Weekly Sales News – 9th October 2018

Top price per head – £94.50 – M R Woodroofe; Top price per kilo – 198p – C A Worley Farming Ltd

Report on trade: A small entry of lambs on offer this week but an improved trade for all with the best sheep selling to a marked premium and back at the levels we would expect to see. The overall average is severely pulled back by the grass finished lambs as these sheep are showing signs of the lack of keep in the South East at the moment.

The best were certainly rewarded this week with a top price of 198p per kg for some smart Beltex cross lambs from C A Worley Farming Ltd. The heavier offerings were sold to a top price of £94.50 for some Charollais cross lambs from M R Woodroofe.

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: Another large entry of ewes were on offer this week and another sign of the farming conditions we are currently seeing as the percentage of lean sorts is still very high which in turn has had a drastic effect on the averages. The average price of the cull ewes section is not a good way to judge the trade and despite the low average, the better meated sorts were sold at stronger prices than last week. Several grazers on offer with a good number of buyers for all sorts of these sheep to farm on.

Top prices included continental ewes to £80 from Ms H V Link, Suffolk crosses to £68 from G H Dean & Co and Romneys to £60 from A R Dunlop.

Report on trade: A large entry of finished cattle were well received with firm prices throughout and the best handyweights making in excess of 210p per kg and more commercial sorts 185p to 200p. A run of smart heifers from D W Ferguson Ltd took the pick of the trade topping at £1151 (223p) while a Limousin cross topped the steer section at £1246 (210p) from W Alexander (Shoreham).

A run of continental x Friesian steers from A J Down made 195p to 200p and grossed up to £1213 while a Sussex steer topped the native breeds at £1135 (198p) from C D & J Bishop.

A large entry of 30 OTM topped at £1266 (160p) for a British Blue cross from P R Miller and a Sussex cross heifer sold well at £1008 (170p) from Langrish Farmers.

Report on trade: Bigger numbers forward in Ashford with 108 penned in the cow section but with this rise in numbers being mirrored the country over we are now seeing prices ease for all grades. Best meat cows were in very short supply and though less are still holding a strong trade. The problem lies with the plain and old of which there are many from both dairy and beef sectors. With food short feeders are quieter in this sector and consequently more bad cows are being killed dragging rates downwards. Demand for processing beef is there but plain cows with little flesh carry quite a cost!

Good young beef feeders are still making 150-170p per kg; good meat beef cows 120-140p if farm assured while non assured fleshed cows are 10-15p behind and beyond these better types the plain cows can be down below 70p.

Aberdeen Angus crosses 165p, 158p and £946, £937 from G R Edgar & Son; Blonde cross 157p £1041 Church Street Farm; Hereford cross 127p M J Ashworth and 122p £1051 M & C Farms; Sussex  128p, 123p, £963 M&C Farms; Sussex x 126p, 121p £888, £844 K & P M Sinden & Son; British Blue cross 121p D J Miles and Limousin cross 120p J Berryman.

Better dairy culls are in very short supply but generally made 110-120p; meat around 90-110p but again plain cow 50-80p and the horrors below this! British Friesian to 119p(2), 118p and £1007 from B J Goodsell; Holstein 115p £939 J Warnock & Son and 114p J E Scutt & Sons; Guernsey 129p £848 J Howie and Jersey 86p Hickson Bros.

Holstein steers, under 36m & assured, 146p, 143p, 134p with stock bulls 90-110p if fleshed and plain types 60-80p.

Report on trade: The best show for both quality and number this autumn attracted our usual big buyers for these major sales. The general trade was probably a bit firmer than recent weeks helped by the quality of cattle on offer with plenty of interest and competition for the best while second/third quality and particularly plain youngsters were discounted reflecting the increased costs of winter feed.

Two major runs of 50 plus mainly Limousin cross single beef bred stores sold exceptionally well with 58 16-18 mths heifers from E W & R E Hanks ranging from £740 up to £955 and 18 mths smart steers to £1020 and heifers to £940 from Burden Bros Agri.

Please enter cattle early for forthcoming sales to ensure proper cataloguing and marketing.

On day of sale please ensure cattle arrive at the market early to ensure proper sorting and accurate administration of paperwork.

Further principal prices include:   

Report on trade: Following the quiet sale a fortnight ago this week saw probably the largest entry of the year with a wide selection of stock offered and customers on hand for all. In this heavy autumn calving period the dairy bull trade is definitely off the boil with demand for beef crosses producing prices similar to what we have seen in recent months.

