Weekly Sales News – 8th January 2019

Top price per kilo – 244p – Dr S W C Winchester: Top price per head – £104 – Bosney Farm

Report on trade: A bigger entry of hoggets, back to the number we expect to see at this time of year, saw over 2200 penned. Trade was a little easier than we saw between Christmas and New Year but it must be said that date was quite unique in terms of the trade we saw. Saying this, the entry was more mixed this week which has caused the averages to come down slightly, particularly on the lighter weighted hoggets.

The best quality on offer this week sold to a similar level to last week with some super smart continentals on offer from Dr S W C Winchester selling to 244p per kg (41kg at £100). Heavy sorts were more prevalent this week with the start of sheep coming off fodder crops, with some super runs from T Heathcote, R G Hobbs Farms, T Patton and S T Phillips to name a few. These heavier sorts sold generally between £90-100 and from 190p to 205p.

Our dagging service will be available in the market from next Monday, January 14^th. Please make us aware of any consignments you have for this service.

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.

Report on trade: A larger entry of ewes this week with numbers starting to come out from some early scanned flocks and also a number coming forward that farmers were sitting on waiting for a lift in the trade. Best ewes sold in excess of £80 with grazers still finding homes between £30 and £50. Trade is certainly harder than we would expect at this time of year but with these numbers continuing to come forward for sale, it is hard to see a lift in the coming weeks.

Top prices were as follows with continental ewes to £79 from C A Worley Farming Ltd, Romney ewes from N A Balcomb & Son to £70 and rams to £84 from the same vendor.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07757 392903

Report on trade: This is a tremendous trade with strong competition for all types that is undoubtedly spurred on by the lift in the finished price and the pleasant weather conditions we are seeing. Strong stores were selling in excess of £70 to a top price of £75.50 from R J Horsman.

Averages 381 sold to £75.50 and aver’ £66.38.

Many more stores can be sold each week with regular customers present to buy all grades.

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Report on trade: There is no great excitement in the beef trade in general at the moment  with numbers barely in balance with demand nationally and retailers restocking after a respectable Christmas our trade on the day was thoroughly respectable for a variable show of qualities and ages.

The very best made up over 210p per kg with good shaped and finished 195-205p and commercial 180p plus. Cattle with space and age to grow further met a sharp enquiry giving encouragement to the store trade later on.

A smart red handyweight Limousin steer made 217p from D W Ferguson Ltd and a black Limousin heifer 212p from W Alexander (Shoreham) which topped the sections but all cattle of all grades and weights found good competition. Sussex steers made to 195p and £1106 from C D & J Bishop, Aberdeen Angus cross steers to 188p J & A Lyon and heifers 193p Gillshaw Farms Ltd. A well fleshed Sussex bull just under 30mths looked well sold at 148p £1252.

Some nice quality amongst the over thirty month saw quality fleshed Limousins from Gillshaw Farms Ltd to 194p £1225 and 193p for heifers and steers respectively. Holstein steers over 36mths fould it hard going to 114p and more generally 105p.

Report on trade: Though rates have changed little from before Christmas the glimmering light of hope that we see is that there are less cows to come. The abattoirs are not so full and a few more feeders recognising just how short cows will become this spring. We can see certainly a greater willingness amongst buyers to own stock and whilst prices aren’t likely to lift rapidly with stocks of cow beef high in store we are slowly turning the corner!

A few well fleshed assured beef cows made 110-115p per kg with some shaped continental feeders 120-125p but more generally 100p if fleshed with few below 75p. Best dairy culls made just shy of 100p for a big heavyweight but half meat cows no more than 80-85p with plenty of cows from the parlour 60-80p.

Highlights included Limousins at 125p, 121p and £853 from Alastair Boyd & Co; Simmental cross 116p £993 and Aberdeen Angus cross 110p £936 C & J Georgetti & Sons; British Blue cross 109p £861 N P Miles and 104p L Palmer & Sons with Sussex 107p, 104p £781 Chandler & Dunn and 93p £692 (Non FA) A H Hoad & Son.

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

Report on trade: Calves of all types forward for sale today with a good mix of both beef and dairy crosses for buyers to choose from. Top price of the day of £290 was achieved twice, both times for British Blue bulls.

A mixed trade for continental calves saw the best and brightest selling well, other types a little harder to place but still all finding homes. Top priced continental bull at £290 went to J E Scutt & Sons who sold two calves to this price with a third calf, again a British Blue bull at  £275. Topping the continental heifer trade was first time vendor Rosie Bennett, selling a run of stronger predominantly British Blue heifers to £250. A mention should also go to regular vendor W S Furnival Ltd who presented a run of well fleshed calves, topping at £220 for a British Blue heifer.

A similar story with the native sired calves this week, again the best, most well fleshed types, selling well with the smaller calves harder work but getting there in the end. Native bulls sold to £190, this again went to J E Scutt & Sons with £180 next highest again to the same vendor. Native sired heifers sold to £140, top place being shared between J E Scutt & Sons for an Aberdeen Angus cross and Rosie Bennett for a Hereford cross.

In the black and white section trade seemed to have lifted, especially for well framed rearing type calves. Most black and white bulls sold today in the £30 – £70 price range, reflecting both the stronger calves forward and stronger demand. Top of the section went to Kingcott Dairy with Friesians to £95.

