Weekly Sales News – 6th December 2016

Top price per kilo– 220p – High Weald Academy YFC:

Top price per head –  £91 –  Mrs C Worley

Report on trade: A similar sized entry of lambs were penned this week compared to the commercials we saw on show day last week. Trade was also at a similar levels with the heavy weight lambs slightly harder to sell due to increased numbers of 45kg plus lambs being offered around the country. More and more large lamb finishers are beginning to sell these heavier sheep each week in the run up to the hogget season which has had an impact on the price this week.

The best end of the continental export lambs sold to £91 from Mrs C Worley (43kgs) and up to 220p per kg from High Weald Academy YFC (35kg). Trade for heavier weight lambs were slightly stickier than in recent weeks but the best were still well sold to a top price of £87.50 from Mr P Gorringe (52kg), closely followed by The High Weald Academy at £87.

Cull Ewes and Rams – 470 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: A few less on offer nationally which in turn has helped the price of the meat ewes to move up in the right direction with the leaner sorts traded at a similar level to previous weeks. There appears to be a little more spark in the trade nationally but we will certainly test this over the Christmas period when numbers have historically taken a decline. Best ewes sold to £83 with the majority of leaner sorts selling between £30-£45.

Top prices this week included continental ewes to £83 from K & P M Sinden & Son, Suffolk crosses from T R Kirk to £81and Romneys to £60 from S G & G T Orpin

Report on trade: A few more stores were offered this week but there were several long term sorts amongst them. The best of the stores this week sold to £55.50 from J R Collins with several other lambs selling in the £50-£55 bracket with the longer term sorts making between £30-£45. Averages 194 sold to £58 and averaging £41.18

Report on trade: A similar firm trade for finished cattle saw the best butchers types selling readily around 210p per kg and commercial sorts making 175p to 185p. Quality handy weight Limousin crosses took the pick of the trade notably heifers at £1140 (222p) and £1294 (211p) from Burden Bros, £1203 (217p) from W.Alexander (Shoreham) and heavy weight British Blue cross steers grossing well at £1407 (209p) from High Weald Academy YFC.

The pick of the native bred cattle included Aberdeen Angus cross steers at £1334 (212p) from High Weald Academy YFC and £1131 (176p) for an Aberdeen Angus x Friesian from M A & F W Owen.

Report on trade: A tremendous number of cows forward and with all buyers present and keen for numbers we can report a really strong competitive trade from start to finish. A high proportion of lean beef cows amongst the entry and with feeding men present for all grades a large number were taken by fatteners. Flesh is wanted and the trade is strengthening as processors begin to get ready for the post Christmas period. Older and leaner cows were taken on their merits but overall this was a good trade and keen competition for all even at the lower levels. Farm Assurance undoubtedly helps  but is not so crucial for feeders.

A few very best fed beef youngsters (under 3yrs) made 160-180p per kg but generally made 120-135p. Plenty of feeding cows made either side of 100p with youngsters pushing on to 130p. A few of the oldest and plainest made below 60p.

Best calls included Limousin’s to 180p and then 171p, 167p and £1282, £1194, £1024 from  Burden Bros; Charolais 136p, 123p and  £1253, £1212 from B A & P T Heath; and 136p, 134p, 130p, 129p, 128p C E Price & Son; Simmental 130p and £1059 C & J Georgetti & Sons, 124p £1050 E Chantler & Son and 115p £1111 (Non FA) A W Jukes; Blonde 127p, 123p C & J Georgetti & Sons; British Blue 131p, 124p Burden Bros; Sussex 119p £748 (Non FA) Mrs P Dumbreck, 117p Torry Hill Farms and 115p Farrant Bros.

We were short of best meat, in general, amongst the dairy culls with some notable exceptions. Dried off cows really can respond to best feeding and those with this opportunity are reaping a good reward. Leaner cow trade is improving though buyers are conscious of waste.

Holstein Friesians 122p and  £1080, 116p, 113p from A E Daw & Son and 116p W G & T A Manford; British Friesian 122p, 118p, 112p Debden Court and Guernsey 95p, 90p £729    W G & T A Manford.

A few heavyweight steers sold well with over 4 year old Shorthorns to 125p £928 and Herefords to 120p £950( Non FA). Maiden Holstein Friesian heifers made  to 138p £1011 from A E Daw & Son.

A Limousin stock bull made £1216 and 118p

Report on trade: A good entry of store cattle sold well throughout with plenty of customers at ringside keen to purchase and a real shame there were so many not forward for various reasons from the original catalogue.

In the breeding section in calf Aberdeen Angus cows, bn 2008, made to £700 and pedigree Charollais and Hereford maiden heifers, £960 and £890 from J Boomaars.

Young beef bred single suckled cattle sold exceptionally well with the majority in the £800 to £900 bracket and smart 9 mths British Blue cross heifers well sold at £790 from J C & P C Dallaway.

