Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 11th March 2025

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Hoggets –1,373 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 381p kg – Husk Farms Ltd, Dover.
Top price per head – £187.00 – O’Neil Smith Ltd, Brighton.

A few less on offer today, with fewer out on the market across the country after the drier weather, which has pushed prices up a gear in comparison to recent weeks. Less quality on offer, probably makes the trade even stronger than it looks on paper. Overall, the average was 340p kg which was topped at 381p kg for Beltex crosses from Husk Farms Ltd, in line with last week’s tops but top price in the lump this week was also close to last week’s figure also, at £187 from Matt O’Neill-Smith. Numbers may be beginning to dry up around the country for the bigger runs of “farmer” sheep as opposed to the specialised large finishers.  With lambing now also taking the attention of many this has certainly had an impact. The best hoggs sold today were from 40-45 kg with larger hoggs no dearer, it appears, but still most coming to between £150-£175 head.

33 – £120.00 (364p kg) – P Ashlee
35 – £125.00 (357p kg) – J Merricks
36 – £128.00 (356p kg) – P Ashlee
37 – £120.00 (324p kg) – T Russell
38 – £140.00 (368p kg) – R L Pack
40 – £135.50 (339p kg) – Kinnear & Co
41 – £148.00 (361p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
42 – £160.00 (381p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
43 – £144.00 (335p kg) – A Rivers
44 – £158.00 (359p kg) – H Rivers
45 – £165.00 (367p kg) – R L Pack
46 – £168.00 (365p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
47 – £171.00 (364p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
48 – £175.00 (365p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
49 – £164.00 (335p kg) – Harriet Heathcote
50 – £175.00 (350p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
51 – £178.00 (349p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
52 – £180.00 (346p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
53 – £167.00 (315p kg) – B Perkins
54 – £187.00 (346p kg) – O’Neil Smith Ltd
55 – £175.00 (318p kg) – W F Kirk
56 – £172.00 (307p kg) – C & J Georgetti & Sons
57 – £173.00 (304p kg) – C Moss & Sons

Averages (p/kg) 

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 131 – Top 368, Average 344.2
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 412 – Top 381, Average 338.2
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 592 – Top 365, Average 333.1
Other 52.1+ kgs – 233 – Top 346, Average 305.6

Store Hoggets – 835 sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per head: – £130.50 – C Ely, Maidstone.

A lot more of these on offer today than expected, with almost 900 on offer, and surprisingly good quality stores for the time of year which brought the average up to £114 head and topping at £130.50 from Mr C Ely. Another run of note from Mr A Carter, Hampshire who showed 150 stores and averaged £117. Numbers we thought were already drying up last week and then the entry doubled so I am not going to make predictions like that anymore!

Cull Sheep – 405 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewe: £231.00 – Husk Farms Ltd, Dover. – Ave. £130.92

A super trade once again with a few less in the pens as to be expected for the time of year. The best ewes regularly £140 – £170 and to a top price of £231 for Texel ewes from Husk Farm Ltd. Medium sorts £110 – £130 on most occasions with leaner grazing types £70 – £90 throughout with only very few sold below these figures. The best ewes are certainly well in front however all grades are well sold, and more ewes are wanted every week to satisfy buyers demands.

Top prices included:

Texels to £231 – Husk Farm Ltd, Texel cross to £230 – O’Neil Smith Ltd , Suffolk cross to £199 – J A Biddle, Beltex cross to £184 – Husk Farm Ltd, Mules to £158 – O’Neil Smith Ltd, Romneys to £155 – H Metcalfe.

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  53 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

More cattle, more customers, and more trade. A good strong trade throughput the sale for an entry that was largely commercial with very few of the very best. A particularly strong trade for native bred cattle with an excellent show of Sussex selling at rousing rates and returns.
Best beef continentals 370-390p with W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd selling Limousin cross heifers to a top of 387p, £1778 whilst steer honours went to A B Jones & Partners with their Sussex steers to 384p, £2263. Bazadaise cross steers to 383p, £2066 from W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd.
A small show of dairy bred this week with Alan Down’s Hereford x Friesian steers to 340p, £2003; British Friesian steers to 342p, £1981. Holstein Friesian heifers to 314p, £2069 J W Boyd & Sons.
A tremendous show of Sussex finished cattle with butchers and wholesalers keen to secure quality regional beef. Stephen Jones Sussex steers to 384p, £2449 but others from Stephen Furnival, William Alexander, Les Stevens, and Simon Wright 250-270p; Sussex heifers to 371p, £2169 from Stephen Furnival, others 350-370p. Aberdeen Angus cross heifers to 378p, £2130 from John Berryman.
Others in the mix saw traditional Hereford heifers to 321p, £1715, Dexter steers to 258p, £953 from Jim Sanders.
Young bull (1) Angus bull 333p, £2211 G L Boulden & Sons.