Exaples of the trade included the run of dairy bull from Oncoland Ltd born August to late September making £6 to £68 averaging £26.35; A & W J Hitchcocks Aberdeen Angus bull, late July born £280: J C & S K Williams late August born British Blue bulls to £285 and heifers £270 and Aberdeen Angus bull £260 with black and white bulls to £65; H O Champneys Ltd Simmental bulls to £270 and heifers £260; Garrett & Mannerings 2 Beef Shorthorn bulls £205; top call of the day P J Forknalss late September born British Blue bull £405; W F Farms 9 August and early September born black and white bulls to £110 averaging £79.

In the stirk pens M Gammons Aprill and May born Limousin steers to £415 and heifers £410 with Nigel Velvicks May and June born British Blue bulls to £320 and heifers £335. Early weaned British Blue croos out of beef cow calves made £290 to £390.

Report on trade: The demand  for pigs in auction sales around the country fluctuates just like spot markets for other commodities and this week saw the cull pig trade rise again substantially to levels of a month ago and back. Finished pig demand was stronger than a fortnight ago.

A good quality, but not smashing, show of  finished pigs included consignments of 14 from S Scott & Son making to 116p per kg and £99 and heavy Welsh from J & S Harmer to 96p and £112.. The remainder of the pigs offered mainly made 68 to 80p.

Sows and Boars saw trade bounce back to that of a month ago with the best fleshed heavy sows making76p per kg and grossing over £200. A very heavy boar made 30p grossing £99

4 Pens of Store Pigs saw  good shaped pigs make to £41 and others £18 to £33

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

Our next Auction Sales include……..

Horse & Saddlery sale

Thursday 25^th October at 10am

Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

New & nearly new saddlery & tack, grooming kit, yard equipment, rugs, harness, riding boots, show jackets, jodhpurs, body protectors, yard clothing & boots

Collective Machinery & Equipment sale

Friday 9^th November at 9.30am

Lots will include new & nearly new mowers & garden machinery. New tools, farm & agricultural equipment, timber plus a large selection of miscellaneous items. Catalogues will be available about a week before the sale.

Ashford Cattle Show

Monday and Tuesday 26^th and 27^th November

Last minute entries immediately please

Romney Sheepbreeders News

The recent edition of the breeders Society newsletter, produced by breed secretary Julie Lukehurst, is available here in the market. For all society information Julie can be contacted on 07538 938425

Annual Dinner – Friday 2^nd November at The George, High Street, Rye at 7pm. Tickets £37 from secretary Julie as above

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

Notices – Reg Huntley ex of Kent Wool Growers

The family and friends of Reg have advised that he very sadly passed away a long life extending to over 99 years. He was a born salesman, started selling to farmers in 1947 and worked for many himself and many agricultural supply companies before very late in his career joining Kent Wool Growers. The famillier tap on the farmhouse door from Will be fondly remembered by many

We will advise funeral service arrangements in due course.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The October editions of these popular regional farming magazines are now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker are regular contributors to the editorial content.

Hobbs Parker and Ashford Livestock Market

We are the South East’s principal livestock market selling around 250,000 head of cattle, sheep and pigs in 2017.

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.

Fodder Crop for sale and / wanted

For Sale – 400 round overyeared bales of hay on a south Sussex farm. Ring 07973 418654

For Sale – 50 2018 and 40 2017 season wrapped 4’ round bales of hayledge in West Sussex. Ring 07718 532971

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

For Sale – 18 Pedigree Sussex incalf and maiden heifers from a North Kent herd. Contact Mark Cleverdon for details

Wanted – Shepherd with over 30 years experience with 2 good working Collies seeks  sheep or beef cattle work. Anything considered.  Tel . 07810203324

For Sale – 6 Black and white Collie pups ready for new homes in the second week in October in East Sussex. Ring 07795 195435

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs and Kent Herdsmans Club news

Kent Herdsmans Club

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

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute

Tuesday 11^th December at 6 for 6.30 p.m. In the cattle ring here in Ashford Market

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Hobbs Parker Car Auctions Special Vehicle sales

Classic Vehicle Auction

Friday 2^nd November at 12 noon

Please ring James Johnson for all details of this event and to discuss your possible entries

4 x 4, Diesel and MPV Vehicle sale

Wednesday 7^th November 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