Weekly Sales News – 7th February 2017

 

 


120 sellers and 90 buyers traded livestock with us this week. The strength of the auction system producing a fair price for a huge range of size and quality of livestock remains as true today as it always has. An open and transparent trading system. Read on for our reports on business done …….


Finished Sheep

2055 Sold

 

Report on trade: Another increased entry in the pens as we get further into the season for finishing hoggets and more and more sheep are being drawn from root crops. Nationally the trade has not been quite the levels we would like to see for the time of year with the total price per head down by almost £10 on the corresponding week last year. With this in mind we have still seen a slight improvement in the trade despite what the averages may reflect with more lambs selling in excess of 180p per kg and more in excess of £80 to a better top price of £84 from P Mills and £83 from R L Goodman & Son. Lighter weight sheep are certainly the easier to sell with 38kg from Botley Hill Farms selling to £75.50 (199p) with other 39kg and 40kg sheep from S King selling to 190p and 191p respectively.

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.

 

                                                Hogget prices 
KgsTop PriceAve PriceTop Vendorp per kg 
3668.5061.19S King190.0 
3764.0059.69R T, J B & I Lockwood173.0 
3875.5066.37Botley Hill Farm199.0 
3974.0067.11S King190.0 
4076.5068.63S King191.0 
4176.0068.54H & J Noakes185.0 
4278.5072.57S King187.0 
4376.5071.84H & J Noakes178.0 
4482.0069.79A Town186.0 
4576.5072.37M & R Morton170.0 
4677.0071.83R L Goodman & Son167.0 
4779.5074.81P Mills169.0 
4877.0074.32Mrs J Walker160.0 
4979.0074.69J G & D G D White161.0 
Hoggets – pence per kg  
Weight RangeNumberTopBottomAverageNational Av
Light 25.5 to 32 kgs10159.0129.0156.00142.7 
Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs444199.0122.0170.19168.9 
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs924191.067.0166.67175.9 
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs475169.0130.0156.13163.2 
Other 52 kgs +200158.0118.0146.93147.3

Cull Ewes and Rams

512 sold

Report on trade: An improved trade throughout the entry with the best meated ewes in good demand and the overall average increased by £12. Leaner sorts were sold on a similar level to last week but the top end were greatly improved with all breeds being competed for. Ewe numbers have declined a little on the week with the scanning period well underway and therefore once again we see a case of supply and demand pushing prices up.

Continental ewes made to £93 from Link Bros, Suffolk crosses to £86 form R J Horsman, Mules to £75.50 from the same vendor and Romneys to £75 from W

Store and breeding Sheep

1389 Sold

Report on trade: Another large entry of store tegs made up of mainly medium and long term sorts sold to a similar strong trade with the better pens selling readily around £60 and only very small sorts below £50. This trade looks very favourable alongside the returns currently available in the finished section. Average: Top £62.50 to £14 (aver £48.35)

The first sale of breeding sheep of 2017 started with just under 500 in lamb ewes on offer from 4 vendors, all of which were being offered for sale following decisions to reduce flock size. Over 300 ewes were offered for John Paine Farms and these sold to a top price of £88 for some Suffolk crosses that were scanned in lamb to a Charollais at 200%. Most of the ewes offered traded between £70-80 with some Charollais ewe tegs from Mrs P Rosato making to £82.

We will be offering further consignments of in lamb ewes on Tuesday 14th February – see front of this report for details

 Top store teg prices include:                                                                                                                        

Charollais cross£62.50W Maylam Farms
Charollais cross£59.50P G & N L Brightling
Charollais cross59.50H F Brown & Son
Suffolk cross£60.00J H & A H Godden, L E Humphreys & Son
Texel cross£60.00T Hope Jnr
Texel cross£58.00R J & E F B Russell & Son
Crossbred£60.00C P Fuggle & Sons

Finished Cattle

51 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: A tidy entry of just over 50 cattle met a strong and positive trade with a good attendance of buyers looking for fleshed cattle of all weights. Finish was most important and though Farm Assurance remains an advantage plenty of customers are ready to take the right cattle whatever their status.

A well presented quality British Blue steer from the High Weald Academy YFC clearly topped the day at 226p per kg and £1409. No other high flyers today but good smart commercial cattle made around 200p mark. A cracking run of homebred Simmental cross cattle from T Pateman & Sons were well received with their steers making to 190p and £1320, heifers to 204p and £1186. Blondes from G L Boulden & Sons made to 202p and Sussex from L Stevens & Sons to 190p. A good run of British Blue x Friesians from K Budd saw steers to 190p £1287 and heifers 193p £1094.

Sussex cross young bulls were a good trade at 179p and 177p from M J Booth.

