Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 4th March 2025

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Hoggets –2,299 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 380p kg – P Gorringe, Henfield & Husk Farms Ltd, Dover.
Top price per head – £188.00 – Husk Farms Ltd, Dover.

A bigger entry today and some very good sheep on offer. Still a high proportion of Romney bred hoggets on offer that do tend to hold the averages down a little. The overall average is slightly improved on last week by about 5p kg which follows the trend around the country despite the larger numbers on offer. More hoggets have come out with the better weather pushing the arable farmers to want lambs off keep crops to get the drill in the ground after a very long and wet winter. There is still a number of hoggets out there to come to market, but I am certain there is not the same amount as we would have expected in the past as the national flock is at an all-time low point. Worrying on the one hand yet pleasing in terms of the prices we now can achieve. Top of the tree today was taken jointly by Peter Gorringe and Husk Farms Ltd, both showing Beltex hoggets that hit 380p kg. Husk Farms also took the top price in the lump at £188 head. Heavier sorts are plentiful now with sheep really starting to “do” in the better weather and prices in the section are a little more restricted due to the numbers, but we are still seeing £150-£180 head. Not the highs of last season but we all knew that those levels could not be sustained in the long term.

33 – £110.00 (333p kg) – M & R Morton Ltd
34 – £100.00 (294p kg) – Mrs Carina Cox
35 – £120.00 (343p kg) – S T Phillips
36 – £129.00 (358p kg) – M & R Morton Ltd
37 – £130.00 (351p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
38 – £129.00 (339p kg) – M & R Morton Ltd
39 – £134.00 (344p kg) – I Lucas
40 – £139.50 (349p kg) – Langdon Farms
41 – £156.00 (380p kg) – P Gorringe
42 – £144.00 (343p kg) – I Lucas
43 – £163.50 (380p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
44 – £152.00 (345p kg) – Mervin R Woodroofe
45 – £169.00 (376p kg) – P Gorringe
46 – £166.00 (361p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
47 – £170.00 (362p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
48 – £176.00 (367p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
49 – £162.00 (331p kg) – Jamie Watt
50 – £175.00 (350p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
51 – £166.00 (325p kg) – H & S Nesfield
52 – £170.00 (327p kg) – W Mandry Ltd
53 – £171.00 (323p kg) – H & S Nesfield
54 – £188.00 (348p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
55 – £162.00 (295p kg) – W Mandry Ltd
56 – £187.00 (334p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
58 – £160.00 (276p kg) – H Metcalfe
59 – £175.00 (297p kg) – A Burden

Averages (p/kg) 

 Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 259 – Top 358, Average 330.8
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 1030 – Top 380, Average 325.6
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 790 – Top 376, Average 323.0
Other 52.1+ kgs – 220 – Top 348, Average 293.9

Store Hoggets – 473 sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per head: – £136.00 – G Husk, Ashford.

Less on offer with many of the big runs long gone and many of the entries in this section now being the end of last year’s crop. For the stronger pens we can still see good results but with the quality of what is being sold, the averages will only decrease as we go forward. Despite this, todays average was actually slightly more than last week. Top spots are in excess of £130 head with Graham Husk taking top place at £136 and K Tapley in second at £132; longer term lambs now £75-95 head with the mediums £95-115.

Cull Sheep – 517 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewe: £214.00 – Husk Farms Ltd, Dover. – Ave. £131.21

A super trade from start to finish with numbers consistent week on week. The best ewes are in strong demand and these are being well rewarded with majority £150 – £180, and to a top price of £214 for smart Texel crosses from Husk Farms Ltd. Medium sorts £110 – £140 on most occasions with leaner grazing types £70 – £90 throughout with only very few sold below these figures.
Demand is strong for all grades so do not hesitate to get your ewes to us with buyers present every week for all grades of ewes.

Top prices included:

Texel cross to £214 – Husk Farms Ltd, Beltex cross to £212 – Husk Farms Ltd, Suffolk cross to £194 – Husk Farm Ltd, Dutch Spotted to £190 – A Burden, Romneys to £154 – Husk Farm Ltd, Mules to £140 – W Mandry Ltd.

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  57 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A few more cattle this week and, again, with a high proportion of dairy bred animals in the entry. Trade no faster but more customers around the ring and competition sharp despite all sectors reporting some degree of pain at these higher rates. Supply is going to remain the critical factor so keep getting flesh on bones!
Best cattle 370p + with W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd selling best Limousin heifers to 410p, £2027, their Limousin steers to 392p, £2369. Other quality types from Gillshaw Farms, John Berryman, Leggat Farming, D W Ferguson, Birt Bros and others.
Well covered dairy bred Hereford x steers sold to 357p, £2300 W S Furnival: 350p, £1940 R C & J L Pickering with their Angus x Friesian heifers 350p, £2045. Alan Down sold Dairy Shorthorn steers to 331p, £1719, Friesian steers to 310p (2) £1919.
Natives saw Sussex steers from A B Jones & Ptnrs to 377p, £2108; 364p, 362p, £2024, £2017 W Alexander; 333p, £2128 L Stevens & Sons whilst Sussex heifers sold to 339p W S Furnival; 330p, £1779 D Mackelden.
Young Bulls (2) Angus bulls to 318p, £2127 B G & M A Tomsett.