A total of 4 stirks sold, a Simmental cross from N P Miles sold to £340 and a handful of black and white steers from J Howie selling to £105.

Report on trade: A good entry of finished pigs, in both numbers and quality, met a somewhat disappointing trade with buyers reporting abattoirs full of pigs as slaughter days and numbers begin to recover from the disruption of the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Good shaped pigs made 80p to 100p per kg with the very best a few pennies more. Good pigs from S Scott & Son grossed to £75.19, D Pope £100, S J M Evans £73.20 and from D J Cole £91.46. Second quality and really heavy sorts made 50p to 80p.

A large entry of cull sows made to 60p regularly and £145 with boars to 34p and £105 from C B Hope.

8 pens of Store Pigs saw the very best shaped pigs make £38 and £45 from D Pope but the selection of stronger pigs which lacked shape and good breeding only made £5 to £10.

For up to date information on all livestock sales please contact

Elwyn Davies (Cattle & Sheep) 07710 803901 or 01233 861263

Peter Kingwill (Cattle & Sheep) 07795 200357

Martin Crowhurst (Cattle & Sheep) 07710 803903 or 01797 343936

Simon Husk (Cattle & Sheep) 07885 968077 or 01304 842393

Mark Cleverdon (Rams, Breeding Cattle, Pigs & Calves) 07741 845230

John Rossiter (Sheep, Machinery plus commercial vehicles) 07557 392903

Tom Hamplett (Calves) 07966 104532

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principal livestock market selling over 250,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2018.

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.

Notices – Tim Lyle, Penshurst

The family and friends of Tim have advised us that he very sadly passed away peacefully last month at home on the farm.

A service will be held at Penshurst Church  on Monday 14^th January at 2.30pm.

Notices – Robert Palmar, Shottenden, Canterbury

The family and friends of Robert of A A Palmar & Son died unexpectedly at home in December. Robert and the family are strong supporters of the market and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A thanksgiving service for his life will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Chilham on Thursday 24th January at 2.30pm.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The January editions of these popular regional farming magazines are now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content. This months edition includes a full Ashford Cattle Show report.

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – 25 double wrapped 4’ round bales of 2018 made hayledge on a farm East of Ashford. Ring 07778 057902

For Sale – 100 4’ round bales of Pea Straw, 100 4’ round wrapped bales of whole crop wheat silage, 100 4ft round bales of winter oat straw on a Romney Marsh. Ring 07976 553752

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

Kent Young Farmers Clubs News

President Claire Eckley reports on the forthcoming Winter Competitions Day kindly supported by Burden Bros Group

Five clubs being Cobtree, Homewood, Mount Lodge, Weald of Kent and Westlands have entered individuals and teams for this event to be held at Sutton Valance Village Hall on Saturday 12^th January starting at 1pm. Competitions to be judged will include Disco Dancing, Junior Member of the Year, Situations Vacant, Junior Reading, Junior Public Speaking, Junior Forum, Ballroom Dancing, Auctioneering and craft classes.

For all further details contact Claire by email eckleyfarms@waitrose.com

Kent Herdsmans Club

Sunday 13^th January at midday – visit to Richard Sinden’s farm, Colehurst Farm, Wickhurst Road, Weald, Sevenoaks. TN14 6LY.

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

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

Wanted – general farm worker for a mixed farm in the Reigate area. Work will include supporting a beef calf rearing unit. Accommodation available. Please ring 07885 649666

For Sale – 130 Romney in lamb ewes due to Romney rams from the 2^nd week of March on a Romney Marsh farm. Ring Simon Husk on 07885 968077

Wanted – a reliable young man in the Maidstone area is looking for part or full time agricultural employment. He can be recommended for both livestock and tractor work.  Please ring 07787 566080

For Sale – 2 sheepdogs on a North Kent farm – a 6mth Collie bitch and 12mth Kelpie dog. Ring 07850 224330

Events / Meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Farm Expo, organised by the Kent County Agricultural Society, will have its inaugural event in 2019 and will focus on machinery, supplies, and services for the agricultural industry. The event will showcase major national and international providers of farming machinery and services and will host seminars on the industry’s trending topics. With Farm Expo taking place three weeks before the UK leaves the European Union, the key note speaker will be discussing the future of farms, farming and rural enterprises in Britain.

Chairman of the Kent County Agricultural Society, Kevin Attwood, said: ‘as a charity, the Society is committed to education and development in farming and agriculture. Farm Expo is an important event for us to hold in order to best support the local farming community. It will ensure that the latest developments in farming machinery and services, and the industry at large, are available for farmers and agricultural workers.’

Farm Expo offers its visitors the latest farming equipment as well as opportunities to network with others in the industry. The event is free to attend for visitors with free parking.

For further information please contact the Kent County Agricultural Society, Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3JF 01622 633058 or email becky@kentshowground.co.uk

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

Our next Auction Sales include……..

Prestige cars

Wednesday 16^th January at 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale of prestige cars with the normal car auction to follow

4 x 4, Diesel and MPV Vehicle sale

Wednesday 6^th February at 4pm

This auction of cars will include a special sale of 4 X 4, Diesel and MPV with the normal car auction to follow

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 15^th February at 9.30am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale. Entries close 25^th

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