Weekly Sales News – 7th May 2019

Top price per kilo – 243p – Normanstone Farms: Top price per head – £104 – Mr B Head

Report on trade: Another good entry of hoggets with over 2,500 penned which was good for the first week of May when we would normally be expecting to see a downturn in numbers. Trade was different to last week, with some sheep selling better and some not so strong.

Prices were very mixed from start to finish but this was also the case in terms of the quality for the sheep on offer with many end of season entries from producers. Trade was strong, but very mixed with averages up on last week by approximately 5p but the most improved trade was the heavier sheep as there were 50% less of them on offer this week! Best continental export grade hoggets were well sold and these were all traded in excess of 200p per kg to a top price of 243p from Normanstone Farms.

New Season Lambs – Top price per kilo – 264p – D Isaac & Miss H Chandler: Top price per head – £108 – C Moss & Sons

Entry size is growing every week in the new season lambs as is the case nationally and with the increase in numbers and the good numbers of hoggets that are still available, trade was just a touch less than last week. The overall quality wasn’t at quite the same level as last week which is represented in the averages. Top quality lambs were still well sold and the best from D Isaac made to 264p (39kg at £103).

Dagging service is still available on all Monday afternoons but please advise us of the number you wish to send.

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.

Cull Ewes and Rams – 273 Sold     

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Report on trade: A small entry of ewes on offer this week, following on from the big numbers we saw last week. Trade is similar to what we have seen in recent weeks with the best meated sorts making in excess of £80, Leaner ewes for slaughter look the best sold with these, half meated sorts selling between £55-65.

Top prices include continental ewes to £90 from G Lawrence & Son, Suffolk crosses to £87 from C Moss & Sons, Romneys to £71 from G Lawrence & Son, Mules to £73 from the same vendor.

Report on trade: As expected fewer numbers of store hoggets were available late in the season however, prices still held well with the best making in excess of £70 and a favourable overall average of £66.20.

Ewe and lambs made up to £93.50 (£39.50 per life) for aged Romney ewes with lambs at foot.

Report on trade: A small entry of lambs sold to a high of £32 for a Lleyn ewe lamb from R Mair & Son. Wethers topped at £18 from K T D Axell. Averages 7 sold averaged £22.14

Sock lambs will be sold at 10.30am every week from now through the lambing season.

Report on trade: Generally trade was slightly firmer on the week with fewer numbers on offer. The best cattle sold readily around 210p per kg while the majority of second quality sorts maden the 185p to 195p range.

Smart Limousin crosses took the pick of the trade with steers topping at £1343 (212p) from G L Boulden & Sons and heifers up to £1216 (212p) and £1193 (214p) from R Price & Son.

The best of the native bred cattle grossed up to £1211 (184p) for Aberdeen Angus cross heifer from A J Thompson & Sons.

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 70 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: Another tremendous day in the cull cow section with excellent numbers for a Bank Holiday Tuesday drawing a strong attendance of buyers for both the fleshed cows, the large proportion of feeding cows and only a few dairy culls this week. Prices remain very high and recent rains can only reassure the grazing men with supplies certainly going to remain tight. Meat is in short supply and competition for all grades is very strong.

The few fleshed beef cows on offer were all keenly contested for with prices generally 120 to140p per kg with the rare smart shaped type soon up over 150p.

Highlights included Limousin crosses 155p, 134p and £942, £928 (Non FA) T Martin; 140p, 139p, 138p, 130p £1032, £919 (FA) L Smith and, 131p, £979 E Chantler & Son; British Blue cross 138p, 134p, 129p, 125p £861 (Non FA) O`Neil Smith; Sussex 134p, 130p, 128p £960, £934, £907 Earl de la Warr and 127p, 126p, 125p (Non FA) R Denyer; Hereford 132p, 128p, £956, £902 M J Burton and Aberdeen Angus cross 125p P N & C Burden.

Only a few dairy culls and generally they were a little short on flesh. A good trade continues as it does for the stock bulls with best continentals achieving exceptional prices.

Top calls included Holstein Friesian 121p £1103 Kingcott Dairy and 120p, 115p £909 New Wharf Farms.

