Weekly Sales News – 9th March 2021

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Top price per head – £159 – P Gorringe & T Husk; Top price per kilo – 342p – A Neaves

Report on trade: Records seem to be broken on a weekly basis and this was no exception with the best trade of the season. We penned a good show of hoggets with several runs of top quality continental crosses on offer. Smart Beltex crosses were keenly sought after with 38kg topping the market at £130 (342p) from A Neaves and 49kg topping the gross return at £159 from P Gorringe.

A bigger percentage of heavy and over weights on offer this week with the majority grossing favourably and in excess of £135 and the smarter well shaped continental crosses £150 plus. A great overall average of 287p for all weights.

Keep the hoggets coming and please contact us regarding numbers so we can notify the buyers.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07710 803901

Report on trade: Another big entry of ewes met another strong trade with the best crossbred ewes selling readily in excess of £110 and to a favourable overall average of £81. Top continental cross ewes took the pick of the trade notably £134 from N A Balcomb & Son, £129 from P H & P E Skinner, £126 from P Gorringe, £125 from K Tucker, £122 from C Woodhead and £120 from A R Dunlop. Fleshed Suffolk crosses made to £120 from P Gorringe and £117 from O G Lee and Mules to £99 again from P Gorringe. Several Romneys were on offer and sold at slightly reduced levels to a top of £99 from A R Dunlop and the majority of thicker sorts £75 to £85. Leaner sorts looking well sold in the £50 to £70 bracket.

Report on trade: This trade is the dearest ever recorded at Ashford Market with strong crossbred stores selling readily in excess of £115 and lean Romneys up to £110 from A W Walters, Hants. Only very small store hoggets made below £85. Average £96.00

If you have stores to sell we have the customers keen and willing to pay top price.

Report on trade: Today saw an exceptional trade throughout with prices at record levels and many more cattle are needed to satisfy strong demand. Best handyweight beef bred cattle made 240p per kg plus and topped at £1690 (257p) for a top quality Parthenais cross heifer from S Marsh, closely followed by a British Blue cross heifer at £1495 (254p) from D W Ferguson Ltd and Limousin cross heifer and steer at £1363 (253p) and £1514 (238p) from W Alexander (Shoreham). Other top prices included Limousin cross steer £1419 (239p) from J Bower and Blonde cross heifer £1334 (227p) from G L Boulden & Sons.

Dairy bred cattle made slightly less with a run of Limousin x Friesian steers looking well sold between 204p to 214p and grossing £1100 plus up to £1336 from A J Down.

Several native bred cattle were on offer again and attracted strong prices with the pick including a Lincoln Red steer £1412 (223p) from A & M Lyon, purebred Sussex steers around 215p grossing £1427 to £1455 from J G & D G White and a Sussex cross heifer £1169 (215p) from W Hurley.

Report on trade: As dear as we have seen them! Very few beef cows on offer this week with a high proportion of black and white cows from the dairy offered. The majority dried off and fed for some time and providing the industry exactly what it wants for the processing trade in front of a keen and competitive audience.

A few feeding cows from both beef and dairy sectors remain at high levels with confidence positive. Little flesh on offer amongst the beef cows but the grazing trade is in full flow and plain cows an outstanding trade.

Beef top calls included Sussex 186p per kg 160p 156p £1180 J & S Harmer and 146p F Sole & Sons; Aberdeen Angus cross 145p £968 (Non FA) P Ashlee; British Blue cross 143p F Sole & Sons; Charolais cross 139p £997 (Non FA) J Saunders with Hereford cross 134p (Non FA) P Ashlee.

Some tremendous heavyweight dairy meat cows were on offer with the best making 130p to 140p and grossing to £1303 with others over £1200 and plenty over £1100. A few of the leanest below 100p but demand very strong throughout.

Top calls Holstein Friesian 139p 137p (2) 136p 135p 133p 132p (2) £1303 £1140 £1124 £1080£1063 £1040 Appleton (Ledger) Farms, 137p 136p 134p (2) 131p £1240 £1129 £1101 £1075 £1059 J Warnock & Son, 137p £1037 Oncoland, 132p 130p £1144 Goddard & Son and 129p 125p 122p £1083 £952 Huddlestone Farmers Ltd with Montbelliarde cross 121p 117p 116p M H & M G Butcher.

Keep feeding them!

Report on trade: Again, we can report a good trade for the best pigs, a hint of a revival in the culls section and good demand for 3 well bred pens of store pigs.