 

Finished cattle averages – pence per kg 
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage 
Light steers (370-550kg)1179.5179.5179.5 
Medium steers (551-650kg)13225.5124.5179.2 
Heavy steers (over 650kg)9189.5171.5181.2 
  Light heifers (330-500kg)1176.5176.5176.5 
  Medium heifers (501-590kg)9203.5183.5191.1 
Heavy heifers (over 590kg)6188.5179.5185.2 
Leading steer prices 
VendorWeight KgsBreedP per KgGross £ 
The High Weald Academy62523 mths British Blue226.01413 
G L Boulden & Sons57623 mths Blonde202.01164 
K E Budd59528 mths British Blue190.01131 
T Pateman & Sons69522 mths Simmental190.01321 
L Stevens & Sons56022 mths Sussex190.01064 
Leading heifer prices 
T Pateman & Sons520    20 mths Simmental204.01061
T Pateman & Sons550    22 mths Simmental194.01067
K E Budd520    28 mths British Blue193.01004
K E Budd55528 mths British Blue192.01066
T Pateman & Sons516   21 mths Simmental191.0986

Cull Cows

110 Sold

Auctioneer: Richard Wood

Report on trade: The cow trade remains extremely positive and though we had an entry today that contained a lot more leaner, older cows for feeding the trade overall was every bit as dear as we have seen it during the last month. Cows are coming from a wide area and with definitely more customers around the sale ring the cow trade shows strong positive signs for the future.

Best meat beef cows made 130-140p per kg with no real smart purebreds this week. Feeding confidence was high though buyers are obviously more cautious with the older and leanest. Simmental 140p, 138p, 137p and £1141, £1060 from G Bates; 134p, 132p 128p T Roberts & Son and 130p D J Cornforth; Limousin 137p A J Britton and 133p B Sutton; Blonde 136p £976 (Non FA) K Loveridge; Aberdeen Angus 133p, 128p £1028 B Sutton, 129p K Loveridge, 128p (2) £976 M A & F W Owen, 128p M J Ashworth and  128p, 127p J Seath; Sussex cross 128p, 127p £912 K Loveridge; Beef Shorthorn 127p T Roberts & Son;  Devon 124p £1052 David Potter Farms; Hereford 122p £893 Dan Mackelden and Sussex 117p, 116p, 115p (2) (Non FA) from N G Harrison & Son.

Flesh wanted from the dairy cull section but the lean cows do look very well sold indeed. British Friesian 135p J Gormley; 126p,125p £960 PHR Farms and 121p £952 T Pateman & Sons; Holsteins 124p, 120p £1044 J Leggat & Son; 118p £1182, 117p M W Goddard; Brown Swiss 125p (2) £979  D Murdoch & Sons; Ayrshire 113p, 112p £804 J Howie and Jersey 88p, 85p,81p (2) Hickson Bros.

Another good day.

 

 Cull cattle section – pence per kg
ClassificationNoTopBottomAverage
Beef cows65139.561.5112.3
Dairy cows45134.559.598.0

Store Cattle

130 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: A reasonable show of store cattle and weaned calves for early February met a marvellous trade with plenty of customers for all grades and ages. Confidence in the beef trade and good amounts of feed for the late yarding is all helping. More cattle are now wanted.

Young bulls were a good trade with Aberdeen Angus bulls 10mths £670 from Vexour Charolais and Limousin 8mths £565 Beslee Farms.

Weaned calves wanted but buyers looking for good growth for age. Yearling suckler bred cattle were a first class trade and more now wanted for this seasons grazing and yarding. South Devon steers 10mths £650 E & J Beer; Hereford cross steers 9mths £665 Vexour Charolais; Sussex cross steer 9mths £800 and heifers £700 J H Jury & Sons; Charolais steers 9mths £715 and Limousin steers 9mths £675 Thomsett Bros; Limousin steers 9mths £860 and heifers £715 Beslee Farms; Limousin steer 13mths £850 and heifer £810 L J Osborne & Son and Simmental steers 12mths £715 and heifers £620 from Mrs E West.

Stronger cattle were a marvellous trade for grazing or finishing in yards. Aberdeen Angus x Friesian heifers 24mths £880, £750 Beslee Farms; Hereford cross steers 20mths £958, £880 F Pearce & Sons; Beef Shorthorn steer 20mths £870 and heifer £690 T Roberts & Son; Blonde steers 24mths £1095, Limousin steers 24mths £1000 and Simmental steers 24mths £1020, £1005 A G Young & Sons and Limousin x Sussex heifers 22mths £915 from Maytham Wharf Farms.

Overall, a very positive day with demand for all cattle.

Breeding Cattle

1 Bull and 40 Females Sold

Report on trade: Two herd dispersals / reductions made up the entry and even with only short notice for the sale the word went round and plenty of potential purchasers were on hand to bid for the stock. The cows and heifers were generally not the strongest or carrying masses of flesh but were all scanned in calf for spring and early summer calving and demand was strong.

Beslee Farms herd reduction saw young Aberdeen Angus and black Limousin cross 2011 and 2012 cows make to £895 and 8 average £840 with their 2013 born Sussex crosses to £750 and 4 averaging £712. All were in calf to Limousin bull.

P Lingham and Ptnrs herd dispersal of native breed cows in calf to Aberdeen Angus and Hereford registered bulls saw young Sussex and Sussex cross cows make to £780 and 11 averaging £701 with the whole consign ment of 26 averaging £667. 3 british White heifers made £600 and a 2013 Belted Galloway cow £800.

