyers around the finished cattle ring prices were competitive throughout.

Please support the live auctions to help to ensure a competitive alternative to direct sales. More cattle could be sold at very favourable prices – please contact now to discuss trade and likely demand.

Report on trade: Cows remain in very short supply and numbers look unlikely to change much until beef suckler herds scan cows later this autumn and sensibly assess the future of older members of the herd! Dairy culls similarly remain in short supply  as milk prices move forward and with daily herds having been kept tidy through the summer there will be no major surge of numbers on full housing this autumn.

Trade was again very strong for small numbers with meat cows regularly making up over 150p per kg and feeders pushing past 170p. Simmental cross 143p and £1047 from R F & E A Simmons, younger British Blues 177p, £1119 from Church Street Farms (non FA) and 144p I J & H M Hobden (non FA), Sussex 152p (non FA) to Miss A Sills and Aberdeen Angus 120p D J Miles.

Holstein Friesians made to 139p and £983 W S Furnival Ltd and 137p, 127p and £969 Hall Place Farms and Foreign cows to 100 and, £726.

Stock bulls sold well with a Limousin 108p and Simmental 103p grossing to £983.

Breeding Cattle – 3 Bulls and 12 females Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: We saw interest in some younger well bred bulls.  K Simmons 30 mths Limousin sold at £1560,  a 4 yr old Limousin made £1110 whilst a strong 3 yr Aberdeen Angus bull made £1340.

The main entry was an outstanding run of quality Herefords x Friesian calf heifers from K Simmons, West Sussex and due to the Limousin bull which were much admired by all.  They sold very well trading at £1450 twice (10 averaged £1356). His Limousin x  White Park in calf heifer made £1300 with a Blonde heifer in calf to an Aberdeen Angus bull made £1000.

Report on trade: A terrific start to the new autumn season of store cattle sales and whilst overall the entry might not have been the most polished there were many excellent runs of both beef and dairy bred cattle ready for the yards. Buyers were out in force from throughout the region and into East Anglia and the Midlands.

The beef trade is in a good place and with prices for the finished article having remained high we look set for a good winter. A much fairer exchange rate is giving UK producers further protection from a cheaper European product. As a consequence confidence is high and with food stocks full and a good crop of maize still to come finishers need cattle to satisfy processors struggling to maintain throughput with a declining national herd impacting also on industry numbers.

All grades were a terrific trade with the younger keeping stores buoyed up by the positive state of the industry  but the real highlight of the trade is the stronger short term cattle that can be turned around, gaining farm assurance if necessary, and being ready in time for the important  demand  times during the winter.

We saw mixed quantity amongst the young bulls but age was generally on their side. These sold to £720 for Charoilais and Simmental crosses from W J Higgs.

Young keeping cattle were an outstanding trade with some quantity runs on offer. We saw Charolias cross steers 6-7 mths £690 and heifers £680 plus Limousin cross steers at the same age £670 and heifers £600 from M Goodsell; Charolias and Simmental cross heifers 4-12 months £695, £580 and  £500 from W J Higgs; Limousin cross steers, 12 mths £700 fromI J & H M Hobden; Aberdeen Angus cross steers 10 mths to £885 and heifers £845 and  £680 from R Brown & Daughter and Limousin cross steers, 12 mths £880, £870, £675 and £745 from R D Christie.

Cattle for feeding this winter found competition strong for both their beef bred and dairy crosses.  Charolias and Simmental cross steers, 15-16 mths made £990, £950, £900 and heifers £975, £875, £870, £770 all from Foyle Farmers;  Limousin cross steers 18 mths £1080, £990 and heifers £975, £915, £850 from M J Ashworth; Limousin cross steers 16 mths £1025, £920, £860 H & J Noakes and Simmental cross steers, 18 mths £985 S J Edmed & Sons.

Outstanding prices were paid for the more forward feeding cattle with many notable runs from quality South East farmers including Limousin and Simmental cross heifers 18 mths £1130, £1020 and £1015 from C & J Georgetti & Sons; Limousin cross steers, 17 mths £1040 and heifers £1120, £1060, £980 I Machin; Blonde cross steers, 18 mths £1160, £1010 and heifers £1150, £1070 R D E Spencer; Limousin cross  steers, 24 mths £1220, £1120, £970 J F Windibank, Aberdeen Angus cross steers, 18 mths £940 and heifers £800 A K F Dodd.

Dairy bred cattle were in the majority today but we had plenty of customers specialising in this feeding programme present to secure supplies. Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers 12 mths £760, £690 and  British Blue cross steers, 12 mths £785 and heifers £740 all from Barfrestone Court; Aberdeen Angus cross steers 12 mths £650 and heifers £475 H & S Nesfield;  Aberdeen Angus cross steers, 15 mths £900, £865, £800 and heifers £825, £810,  Hereford cross  steers, 15 mths £800 and heifers £750, £710, £69 all from C Moss & Sons;  British Blue cross steers, 24 mths £1090, £995 and heifers £890 plus Aberdeen Angus cross steers of the same age 24 mths £1125 and heifers £1095, £1070 all from Hall Place Farms; British Blue cross steers 18 mths £895, £825 and heifers £910 and  Aberdeen Angus cross steers 18 mths £970 and heifers £880 all from T Carr and British Blue cross steers, 22 mths £1030 from R Winstone.