The finished pig pens were not full and there was plenty of weight in the pigs offered. S Scott & Son’s 7 pigs grossed £94 and £115, J & S Harmer’s well bred and heavy Welsh £105 to £122 and a pen of Berkshire gilts £86 for A Gillem-Bussey. A consignment of Gloucester and Pietrain x Gloucester gilts made 35p to 45p grossing £47 to £57.

One cull boar made 15p.

Three pens of store pigs made to £48 for nicely bred white pigs from D J Cole and Ms M Godden’s pen of super shaped pigs £46.

Please note Covid-19 regulations mean we will be again implementing a “Drop and go Policy” and no vendors will be permitted to attend the market other than to deliver stock.

Please help us to ensure your market remains open and operational.

Bovine TB Test Dates

It is very important that the date (first part of test) is recorded on cattle entry forms for all cattle sold from TB1holdings. Any recent whole herd test dates from TB4 holdings must also be recorded. This information is critical to purchasers who may be required to test animals again and who will wish to avoid the risk of a false positive by testing again within the 60-day period.

Please advise of test dates when making cattle entries for cataloguing from TB1 Holdings.

Message from Peter Barker of Barkers Animal Health

Lambing season supplies – Just a reminder that Barkers Animal Health retail store, here in the market, is open for collections on a Tuesdays. Please pre order with Mossy, who is available 24/7 on 07739 723623, so goods are ready for you.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The March edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker is a regular contributor to the editorial content.

Please note if you don’t wash out at Ashford

Drivers of vehicles leaving Ashford empty without cleansing and disinfecting MUST complete a declaration form obtainable from the Market Office.

You must then cleanse and disinfect as soon as possible and within 24 hours, or before using again for livestock.

This is a LEGAL responsibility and are subject to checks by Local Authority Animal Health and Welfare Officers

Hay, Straw and fodder

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 auctioneer’s office on 01233 502222 or Mark Cleverdon 07741 845230

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

Farm manager and farm worker (growing vegetables and fruit) required for a diverse farming and retail business (including livestock, PYO, farm shop, Christmas trees) based on an 80 acre estate on Pevensey in East Sussex. Please contact Donna for more information donna@wylands.co.uk for full details

Wanted – veterinary student (2^nd year) looking for lambing experience (28^th March to 16^th April). Please contact Oliver on 07763 688510

News from the East Sussex Farmers’ Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund charity was created in 1935 by a local farmer and its purpose is to support farmers, farm staff and those involved in the wider land-based industries. Support can also be given to family dependants.  Beneficiaries are normally resident in East Sussex or neighbouring counties.

Income from property and investment legacies help to finance the fund in addition to generous donations. The fund is overseen by five local trustees with strong agricultural connections.

Help can be for those currently in work, or who have retired or who are unable to work due to illness or disability. The fund can also assist those entering land-based education and help with relevant CPD for furthering their land-based careers.

If you feel that we can help you or you are aware of someone who might benefit from help, please let us know and we will be pleased to support. To contact the Honorary Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Des Lambert – 07912 464746, 01273 890841 or email des.lambert@btinternet.com.

Help and support from The Farming Community Network

Farming Community Network (FCN) volunteers regularly attend local livestock markets and whilst we cannot be present at sales currently, our helpline is still open from 7am to 11pm every day, staffed by people who understand farming.

FCN is a charity and voluntary organisation that helps farmers to stay resilient. We provide practical and pastoral support to those experiencing difficulties in England and Wales.

During these challenging times we are encouraging everyone to think about their own physical and mental health and that of their families and staff.

We can help with contingency planning against the backdrop of the Corona virus outbreak and our FarmWell website (www.farmwell.org.uk) offers a wealth of free information about managing change and maintaining personal wellbeing.

The FCN helpline can be reached on 03000 111 999 or via email at help@fcn.org.uk. Confidentiality is assured.

Covid-19 Protocol at Ashford Market – updated January 2021

Following recent government lockdown legislation relating to Covid-19, Hobbs Parker Auctioneers, here in Ashford Market, will be following recommendations from the Livestock Auctioneers Association and we confirm that from Tuesday 12^h January and onwards

• we will be again implementing a “Drop and go Policy” and no vendors will be permitted to attend the market other than to deliver stock.

Only registered buyers must enter either the penning areas or sales ring.

• customers to wear a face covering whilst at market.
• social distancing, high standards of hygiene and responsible behaviour to others should be maintained.

strict control of the numbers attending market is asked for and both buyers and sellers should not bring additional people with them to market.