A 2013 Sussex bull (non pedigree) made £720 to live and work.

Calves

0 Sold

Store and Finished Pigs

0 Sold

General information

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.

DEFRA regularly remind us of our responsibilities regarding unfit animals. No unfit animal should be exposed for sale in a market.

All animals should be fit to travel. All in milk cows should to be milked out prior to movement to market. Do not present lame sheep or those, for any reason, which are not fit to be transported.

Notices – Nick Husk

The family have asked us to advise the very sad and untimely passing of Nick after a fight with illness. Nick was well known within farming circles in East Kent and market community here in Ashford and will be terribly missed, particularly by family and close friends.

There will be a service at Barham Crematorium on Wednesday 1st March at 12 noon.

Livestock for sale by private treaty – ex farm

Updated 7th February 2017             

12 Various cross beef cows (herd ages) and due to calf from mid march to Aberdeen Angus bulls on an East Kent – TB Low

23 British Blue x Friesian young cows scanned in calf from mid March to Limousin bulls (pick 10 or more) on a North Kent farm – TB Low

South East Point to Point Meetings (www.pointingse.com)

Updated 24th January 2017              

The fixture list for the season has been circulated with this report recently. Further copies are available here in the market

Sunday 19th February – South East Hunts Club; Charing, Kent. TN27 0JS – 12noon

Sunday 5th March – Mid Surrey Farmers Drag; Godstone, Surrey. RH9 8DB, Surrey – 1pm

Saturday 18th March – Crawley & Horsham; Parham, Storrington, West Sussex. RH20 2ER – 1.45pm

For information on all livestock sales please contact at anytime

Elwyn Davies (Sheep) 07710 803901

Peter Kingwill (Cattle) 07795 200357

Mark Cleverdon (Pigs/Calves) 01233 506288

John Rossiter (Sheep) 07557 3929033

Martin Crowhurst (Cattle/Sheep) 07710 803903

Simon Husk (Cattle/Sheep) 07885 968077

Hay, Straw and fodder

Updated 2nd February 2017

For Sale – 157 Massey Ferguson 8’ x 4’ 6 string bales of 2016 season gathered winter barley straw, stored dry. East Kent. Ring 07703 130575

For Sale – 2000 Conventional bales of 2016 season made meadow hay. East Kent. Ring 07885 305520.

For Sale – 150 Claas Quadrant 2016 season gathered winter barley straw, stored dry. Ashford area. Ring 07850 789113.

For Sale – upto 500 Conventional bales of 2016 season made hay. West Kent. Ring 07905 269113.

For Sale – 200 Mini Hesston 4 string bales oat straw, 800 4′ round bales wheat straw and 100 Mini Hesston 4 string bales, 600 4′ round bales and 200 4′ round bales of  hay. Transport can be arranged get at cost. East Sussex. Ring 01580 819000 or 07768 771933

For Sale –200 Round bales of 2016 season made meadow hay. Maidstone area. Ring 07813 741636

For Sale – 50 Round wrapped bales of 2016 season made haylage from organically farmed grassland. Mid Kent. Ring 01233 756468.

For Sale – 500 bales of 5` long mini Hesston bales of July 2016 meadow grass haylage with delivery available at cost. Chiddingfold, Surrey. Ring 01428 654695 or 07966 452256.

For Sale – 300 to 400 wrapped 4 string bales of 2016 season haylage and 50 7’ long 6 string bales of meadow hay. Kent / Sussex borders. Ring 07773 384271 or 07973 634519.

For Sale – up to 1,000 tonnes of 2016 season clamped maize silage and large quantities of hay. Ring 07860 623196.

To advertise your stocks in this section please speak to Mark Cleverdon or Adam Leonard for details of our very reasonable charges

RABI, FCN, Kent Herdsmans, Ashford Cattle Show and YFC Club news

Updated 7th February 2017

Forthcoming dates, including many fund raising events, begin with farmhouse breakfasts including Wednesday 15th February here in Ashford Market at 8.30am. Ring Chris Older 01233 720395 or Richard Beaugie 01233 732580 for full details. £12.50

Dates of other events will be published again in future weeks bulletins.

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 13th February at 7.30pm. AGM followed by Mark Cleverdon speaking about his experiences as an Auctioneer – at the Conningbrook Hotel, Canterbury Road, Ashford. TN24 8QR. For all details on Herdsman’s Club events contact Chairman Sandra Brown on 01233 502796 or Jo Masters 01580 240568

Ashford Cattle Show

The recent prize giving was well attended and a cheque for £3,680 was presented to Macmillen Cancer Support by our president Bryan Judges.

The Annual General meeting will take place on Wednesday 22nd February at 6pm here in the Market.

Weald of Kent YFC – a new club

This new young farmers club is being launched and the trustees are promoting an initial fundraising event.

Saturday 25th February at 7.30pm – The Big Farming Quiz at Marden Cricket and Hockey Club. Teams of upto six welcome and for more details email: eckleyfarms@waitrose.com.