Top Steers

W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Limousin cross – 392p (£2369)
Gillshaw Farms Ltd – Limousin cross – 381p (£2207)
A B Jones & Partners – Sussex cross – 377p (£2108)
Gillshaw Farms Ltd – Limousin cross – 374p (£2110)
W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Sussex – 364p (£2017)

Top Heifers

W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Limousin cross – 410p (£2027)
Leggat Farming Ltd – Aberdeen Angus cross – 377p (£2240)
J Berryman – Charolais cross – 376p (£2028)
Leggat Farming Ltd – Limousin cross – 375p (£2191)
W S Furnival Ltd – Charolais cross – 370p (£2143)

Average prices

Steers 200 to 550 kg – 5 – Top 345p – Ave. 336p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 17 – Top 392p – Ave. 351p
Steers 651 kg + – 1 – Top 340p – Ave. 340p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 10 – Top410p – Ave. 349p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 15 – Top 376p – Ave. 346p
Heifers 591 kg + – 7 – Top 377p – Ave. 353p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 68 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Another marvellous day in the cull ring with decent numbers, considering all factors, with cows from West Sussex through to Essex finding that the competition at Ashford is as fierce as anywhere in the country.
Best beef cows up over 300p with plenty in excess of £2000, with the demand for hard grazing cows taking another step forward as ground conditions improve. Feeders showing fantastic long term confidence.
British Blue x 315p, £2154 Birt Bros; Limousin x 286p, £1656 B J Goodsell & Son, 270p, 269p, £2062, £1705 G W & B Bridges, 269p, £2108 J Hooker, 269p, £1826 I G Pilcher; Sussex 282p, 258p, 255p, £1609, £1603 Chandler & Dunn; 241p, £1659 L Stevens & Sons; Beef Shorthorn 278p, £1852 D C James, Looe, 272p, £2348 W Sadler & Son, Chichester; Blonde x 262p, £1517 M & C Farms; Angus x 258p, 248p, £1225, £1162 J Bayley, 248p, £1671 B G Pearson; Simmental 248p, £1770 E Chantler & Sons; Longhorn 200p, £1257 M Cullen.
Dairy culls moved on to another level with the best over 250p and £2000 but this week special mention for the Jersey breed with a RECORD of 222p, £1318 for a grand cow from Hickson Bros. Quality overall improving as more cows are fattened within, and out with of the dairy sector, and, again, I bring up the ridiculous attitude of some dairies who are costing their members, who they claim they care about, a small fortune up and down the country. Options and alternatives are so important in our industry.
Holstein Friesian heifers 300p, 296p, 290p, £1743, £1722 J E Scutt & Sons; British Friesian cows 258p, 238p, £2112 Parrett & Son; 256p, 255p, 248p, 246p, £1964, £1921, £1801 B J Goodsell & Son; 247p, 233p, 227p, 220p, £1923, £1697, £1608 GD & EE Field; Holstein Friesian 239p, £1884 R G & J L Pickering; Jersey 222p, £1318 Hickson Bros; Dairy Shorthorn 214p, £1559 J Howie.
Stock Bulls (3) Hard lean bulls forward but all strongly wanted. Beef Shorthorn 202p, £1844; Sussex 182p, £1860; Angus 176p, £1483.
Overage (6) A small offering but some good cattle. All wanted at great rates.
Belted Galloway OTM steers 318p, 313p, £1891, £1794 Birt Bros; Angus x Friesian OTM heifers 307p (2) £2242, £2268 E & J H Maylam; Hereford 3yo+ heifers 314p, 297p, £2268, £2242 R J Hutchings, Chichester.

Beef Cows – 38 Sold – Top 315, Average 236.6
Dairy Cows – 21 Sold – Top 300, Average 234.0

 

Store & Breeding Cattle – 244 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

From start to finish the trade could not be described as anything but sensational with a quality entry from a wide area meeting an audience of buyers that had come further still.
Records are for breaking and it was a pleasure to welcome quality Beef shorthorn stock from W Sadler & Son of Chichester with their steers selling to a NEW RECORD PRICE OF £2260, whilst strong local supporters, the Georgetti Family sold Limousin x heifers 15 mths to £1910.
Plenty of runs of quality cattle of all ages and breeds but it is only right to mention some of the highlights of the day.
A R Ambrose, Guildford; Mrs J Fuller, Paddock Wood; C W Farms East Grinstead; M & C Farms, Rye ; M J Ashworth, Lydd; C & J Georgetti & Sons, Rolvenden; G W & B Bridges, Pease Pottage; R Fidler, Reigate; W Sadler & Son, Chichester to name a few whose cattle made the day with their quality and their prices.
Buyers are out to secure numbers and whilst it is still early March demand for younger, harder grazing types is moving on and with weather conditions, at last, helping all farmers vendors should have every confidence in the trade.
A big ‘Thank You’ to all involved.