See details in the store cattle report above

Report on trade: How good to see over 100 calves on offer and buyers keen to bid for all breeds, shapes and sizes. Black and white bulls saw the greatest benefit from this strong demand with 57 sold to average £92 right through the sale with only a hand full below £50 and the majority £80 to £165. Competition was very strong from start to finish 10 buyers and 16 sellers supported the sale and highlights included:

Simmental Bulls to £375 at 8 weeks from H O Champneys Ltd

Simmental Bulls to £335 at 3 weeks from F W Hamblyn & Son

British Blue Bulls to £370 at 8 weeks from H O Champneys Ltd

Simmental Bulls to £320 at 5 weeks from F W Hamblyn & Son

British Blue Heifers to £312 at 8 weeks from H O Champneys Ltd

Simmental Heifers to £315 at 7 weeks from H O Champneys Ltd

Sussex bulls to £245 at 7 weeks from W S Furnival Ltd

South Devon bulls to £278 at 5 weeks from W S Furnival Ltd

Holstien bulls to £142 at 8 to 14 weeks from M W Goddard with 9 averaging £103

Holstien bulls to £165 at 8 to 14 weeks from N J & G M Lambert with 8 averaging £138

Please note we do not expect many, if any, calves on Tuesday 20^th December. The next substantial entry will be on Tuesday 3^rd January

Please keep your entries of calves coming. At our fortnightly sales we expect to have plenty of enquiries for all shapes, sizes and ages of stock. Thank you all for texts and messages with early notice of your entries for forthcoming sales – it does help.

Please confirm entries on Monday so we can inform the buyers.

Report on trade: Good finished pigs continue to attract strong demand and make good prices with a short entry in the pens. The best run were 17 Pietrain crosses from S J M Evans which made to £127 per pig and 137p per kg averaging £122. Mr R White saw 3 of his best make 152p and £112 with Brockhill Park YFC topping the day with 3 Peitrain crosses at £154p and £138.

Sows were much of a stand trade with good heavy pigs the best sold on the day to 52p with the rest 49 and 50p with 3 grossing over £179. Boars made to 50p and grossed to £164.

Demand for stores was limited and a potentially in pig sow made £145.

Please note we do not expect many, if any, pigs on Tuesday 20^th December. The next substantial entry will be on Tuesday 3^rd January

Show Lamb carcase sale report – 89 exhibited and 75 sold

Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07748 202688

Report on trade: This was a again an excellent quality entry in this most interesting section of the Ashford pre Christmas show. 89 carceses were hung with 2 of the counties most capable (and now retired) butchers in Ron Cooper (Aldington) and Doug Marchant (Bethersden) undertaking the task of cutting and presenting the entry and then the youngster in our trio of butchers Robert Martin of Seal near Sevenoaks judging the classes. 7 classes and championship were judged and first prize winners were (Romneys, other natives, Texel crosses light / heavy Beltex crosses and other continentals.

Caroline Worley’s Beltex stood out from the pack and was awarded champion and then subsequently purchased by the judge for £9 per kg and £234. Mrs Lizzie Sargent’s carcase stood reserve which was a Blue Texel x Beltex and was purchased by Offham Farmshop, Lewes for £7 and £210. Well done Caroline – 6 times in reserve spot and now a champion

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General news

Updated 6^thDecember 2016

Wanted – trained mid aged working sheepdog, preferably a bitch. Ring 01424 870892

For Sale – 2 Collie puppies from working puppies, ready to go plus one 9 mth old part trained Collie dog. North kent – please ring Keith on 07850224330

For Sale – Working Collie dog pup, Tri colour and 8 weeks old. Ready to go. East Kent – please ring Cara on 07805343970 or 01227709833 (evenings).

Kent Herdsmans Club dates – Monday 10th December at 7.30pm – Christmas dinner and results of annual photographic competion.

For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Sandra Brown on 01233 502796 or Jo Masters 01580 240568

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From Hobbs Parker Property Consultants

Available to rent – Sheep building at Udimore near Rye available for a 1 year term from 1^st January 2017.

Steel framed 90’ x 60’ building with small paddock adjacent. *Suitable for sheep only (not bale storage) due to low eaves height*. Owner can put in chalk floor for new occupant . Spring-fed water connected with 4 troughs Viewings by appointment by contacting Sophie  on 01233 506201.

Further farm buildings may be available, please enquire

Available to rent – Approx 100 acres of grazing to let on yearly licence basis.  Bridge, Canterbury.  Suitable for sheep grazing or hay.  No services.  All enquires to Matthew Sawdon on 012330 506201.

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Lairage bookings for Monday and Thursday evenings

Please ring David Martin on 07860 114650 to confirm when you are delivering stock to the market for overnight lairage.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The December edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

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On Friday 16^th December a dispersal sale of professional shepherds equipment on behalf of Mr Jim Caird will take place.

We will offer these lots immediately after the sheep sale at approximately 1pm.

The approximately 60 lots will include a Prattley 20 gate mobile sheep handling system, Yamaha Grizzly 700cc quad bike, Ritchie combi clamp c/w tow kit, Sheep turnover crate and scales, conventional baler, Rappa quad bike mounted electric fencer, approx’ 10,000m of assorted electric fencing inc. stakes, wire and netting; shearing equipment inc. 3 machines, droppers, handpieces and a wool packing frame; 3 point linkage mounted saw bench and log splitter, various troughs & feeders and other assorted livestock equipment.

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Kent Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and FCN

Invite you to Carols at Christmas

For children and adults of all ages

Tuesday 13^th December at 6 for 6.30 p.m.

In the cattle ring here in Ashford Market

Courtesy of Hobbs Parker and the Ashford Cattle Market Co

Entry is free so come as you are (dress warmly) and enjoy

Free mulled wine and mince pies

Nativity play, with authentic smells,

including live animals, to be performed by Brockhill Young Farmers Club

Raffle- Christmas Hamper donated by Perry Court Farm Shop

Music and singing led by Bill Jones (Headmaster of Spring Grove School)

For further information contact Richard Beaugie 01233 732580 or randjbeaugie@gmail.com