Weekly Sales News – 8th August 2017

Top price per head – £117 – G & D White. Top price per kilo – 222p – Mrs H V Link

Report on trade: A smaller entry of lambs were penned this week and once again we saw a good trade throughout the entry for all with the well fleshed and heavier lambs the most sought after. The leaner lambs that were on offer sold on a trade comparative to the stores. Nationally, well fed and heavier lambs are in short supply and this has helped to maintain the prices we have seen in the past few months for a longer period of time than would usually be expected. The majority of these lambs made in excess of 200p per kg to a top price of £117 from G & D White and up to 220p from C & J Georgetti (44kg at £97). Export spec continental lambs were also in demand with the best on offer selling to 222p from Ms H V Link which was closely followed by 221p from K Lukehurst. Overall the average was returned at 195p which is 12p up on the corresponding week of 2016.

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.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: A large entry of ewes were penned this week with weaning taking place within a good proportion of flocks in the area. Many leaner sorts were in the pens but many buyers were present to buy ewes to graze on throughout the coming months.

The best end of the ewes would have sold on a comparative trade to recent weeks but the overall averages would have been pulled back by the large number of lean sorts on offer. The top end ewes sold to £100 for Texel ewes  from M Keeley Agri Services and rams to £100 from Mrs R Vant & J Charingbold.

Top prices included Texel ewes to £100 from Mike Keeley Agri Services, Suffolk crosses to £94 from Dan Mackleden Ltd, Mules to £90 from K F & F R Butcher and Romneys to £81 from R H Kingston.

Report on trade: A much better entry both in numbers and quality met a strong trade with the very best butcher type sorts selling in excess of 215p per kg and the majority of commercial sorts ranging in the 180p to 195p. A Limousin cross steer topped the market at £1195 (224p) from H G Tompsett & Sons while a run of smart Limousin cross heifers from W S Furnival (Brookland) sold well with the best at £1343 (219p) and £1196 (222p) and a Limousin cross steer at £1231 (211p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

The best of the commercial sorts made up to £1303 (198p) for a Simmental cross steer from W Alexander (Shoreham) while  a British Blue x Friesian steer made £1129 (197p) from A J Down and a Charolais cross heifer at £1200 (195p) from A & M Lyon.

A few native breeds were on offer with an Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1195 (190p) from G Stokes and a Hereford cross steer grossed well at £1132 (167p) from H G Tompsett & Sons.

Report on trade: There is no stopping the cow trade. Today we had a high proportion of beef cows and very few dairy culls in the pens and demand for best meat cows insatiable, with best heavyweights making up to 180p per kg and close to £1500. This works through into the feeding market where young slips burst the 200p barrier. Keep looking for your non performers and take advantage of this trade.

Simmental cross slips 226p, 178p (Exempt) C E Price & Sons; Limousin cows 180p £1454 C & J Georgetti & Sons, 158p S Husk (Non FA) and 144p J Windibank; Charolais 157p £1019 (Exempt) C E Price & Sons and 145p (Exempt) Langrish Farmers; Sussex 151p, 144p, 143p £1052 West Court Farms, 140p,137p (Non FA) P Ashlee, 137p £976 (Non FA) A Rawlinson and Sussex cross 152p (Exempt) Langrish Farmers; Simmental 147p, 146p, 144p £1120, £1010 (Non FA) B Mummery; Aberdeen Angus 143p £933 C & J Georgetti & Sons and 140p (Non FA) P Ashlee.

A small show of leaner dairy culls were all very well sold with Holstein maiden heifers 157p, 152p £908 Ledger Farms; Holstein cows 139,137p(2) £996 Ledger Farms and Brown Swiss 147p Kingcott Dairy.

An overage 3 yr old + Aberdeen Angus steer made 155p and £1221; a similar aged Holstein steer 138p £949 and a Charolais stock bull £1170 105p.

Report on trade: A large entry of store cattle for the time of year attracted a good attendance of buyers from the Midlands and Eastern counties in addition to the regular local customers. The trade was brisk throughout with the best beef bred single suckled yearlings making in excess of £800 and strong cattle to finish short term in excess of £1000.

The two major runs of the day comprised 40 yearlings beef bred Limousin and Aberdeen Angus cross steers and heifers from R Brown & Daughter which sold exceptionally well up to £900 and a run of 50 2yr old Sussex steers and heifers from West Court Farm which attracted lots of interest and sold up to £925 and £795 respectively.

Principal prices include:                                                                                                                  

Report on trade: For a mid summer fixture this was a tremendous entry of breeding stock and the “bus” from Norfolk and roads from all other parts of the east and south of England brought prospective customers to the ring supporting the view that the beef trade is in a good place and stock is required to continue supplying quality British beef to the end user. 16 Individuals purchased stock, many other good men tried and 15 farmers sold.

At the heart of the sale was the Mummery families dispersal of purebred Simmental cows farmed in East Kent for nearly 40 years (originally pedigree) producing purebred calves. 11 couples were offered with the incalf cows and calves making to £2000 and averaging 1655 and the 8 incalf cows £1500 and averaging £1286. The 7 year old bull made £1300 to live and work. This was a true example of well bred strong cows shown honestly as a genuine dispersal producing very good sales figures.

A run of 15 Simmental cross cows with young summer calves from New house Farm (Twineham) for Charlie Davies made to £1575 and averaged £1357 and an exceptional 2012 born Limousin cross cow with a July born calf £1630 from P N & C Burden. All in all a solid days business in this section.

DEFRA and our Local Authority trading standards officers regularly remind us of our responsibilities regarding unfit animals. No unfit animal should be exposed for sale in a market.

