Weekly Sales News – 7th December 2021

Top price per kilo & Top price per head – 324p & £178 – Mr A Town

Report on trade: A much larger entry this week with over 2,000 lambs on offer including the stores with another great trade for all types. A few prize winners from the South East Primestock Show were offered for sale by A Town and these topped both the price per head and price per kilo rankings this week at £178 & 324p kg respectively.

Overall averages were back slightly on last week but this can be explained with the lack of show sheep this week and the overall trade could be viewed as being on a par with 7 days ago. Some super runs of sheep, which travelled from far across the South East, with J Wayman, Leatherhead being the star of this week’s sale with over 300 lambs selling to  AVERAGE £143/head! Other runs of note from W & P New T/A Moorhouse Farm, M R Woodroofe and Mrs J Walker who all sold over £145, with the overall entry of finished lambs averaging £126/head.

Handier weighted sorts were also in demand for both the export trade and for the home trade ethnic butchers and these have sold from 270-310p topping at 316p from N A Balcomb & Son.

Auctioneer: James Cook O’Connell

Top price ewe: £138 from C R & G Daws. Top price ram: £147 from Ben Foy.

Report on trade: Another fantastic trade for all types of ewes with a large selection of leaner sorts on offer. Good meat ewes ranging from £90 – £120 with the middle meats ranging from £70 – £100 and lean ewes ranging from £50 – £70. We also sold 5 goats which topped at £96 from C Higgins. More ewes can be sold without any negative effect on the trade, but please advise us of any large numbers you wish to send over the Christmas period.

Top prices included-

Continentals to £138 from C R & G Daws

Suffolk cross to £129 from J Trumper

Mules to £108 from B Foy Ltd

Romneys to £118 from P Ibbott

Report on trade: Beef trade holding firm despite downward pressure from major deadweight abattoirs.

The best on offer sold readily in excess of 240p with a run from W Alexander (Shoreham) taking the pick of the trade with Limousin cross steers at £1552 (255p), £1515 (249p) and heifer £1308 (241p) while other top prices included Limousin cross steer £1495 (236p) from J Hooker & Son, Blonde cross steer £1436 (238p) from G L Boulden & Sons and British Blue cross steer £1329 (224p) from W S Furnival Ltd.

Well fleshed Friesian bred cattle from A J Down again sold at similar levels with Limousin x Friesian steer £1395 (239p), British Blue x Friesian heifer £1395 (237p) and Limousin x Friesian heifer £1319 (230p).

Few native bred cattle on offer with heavy weight Aberdeen Angus cross heifer grossing well at £1442 (208p) and £1336 (203p) from Leggat Farming Ltd.

Report on trade: A huge number of cull cattle forward this week as the weather makes its mark and obviously many producers are getting tidy for the long run, and as scanning and weaning comes to an end. Quality quite variable with some very good, fleshed beef cows, plenty of feeding beef types of all ages, a mixed quality entry of dairy culls, and finally a larger entry of minority breeds with Dexters and Jerseys in numbers.

Trade again remaining very positive with no fewer than 16 individual successful buyers and still a few who tried but failed!

Best of the younger smart continental feeders up and around the 200p level, whilst the good fed assured beef cows 140-190p, with plenty grossing in excess of £1300 /head. Confidence in all grades of feeding and grazing cows but perhaps the leanest and the oldest just a shade easier with weather not helping the outdoor cows. Only 7 beef cows under 100p which tells its own story.

Charolais 203p, 185p, 164p, 157p, 152p, £1373, £1347, £1316, £1238 J Boomaars, 175p £1326 P Taylor, 149p £1023 (Non-FA) N Morgan, 144p £1303 (Non-FA) A J Strand & Sons; Limousin cross 198p, 188p, 185p, 170p £1215, £1165, £1125, £1080 J  Loveridge;  Sussex cross 187p, 154p, 145p, 143p, £1222, £1080 (2), £1004 T Masters, 142p, 136p £1049 D T Marden; Sussex 176p, 160p, 155p, £1124, £1116, £1000 Torry Hill Farms, 158p £1166(Non-FA) Mrs P Dumbreck, 145p £1113 (Non-FA) R Horsman; British Blue x 152p £1007 (Non-FA) A Gillem-Bussey; Hereford 142p, 138p,136p,£1132, £1114 J Boomaars;  Angus 139p £914 J Batchelor & Ptnrs, 139p D Mackelden, 134p £1075 J Boomaars; South Devon 139p £1168 (Non-FA) AJ Strand & Sons; Longhorn 139p £1032 (Non- FA) T Offen.