Principal prices include:

Continental Breeds:

Charolais x steers 10 mths – £1270 – A Hailey, Peasmarsh
Charolais x heifers 10 mths – £1040 – A Hailey, Peasmarsh
Charolais x heifers 11 mths – £1240, £1150, £1110, £1090 – M & C Farms, Rye
Limousin x steers 11 mths – £1420, £1290 – M J Ashworth, Lydd.
Blue x Friesian heifers 15 mths – £1180 – F W Hamlyn & Son, Marden
Blue x Friesian steers 15 mths – £1260, £1150 – C W Farms, East Grinstead
Limousin x heifers 16 mths – £1910, £1750, £1650, £1590, £1520 – C & J Georgetti, Rolvenden
Limousin x steers 18 mths – £1870, £1680, £1660 – G W & B Bridges, Pease Pottage.

Native Breeds:

Sussex x Frisian steers 8 mths – £770 – Kent Game, Frittenden
Sussex x Friesian heifers 8 mths – £760 – Kent Game, Frittenden
Beef Shorthorn x Frisian 10 mths – £850 – R T J B & I Lockwood, Canterbury
Longhorn steers 12 mths – £930 – M R Cullen, Canterbury
Hereford x steers 10 mths – £800 – G D K George, Ashford
Hereford x steers 10 mths – £1310 – P J Goldsmith, Dover
Hereford steers 10 mths – £1150 – A R Ambrose, Guildford
Hereford heifers 10 mths – £980 – A R Ambrose, Guildford
Angus x steers 10 mths – £1090 – J Fuller, Paddock Wood
Angus x heifers 10 mths – £1160, £1070, £1070, £1000 – J Fuller, Paddock Wood
Angus x steers £11 mths – £1550, £1380, £1340 – M J Ashworth, Lydd
Angus x Frisian steers 17 mths – £1545, £1370 – R Fidler, Reigate.
Beef Shorthorn steer 27 mths – £2260 – W Sadler & Son, Chichester
Beef Shorthorn steers 17 mths – £1680, £1630 – W Sadler & Son, Chichester

Cattle Passports

We remind producers that on no occasion should the details on a cattle passport be changed other than by returning it to BCMS.
If details are incorrect return and advise BCMS or advise the auctioneers on market day without writing on the passport.

Calves – 82 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A RECORD BREAKING DAY in the calf section with a good entry of fresh, stronger, and weaned calves finding a large contingent of positive buyers recognising the lift in the trade in both store and fat cattle and prepared to push calves to new record levels. Congratulations to Oncoland Ltd with a super run of 10-12 week British Blue x calves that saw RECORD prices for bulls and heifers at £505 and £485, respectively. Similarly, impressive is a month old British Blue x bull calf from D Murdoch & Sons at £502. W G & T A Manford Blue x bulls to £442, £375, £372, heifers to £342, £315, £310; J W Boyd & Sons Blue x bulls £412, £350, heifers £260, £255; Appleton Farms Blue x bulls £362, £348, £340, £332, heifers £315; Hickson Bros Blue x bulls £348, £340 (2), £325, heifers £235, £230.
The fire was not contained to the Blues with Angus calves outstanding. J W Boyd & Sons Angus x bulls £340, £295, £282, heifers £222; J Warnock & Sons Angus x bulls £292, £290, £270, heifers £320, £258, £220; Appleton Farms Angus x bulls £280, £278. Sussex x bulls sold to £310 from W G & T A Manford; Sussex x heifers to £228 J Warnock & Sons. Norwegian Red x bulls to £282 and 3280 from D Murdoch & Son; Friesian bulls to £132 Parrett & Son.
Weaned Calves (10) Hard done 7-10 month steers saw Blue x Friesian to £460, Hereford x Friesian to £525.
An excellent day and thanks to all sellers, buyers, hauliers and staff.

Bull Calves
British Blue cross – 22 – Ave £364.68 – Top £505.00 – Oncoland Ltd
Simmental cross – 1 – Ave £265.00 – Top £265.00 – Parrett & Son.
Norwegian Red – 2 – Ave £281.00 – Top £282.00 – D Murdoch & Sons
Aberdeen Angus cross – 9 – Ave £285.00 – Top £340.00 – J W Boyd & Sons Ltd
Sussex cross – 2 – Ave £272.50 – Top £310.00 – W G & T A Manford
Heifer Calves
British Blue cross – 20 – Ave £293.05 – Top £485.00 – Oncoland Ltd
Aberdeen Angus cross – 13 – Ave £188.23 – Top £320.00 – J Warnock & Sons
Sussex cross – 1 – Ave £228.00 – Top £228.00 – J Warnock & Sons
Steer Weanlings
British Blue cross – 2 – Ave £460.00 – Top Ave £460.00 – Stilwell Farms Ltd
Aberdeen Angus cross – 4 – Ave £380.00 – Top £380.00 – H Stilwell
Hereford cross – 2 – Ave £525.00 – Top £525.00 – Stilwell Farms Ltd
Heifer Weanlings
Aberdeen Angus cross – 2 – Ave £320.00 – Top £320.00 – H Stilwell

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