We have been reminded by the Local Authority that it is against current Welfare and Market Regulations to move stock to market, or any other holding, in the final stages of pregnancy (final 4 weeks). Please be careful with dates on breeding stock and cull stock that might turn out to be in lamb or in calf.

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. Thanks for your attention to these matters.

Vacancy at the Romney Sheep Breeders Society

We are looking for a keen, motivated, enthusiastic secretary to get involved in and help run the Romney Sheep Breeders Society.  The position will suit someone who has some knowledge of sheep, is media savvy and can communicate well with farmers.  This is a part time role consisting of two/three days per month based in the Kent/Sussex area.

Please contact Alan Barr on 07881654513 or alan@barrfarms.co.uk for further details.

Livestock for sale

1 Pedigree Limousin Bull, 4 yrs old available, ex farm. TB Low. Contact Mark Cleverdon for details – 07748 202688

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Hobbs Parker Auctioneers and Car Auctions

run over 200 auction sales every year

Our next Auction Sales are ……

Horse & Saddlery Sale

Thursday 10^th August 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

Commercial Vehicles

Thursday 17^th August at 3.00pm

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

Special Vehicle sale

Monday 29^th August from 10am

This auction of cars will include a special sales of 4 X 4, Diesel, sports and high performance, commercial and general vehicles. Upto 500 vehicles will be on site and in the sale.

Puddock Farm, Fairfield, Brookland, Romney Marsh

Thursday 14th September

Farm dispersal sale of arable machinery and equipment. Entry forms are available for local farmers to include items in this sale.

Sale of Boats and Maritime items at Ramsgate Harbour

Saturday 16^th September

A good large entry of boats and other maritime items

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

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.

Notice from Trading Standards on Sheep tags

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.

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Local Agricultural Show and event dates

Sunday and Monday 27^th and 28^th August – Edenbridge & Oxted Show, Ardenrun Showground, Tandridge Lane, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LL. For more information contact show office 01737 645843 or visit www.edenbridge-show.co.uk

Monday 28^th August – Aylesham, Norfolk. www.theaylshamshow.co.uk

Saturday 2^nd September – Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire. www.moretonshow.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

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 14th August at 7.30pm. Visit to the Goddard family and their Guston Holsteins and Solar Farm. Guston Court Farm, East Langdon Rd, Dover. CT15 5EX Many thanks Jo

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

Land required for local Land Rover club off road trials.

Southern Rover Owners Club is a registered MSA club and all trials have appropriate insurance. Our events are for members only, structured competitive trials, not timed or speed related. We use rough ground to provide the challenge of driving over gullies, up and down steep banks, through mud hollows etc.

We run two types of trial, usually one on each day of a weekend. So somewhere to camp with caravans would be very welcome, we also gain relevant permits from the appropriate authorities for this. We normally visit each site once a year and have a scale of fees we pay, depending on the type of event. References from existing land owners can be provided. We would also welcome anyone to come to our annual charity day which this year is for RABI at Copford Farm, Horam on Saturday 23^rd September.

For more information www.sroc.co.uk. or contact Graham Bridgland 01233 622234, email competitionsec@sroc.co.uk

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Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principle livestock market selling around 264,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2016.

Weekly sales throughout the year of all classes of stock, principally on Tuesdays, run by a fully professional team of auctioneers and support staff, they provide an unmatched level of service and commitment to the livestock farmers in the area. Come and see us on market day soon and bring your livestock for us to sell.

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Ashford Cattle Show news

2017 summer competition results

Sheep flocks

Sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy FKC (Accountants) & Hallett & Co (Solicitors).

Judge: Larry Cooke Chief Steward: Edward Langrish

Commercial class: 1st C & J Georgetti & Sons, 2nd Langrish Farmers, 3rd G & H Bates, 4th Lovejoy Farm Partners. Others entered J Hickman & R T, J B & I Lockwood.

Best run of lambs: C & J Georgetti & Sons

Pedigree Class: 1st Mrs C & Mrs H Langrish (Romney), 2nd Lovejoy Farm Partners (Poll Dorset), =3rd G & H Bates & Langrish Farmers (Romney)

Others entered Lovejoy Farm Partners (Romney) Les Ramsden (Romney), P Boulden (Romney).

Best run of lambs: Miss C & Mrs H Langrish.

Champion flock 2017: C & J Georegtti & Sons.

Beef Herds

Sponsored by P W Humphrey (Feeds)

Judges: Don Masters (pedigree and championship) and Richard Georgetti (commercial).

Chief Steward: Charlie Bull

Commercial class (large): 1st and best commercial herd M B Farms, 2nd L & J Smith, 3rd G Bates Ltd.

Best run of calves: M B Farms.

Commercial class (small): 1st I Machin, 2nd R J & C Wratten, 3rd J C & P C Dallaway.

Best run of calves: I Machin

Pedigree class: 1st L Stevens & Sons, 2nd Thorndean Farms, 3rd Chandler & Dunn, joint 4th Mrs V M D McDonald, C D & J Bishop. Best run of calves: L Stevens & Sons

Champion herd 2017: M B Farms. .

Summer Crops

Sponsored by Agrii

Judges: Peter Bromnley (Last year’s Winner) & Andrew Pendry (Agrii) Chief Steward: Tim Porter

1st R C & J Wratten 83; 2nd Little Mongeham Farms (J Ledger) 81; 3rd J Boyd Farms 79; 4th Romney Marsh Farms 78; 5th A A Clifton Ltd 76, 6th G L Boulden & Son 71

Thank you to all who entered these competitions, the judges and the stewards.

Don’t miss our Christmas show – Monday and Tuesday 27^th and 28^th November