Not the greatest of shape amongst the Holstein steers but the feeders are ready to take these new projects forward.  Steers at 22 mths made £700, £660, £605 for R Winstone and  Dairy Shorthorn steers at 24 mths £700 again from R Winstone.

A few forward in condition Aberdeen Angus cross steers at 26– 30 mths £1300, £1140, heifers £1180, £1155 BWC Brooks.

Overall a very firm and positive trade for the start of the autumn trading season.

Notice from Trading Standards on Cull ewes and Sheep tags

Cull ewes – It is the time of the year that we will see large numbers of fleshy weaned cull ewes in lean condition. There is strong enquiry from grazing buyers looking for this kind of stock.

We respectively remind vendors that these ewes must be in appropriate condition to both travel and to be shown in the market.

Sheep producers are reminded that all sheep now require electronic tags, either single, double or re replacements. Please refer to Defra guidelines for the necessary type of tag required depending on the sheep you are presenting for sale.

Vehicle Parking on busy market days – Congestion in the bottom / livestock parking area

Please help us to help you. The upper car park on the top side of the market buildings is available for all cars and Land Rovers with trailers.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Special Auction Sale of Main Dealer Part Exchange Vehicles

Wednesday 13^th September at 6.30am

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

Puddock Farm, Fairfield, Brookland, Romney Marsh

Thursday 14th September

Farm dispersal sale of arable machinery and equipment. See Catalogues are online and available from the market as a hard copy

Sale of Boats and Maritime items at Ramsgate Harbour

Saturday 16^th September

A good large entry of boats and other maritime items is expected for this sale

Commercial Vehicles

Thursday 21^st September at 3.00pm

A wide selection of up to 40 vehicles are generally offered in these sales

Chilli Farm Machinery sale

Saturday 30^th September at 9.30am

Entries close Saturday 9^th September

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

Horse & Saddlery Sale

Thursday 26^th October at 10am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Entries expected of riding ponies, event horses and youngstock

New & nearly new saddlery & tack, grooming kit, yard equipment, rugs, harness Riding boots, show jackets, jodhpurs, body protectors, yard clothing & boots

Special 4 x 4, Diesel and MPV Vehicle sale

Wednesday 8^th November at 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale of 4 X 4, Diesel and MPV with the normal car auction to follow

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 10^th November at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Lots will include new & nearly new mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus large selection of miscellaneous items.

Special Sports and high performance Vehicle sale

Wednesday 29^th November at 6.30pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale sports and high performance cars with the normal car auction to follow

Ashford Cattle Show

Monday and Tuesday 27^th and 28^th November

Competition schedules are now available

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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Special events on livestock sale days here in Ashford

We are pleased to announce that our Romney day classes for the best pens of ewe lambs and tegs will be judged by Mick and Jo Cutting, East Guldeford, Rye.

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Livestock for sale ex farm

11 Simmental x Montbelliarde/Friesain heifers, 20 mths which have been bucket reared, have no horns and are ideal bulling heifers. East Sussex. Ring Peter on 07795 200357

3 Polled pedigree Hereford bulls at 17-18 mths old on a farm in Kent – Contact Mark Cleverdon for details – 07748 202688

Wanted – between 10 and 20 Aberdeen Angus or British Blue x Friesian bulling heifers, reared on the holding of birth and with high health status in a TB 4 area. Ring 07748 202688 with any details

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates

Saturday 9^th September – Swale Ploughing Match at Greenway Court, Hollingbourne.  For more information please call Andrew Mew on 07759 320496.

Saturday 16^th September – Weald of Kent Ploughing Match at Gatehouse Farm, Marden, Tonbridge, Kent. Full details available from secretary Karen Wheeler 01580 753206 or on www.wkpma.co.uk.

RABI, FCN and Kent Herdsmans Club News

RABI – Forthcoming events were they will be represented or are promoting include:

Saturday 16^th September – Weald of Kent Ploughing Match, Gatehouse Farm, Marden TN12 9SG

Saturday 23^rd September – Gravesend Rochester Ploughing Match, Newlands Farm, Station Road, Cliffe, Rochester ME3 7RU

Wednesday 27^th September – East Kent Ploughing Match, Quex Park, Manston Road, Birchington CT7 0HR

Saturday 14^th October – Harvest Supper, Amos Hall Ashford Market

Sunday in October (date to be confirmed) – County Harvest Thanksgiving Service, Faversham church

Monday 27^th & Tuesday 28^th November – Ashford Cattle Show

Saturday 2^nd December – Maidstone Symphony Orchestra, charity evening in connection with George Jessel, High Sheriff. More details to follow.

Tuesday 5^th December – Live Nativity Carol Evening, 6pm in the auction ring at Ashford Market

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 11th September at 7.30pm. Visit to Kent College Farm, Whitstable Road, Rough Common, Canterbury. CT2 9AQ.

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

Ashford Young Farmers  Club news

The club’s annual  Dinner and Dance is to be held at the Weald of Kent Golf Course, Headcorn (TN27 9PT) on the 30th September 2017 at 7pm.

£35 a ticket, 1920s attire for a ‘Great Gatsby’ theme. For tickets please contact Amy 07733481473