Top Steers

A B Jones & Partners – Sussex cross – 384p (£2263)
W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Bazadaise cross – 383p (£2066)
H & S Nesfield – Limousin cross – 380p (£2144)
W S Furnival Ltd – Sussex cross – 371p (£2112)
Gillshaw Farms Ltd – Limousin cross – 369p (£1861)

Top Heifers

W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Limousin cross – 387p (£1778)
W Alexander (Shoreham) Ltd – Bazadaise cross – 382p (£1908)
J Berryman – Aberdeen Angus cross – 378p (£1850)
G L Boulden & Sons – Blonde cross – 376p (£2291)
J Berryman – Simmental cross – 376p (£1953)

Average prices

Steers 200 to 550 kg – 10 – Top 383p – Ave. 344p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 14 – Top 384p – Ave. 350p
Steers 651 kg + – 2 – Top 368p – Ave. 362p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 12 – Top 387p – Ave. 341p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 10 – Top 376p – Ave. 357p
Heifers 591 kg + – 4 – Top 376p – Ave. 353p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 39 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

Numbers tightening as predicted, and as farming roles turn to the land as the dry weather continues, so we saw only a short entry of cattle.
Trade remaining at extraordinary levels, and perhaps a shade dearer for the best meat cows which regularly exceed 300p kg and up over £2500 for a strong run of fed Aberdeen Angus cows from A C Hulme & Sons.
Aberdeen Angus cross 358p, 321p, 316p, 300p, 282p, 280p, £2538, £2303, £2278, £2195, £2141, £2126 A C Hulme & Sons: 276p, 256p, £2095, £2039 Miss J Biddle; Sussex 305p, £1675 J D Hickman, 244p, 236p, £1705, £1613 Wright Farm Partners; Limousin cross 297p, £2253 C & J Georgetti & Sons; Beef Shorthorn 282p, £1534 D C James, Plymouth; British Blue cross 244p, £1790 S & D Broad.
Very few dairy culls but all wanted, at tremendous returns.
Swedish Red 280p, £1607 W S Furnival; Holstein Friesian 245p, £1944 J W Boyd & Sons; Holstein 216p, £1638 P J Forknall, Jersey 216p, £970 Hickson Bros, Ayrshire 200p, £1267 J Howie.
Overage (6) all remaining a very strong trade. A quality Sussex OTM steer from Kinnear & Co shone out selling at 348p, £2433; Aberdeen Angus x Friesian OTM heifer 345p, £2033 H & S Nesfield. Sussex OTM heifer 332p, £1252; Limousin 4 yr. old steer 319p, £1927, Jersey OTM heifer 286p, £1456; Shorthorn 3+ yrs. heifer 300p, £1572.
Stock bull (1) strong Aberdeen Angus bull at 198p, £2518.

Beef Cows – 25 Sold – Top 358, Average 272.4
Dairy Cows – 9 Sold – Top 286, Average 205.9

 

Store & Breeding Cattle – 234 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

An absolute flyer with the cattle looking dearer and dearer every week showing plenty of confidence going forward. A few Angus bulls 16 mths from N & A Irwin to £1380 followed by Angus x Friesian steers 6 – 8 mths from Kent Game Shooting looking well sold to £770. Well done Limousin x Friesian steers 12 mths from T Wade to £1300 and a cracking pen of suckler bred Angus steers 13 mths from Gallagher Farms to £1510. Shorthorn steers 23 mths from A J Strand & Sons to £1570 and a run of superb Limousin crosses 10 – 12 mths from GW&B Bridges saw the steers to £1510 and heifers to £1315. P J S Farms had well done Blue x Frisian steers to £1650 followed by the heifers to £1620. Strong Angus heifers 22 mths from W K Gutsell to £1790 followed by harder sorts from D J Cornforth look well sold to £1570. Mr George Gregory had superb Sussex steers 18 mths to £1520 followed by his Simmental cross steers 23 mths from the same home to £1840. Angus x Friesian steers 23 mths from Ross Farms to £1860 and Angus steers 30 mths from N & A Irwin to £1770 followed by top call of the day from G Stokes for an Angus cross steers 18 mths to £2170.
These cattle are a serious trade and if you have any to sell in the coming weeks then please do not hesitate to get in contact with store cattle sales every week.

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.

Pigs – 27 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

A larger show of finished pigs than usual with trade certainly stronger and the best to 208p pk and £239.20 from R Padfield. A usual show from the well supporting Brooker & Son with 105kg white gilts topping at 198p pk and £207.90 followed by very smart white gilts from P Banks only 75kg but to 195p pk and £146.25.
Please do inform me of any pigs you have to sell on Tuesday 25^th March.

Forthcoming Auctions

Tuesday Livestock – 18th March 2025

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here