Flesh is wanted from the dairy culls and the best heavy fleshed cows could push towards 140p but more generally 120-130p for better types. Leaner and lighter types more difficult in comparison but nevertheless strong competition at all levels. Dexters and light Jerseys have limited outlets but found good competition.

Holstein Friesian heifers to 178p £1021 G D & E E Field; Holstein Friesian cows to 138p £1100 J E Scutt & Sons; 129p,122p £996 G D & E E Field; 127p £1063 P J Forknall; 126p, 120p Falconhurst Farm; Foreign Danish Red to 90p £600; Jerseys to 86p £415 S E Lane & Ptnrs; Dexter’s to 69p £264 (Non-FA) Mrs A Duke.

Stock bulls a firm trade with Sussex handy weight to 167p; Limousin (Non-FA) 114p £970; South Devon 113p £1295; White Park 98p £912 (Non-FA).

Overall a tremendous day in the section and thanks to all involved. Sell Live and Thrive!

Report on trade: A good show of store cattle for the time of year and all regular customers were at ringside keen to do business. Overall trade was competitive throughout with strong stores to finish short term particularly sought after.

The best youngsters attracted prices in excess of £750 with smart 8 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steers selling exceptionally well and topping at £985 from Vexour Pedigree Cattle.

Stronger stores sold readily in excess of £1,000 with the pick including 16 mths Limousin cross steer £1,215 from D G & J W Gore; a run of 18 mths Limousin cross steers topping at £1,305 from R & H Vincent; 26 mths Charolais heifer to £1,310 from J Loveridge; and a 20 mths Hereford steer topping the native section at £1,140 from D J Marden.

Store cattle are wanted and more could be sold at favourable prices with keen buyers from all parts of the country in attendance.                                                                         

Principal prices include  

Continental cross

8 mths Charolais steer                                        £940                       Vexour Pedigree Cattle

10 mths Charolais cross steer                           £900                       S Goodsell

12 mths Simmental bull                                     £965                       M W & L R Rix

12 mths Charolais bull                                        £990                       Vexour Pedigree Cattle

16 mths Limousin cross steer                            £1215                    D G & J W Gore

16 mths British Blue x Friesian steer                £1030                    F W Hamlyn & Son

18 mths Limousin cross steer                            £1305                    R & H Vincent

18 mths Limousin cross heifer                          £995                       R J Husk

21 mths Charolais heifer                                    £1190                    Luandy Farming Ltd

26 mths Limousin cross steer                            £1230                    C Langridge

26 mths Charolais heifer                                    £1310                    J Loveridge

Native Bred

8 mths Aberdeen Angus cross steer                £985                       Vexour Pedigree Cattle

9 mths Hereford cross steer                               £880                       R Carr Partnership

16 mths Hereford cross steer                            £895                       F Pearce & Sons

16 mths Hereford cross heifer                           £970                       F Pearce & Sons

18 mths Hereford cross steer                            £1000                    Burnt Oak Farm & Kennels

20 mths Hereford steer                                       £1140                    D J Marden

Report on trade: An absolutely electric trade from start to finish today with a high of £480 for an exceptional British Blue x heifer from P J Forknall. An entry of over 100 calves saw multiple accounts opened and many trailers filled for the outward journey.

A good mix of continental bulls forward with Blues to £415 (x2) from T Castle & Son, £400 from J E Scutt & Sons, and £400 from D Murdoch & Sons. Charolais, as ever, well sort after with an entry from the Falconhurst Estate to £420 (x2) and £400. Simmentals from R & J Ledger to £340 to complete the continental bull entry. A handy selection of native bulls with Angus to £370 (x2) from J W Boyd & Sons, Herefords to £240, £230 & £220 from Falconhurst Estate and Longhorns to £260 from Goddard & Son.