Stock Bulls sold included Limousin 158p £1572, and 137p £1523; Sussex 121p £1133 and Simmental x Sussex 114p £936.

Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.          

Breeding Cattle – 8 Bulls and 26 Females Sold

Auctioneer: Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

Report on trade: As the time to turn the bulls in get closer another 8 were sold this week. 2 Limousins made £2,500 being a L Smith bred 2015 model from I Machin and a young black from Moonlight Hollow Ltd, Colchester. G L Boulden & Sons sold a young Blonde for £2,000 and a pedigree Charolais  born in 17 made £1800.

Females found plenty of customers and A Body sold the major portion of his small herd of Aberdeen Angus cows with young calves to £920 with 8 averaging £835. Further couples made to £1,000

In calf cows made from £820 to £1080 paid for a 2012 born British Blue cow from Mrs K Graham.

Store Cattle – 149 Sold

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A short show of store cattle after the Bank Holiday but with rain on the forecast a noticeable step up in confidence from buyers who were also casting their attention to heifers of all breeds for bulling. We have a good catalogue for next week but numbers will soon fall away in the coming weeks and June doesn’t seem far away!!

A mixed show of young bulls but quality in strong demand with a Limousin, 8 mths £765 from L Smith

Plenty of interest in the grazing yearlings with dairy bred types making £450 to £700 and beef bred types £500 to £900. Sussex steers 13mths £870 J H Jury & Sons and 13 mths £855 and heifers £690 from L Stevens & Sons with Limousin cross steers 12 mths  £770 P M Langridge.

Plenty of interest in heifers suitable for bulling and a good premium over fattening rates. Exaples included British Blue x Limousin heifers 18 mths £990, £930, £900, £830 from Birt Bros; Limousin x Friesian heifers 18 mths £830 O & P Gower; British Blue x Friesian heifers 20 mths £970, £855 I C F Davies; Hereford x Friesian heifers 20 mths £800 I C F Davies and Simmental heifers 15 mths £880 Lawrence & Son.

Feeding cattle and the forward grazing types were again a good trade with the beef trade improving and rain on its way all helping. Simmental cross steer 29 mths £1000 O & P Gower; British Blue x Limousin steers 18 mths £1090, £1000 Birt Bros; Hereford steer 26 mths £1025 P Wheatley; Sussex steers 24 mths £990 P Wheatley and Sussex steers 24 mths £830 and heifers £840 from J G and D G D White.

More cattle will be sold over the coming weeks so please contact us with entries to ensure orderly marketing and cataloguing.

Report on trade: Another tremendous day in the cull cow section with excellent numbers for a Bank Holiday Tuesday drawing a strong attendance of buyers for both the fleshed cows, the large proportion of feeding cows and only a few dairy culls this week. Prices remain very high and recent rains can only reassure the grazing men with supplies certainly going to remain tight. Meat is in short supply and competition for all grades is very strong.

The few fleshed beef cows on offer were all keenly contested for with prices generally 120 to140p per kg with the rare smart shaped type soon up over 150p.

Highlights included Limousin crosses 155p, 134p and £942, £928 (Non FA) T Martin; 140p, 139p, 138p, 130p £1032, £919 (FA) L Smith and, 131p, £979 E Chantler & Son; British Blue cross 138p, 134p, 129p, 125p £861 (Non FA) O`Neil Smith; Sussex 134p, 130p, 128p £960, £934, £907 Earl de la Warr and 127p, 126p, 125p (Non FA) R Denyer; Hereford 132p, 128p, £956, £902 M J Burton and Aberdeen Angus cross 125p P N & C Burden.

Only a few dairy culls and generally they were a little short on flesh. A good trade continues as it does for the stock bulls with best continentals achieving exceptional prices.

Top calls included Holstein Friesian 121p £1103 Kingcott Dairy and 120p, 115p £909 New Wharf Farms.

Stock Bulls sold included Limousin 158p £1572, and 137p £1523; Sussex 121p £1133 and Simmental x Sussex 114p £936.

Please do not hesitate to ring at anytime for marketing advice.          

Report on trade: A short show of store cattle after the Bank Holiday but with rain on the forecast a noticeable step up in confidence from buyers who were also casting their attention to heifers of all breeds for bulling. We have a good catalogue for next week but numbers will soon fall away in the coming weeks and June doesn’t seem far away!!

A mixed show of young bulls but quality in strong demand with a Limousin, 8 mths £765 from L Smith

Plenty of interest in the grazing yearlings with dairy bred types making £450 to £700 and beef bred types £500 to £900. Sussex steers 13mths £870 J H Jury & Sons and 13 mths £855 and heifers £690 from L Stevens & Sons with Limousin cross steers 12 mths  £770 P M Langridge.

Plenty of interest in heifers suitable for bulling and a good premium over fattening rates. Exaples included British Blue x Limousin heifers 18 mths £990, £930, £900, £830 from Birt Bros; Limousin x Friesian heifers 18 mths £830 O & P Gower; British Blue x Friesian heifers 20 mths £970, £855 I C F Davies; Hereford x Friesian heifers 20 mths £800 I C F Davies and Simmental heifers 15 mths £880 Lawrence & Son.

Feeding cattle and the forward grazing types were again a good trade with the beef trade improving and rain on its way all helping. Simmental cross steer 29 mths £1000 O & P Gower; British Blue x Limousin steers 18 mths £1090, £1000 Birt Bros; Hereford steer 26 mths £1025 P Wheatley; Sussex steers 24 mths £990 P Wheatley and Sussex steers 24 mths £830 and heifers £840 from J G and D G D White.

More cattle will be sold over the coming weeks so please contact us with entries to ensure orderly marketing and cataloguing.

Report on trade: As the time to turn the bulls in get closer another 8 were sold this week. 2 Limousins made £2,500 being a L Smith bred 2015 model from I Machin and a young black from Moonlight Hollow Ltd, Colchester. G L Boulden & Sons sold a young Blonde for £2,000 and a pedigree Charolais  born in 17 made £1800.

Females found plenty of customers and A Body sold the major portion of his small herd of Aberdeen Angus cows with young calves to £920 with 8 averaging £835. Further couples made to £1,000

In calf cows made from £820 to £1080 paid for a 2012 born British Blue cow from Mrs K Graham.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales include……

Headcorn Farm Machinery Sale

This Saturday 11^th May at 9.30am.

Don’t miss the annual fixture with 2,000 plus lots on offer

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 14^th June at 9.30am.

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale

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

Ashford Cattle Show summer competitions

Plans are well in hand for these now. Entries are required immediately for the sheep flocks. Entries close next week with judging the following week.

Please contact Marie Prebble 07702 043585 or email: greengrassgrowing@hotmail.co.uk

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Essex Young Farmers County Show at Boyton Hall Farm, Roxwell, nr Chelmsford – Sunday 19^th May – “A great one day Show with something for all the family”. Full details available from Show Secretary on 01245 360442 or email: essexyfc@btconnect.com

Heathfield Show – Saturday 25^th May – For all other show enquiries please ring Show secretary, Nicola Magill, on 01435 864587 or visit www.heathfieldshow.org

** Visit us on our stand – we are pleased again to be sponsoring both Sussex and commercial beef classes in the cattle section **

A show press release is published elsewhere in this report

Surrey County Show – 27^th May – All show enquiries please ring Show secretary, 01483 890810 or visit surreycountyshow.co.uk

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

Wanted – herd person to work with 300 milking cows on a West Kent farm. Ring 07810 444218 for details

Wanted – Stockman/farm labourer wanted at Roundoak Farm Sutton Valence. This is a permanent position all aspects of stock care and maintenance plus ground maintenance. Clean driving licence essential. Please call 07967 009509 or email ruth.roundoak@gmail.com if interested

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs, 91 Club, Kent Herdsmans Club and FCN news

Kent Herdsmans Club

The next meeting is on Monday 13th May 2019 at 7.30pm – visit to Mike Keeley’s Farm,

South Hill Farm, South Hill, Hastingleigh, Ashford. TN25 5HL

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

91 Club news

Do you fancy a 3 day trip from Wednesday 22^nd to Friday 24^th May to include visits to farming establishments and other rural businesses in West Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.??  If so please contact Pip Collick on 07885 933082 for more details.