Heifers a tremendous trade particularly for those best well marked Blues with a top of £480 and £465 from P J Forknall, J E Scutt & Sons sold Blues to £390 and the usual consignment from Hickson Bros topped at £360. Charolais heifers to £330 and £320 (x2) from Falconhurst Estate. Limousin’s topped at £400 from T Caste & Son. Native heifers perhaps a little easier with a top of £260 from A & W J Hitchcock for their run of Angus, Herefords whilst those from the Falconhurst Estate topped at £190.

Dairy calves well sought after, particularly for those forward showing a little more maturity, trade topping at £150 for a Holstein Friesian from A & W J Hitchcock, with W G & T A Manford also selling a Holstein to £145. Most of the older better framed dairy calves £100- £150, younger types generally £50- £80.

Weanlings –11 sold

Demand for weanlings continues with a top of £460 for a Limousin bull at 5mths from Alastair Boyd & Co. The same vendor also topped the heifer section with another Limousin at 7mths to £430. A run of black and white steers from R Clark topped at £280.

A reminder that we are able to offer calves from Arla vendors under 56 days old subject to a declaration being signed by the purchaser, any queries on this please do get in touch.

Cattle Producers, Please Note

Producers from all counties are reminded that if a beast is at any time in its life identified as an Inconclusive Reactor then they are unable to move it off their holding to any other place other than a place of slaughter, irrespective of any subsequent test that may turn out negative. They are not allowed to come to Ashford Cattle Market for onward movement to slaughter.

Hay and Straw register

For a small charge we are quite happy to advertise your hay, straw, and fodder for sale in this register which will now run until early May for further details please ring our auctioneers office on 01233 502222.

For Sale – Conventional baled and 4 string big bales meadow hay on a farm in the Ashford area. Can be delivered. Ring Michael on 07715651766 or 01233 820261

For Sale – large quantities of hay, hayledge and straw in the Ashford area. Ring 07707 879642

For Sale – large quantities of top-notch feed and bedding – Round bale naked hay, Round bale wrapped haylage, Mini Hesston bales naked hay, Half Mini Hesston bales wrapped haylage, Round bale wrapped silage, Round bale naked wheat straw, Round bale naked barley straw, Round bale naked oat straw, Whole Oats in 1 tonne weighed bags, Whole Wheat in crane bags, Logs of all varieties, shapes, sizes and prices.

All from our own Red Tractor certified farms (with full field traceability) and keenly priced ex farm or delivered locally or nationwide. Richard Barnes (Farms) Ltd, Etchingham, TN19 7AZ.

01580 819000, 07768 771933

Southern Rover Club news

The Southern Rover Owners Club (SROC) are a long-established group of local enthusiasts covering Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Essex and are seeking areas of land for the occasional use of Land Rover based competitive motor sport. They are looking for any areas with rough terrain including scrubland, former quarries, and accessible woodland. The ground can include open grassland, hillsides and slopes, rocky terrain, and boggy areas. They normally visit each site once a year and have a scale of fees they pay, depending on the type of event held. References from existing landowners can be provided. All their events are run under permits and insurances issued by Motor Sport UK and are governed by technical regulations compiled by both the MSUK and the Association of Land Rover Clubs.

The format for events is that several short courses will be set out over rough terrain with drivers expected to negotiate each section from start to finish without incurring penalties. There are no time or speed elements involved. Events are similar to Motorcycle trials in nature.

If you are able to offer any suitable land or would like to know more about the club or events, please email Graham Bridgland at competitionsec@sroc.co.uk. More information can be seen at www.sroc.co.uk

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

For Sale privately – 10 Holstein Friesian in calf heifers, due January. 2 ½ yrs. old, fully vaccinated, TB4. Contact Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Wanted – Roll over sheep crate and square hay rack by a North Kent farmer please ring 01622-737055 / 07976 921689.