Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 17th December 2024

Sheep Sales Reports

New Season Lambs –929 Sold

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 359p – Miss Amy Hedges..
Top price per head – £178.00 – Joey Burden.
A few less this week with just about 1,000 lambs on offer which certainly helped to boost the prices back to the levels we were seeing a couple of weeks ago. A spike in demand for red meat has been seen the last couple of days with wholesalers reportedly wanting more than ever this week after last week’s lull. Lambs must be best meat, heavy and empty to take the headline prices and those that were, certainly rang the Christmas bells this week with top on the day taken by Miss Amy Hedges at 359p kg (41kg @ £147 head). Top price in the lump was taken by young farmer, Master Joey Burden at £178 head for some strong and well finished Charollais lambs. We have had a great year in Ashford Livestock Market in the finished lamb section and we have broken records all the way through with prices lifting all through spring to heights in excess of £300 head for commercial lambs. This was the peak of the trade, but prices were strong all way through and many new season lambs have sold in excess of £200 in the early season. Thank you to all vendors, buyers, and staff for their custom and help this year and we look forward to seeing you all in the new year.
Extra Sheep Sale – Fat lambs, Ewes and Store lambs – Friday 27^th December 2024
No Markets 24^th and 31^st December 2024.    Normal Market 7^th January 2025.

32 – £109.00 (341p kg) – M Ciccone
33 – £96.00 (291p kg) – A J Down
34 – £102.00 (300p kg) – B A Kirk Engineering Ltd
35 – £110.00 (314p kg) – G L Harris
36 – £110.00 (306p kg) – S J Martin
37 – £123.00 (332p kg) – S J Martin
38 – £128.00 (337p kg) – G L Harris
39 – £125.00 (321p kg) – S G Barten
40 – £126.00 (315p kg) – W G Watkins & Sons
41 – £147.00 (359p kg) – Miss Amy Hedges
42 – £141.50 (337p kg) – W & P New T/A Moorhouse Farm
43 – £139.00 (323p kg) – C B Hope
44 – £149.00 (339p kg) – C R & G Daws
45 – £148.50 (330p kg) – P N & C Burden
45 – £148.50 (330p kg) – Joey Burden
46 – £145.00 (315p kg) – Standean Farm Partnership
47 – £165.00 (351p kg) – N C & C G Hedges
48 – £158.50 (330p kg) – P N & C Burden
49 – £169.00 (345p kg) – J Hooker & Son
50 – £169.00 (338p kg) – N C & C G Hedges
51 – £154.00 (302p kg) – Standean Farm Partnership
52 – £170.00 (327p kg) – Barleybrook Farm
53 – £175.00 (330p kg) – J Hooker & Son
54 – £160.00 (296p kg) – E & M E Brundrett
56 – £178.00 (318p kg) – Joey Burden
58 – £159.00 (274p kg) – P Bates
60 – £162.00 (270p kg) – P Bates
62 – £169.00 (273p kg) – P Bates
64 – £166.00 (259p kg) – C Watkins

Averages (p/kg)

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 86 – Top 341, Average 316.6
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 293 – Top 359, Average 306.0
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 389 – Top 351, Average 306.5
Others over 52.1 kgs – 161 – Top 330, Average 297.4

Cull Sheep – 424 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Top price ewe: £204.00 – Kingswood Farmers Ltd – Ave. £101.89

The best trade we have seen for some time with ewes remaining short and demand high. The best ewes regularly £130 – £160 and to a top price of £204 for a smart pen of Texel ewes from Kingswood Farmers Ltd followed closely by P Smith with Suffolk cross ewes to £186. Medium sorts £90 – £120 on most occasions with leaner grazing types £60 – £80 throughout with only very few sold below these figures. We have a sale next week on Friday 27^th December for sheep only so if you have ewes to sell do not hesitate to get your ewes booked in with us while the trade is strong.

Top prices included:

Texels to £204, £186 – Kingswood Farmers Ltd, Suffolk cross to £186 – P Smith, Texel cross to £178 – P Smith, Border Leicester to £166 – K V Potter, Mules to £139 – W J Hurley, Romneys to £134 – Frederick & Sons.

Cattle Sales Reports

Finished Cattle –  27 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A decent entry for the last market before Christmas found rates every bit as enthusiastic as we have seen over the recent weeks.
None of the very best this week but smart homebred Blonde heifers from G L Boulden & Sons to 300p twice £1797 and £1782. Top steers Limousin x Friesian from Alan Down 291p, £1700 twice, with his Hereford x Friesian steers sold to 285p, £1761.
Sussex heifer from Peter Bates sold to 291p; Aberdeen Angus x from Stephen Furnival saw both steers and heifers to 289p.
A good entry will be required when we return on Tuesday 7^th January 2025.

Top Steers

A J Down – Limousin cross – 291p (£1699)
A J Down – Limousin cross – 291p (£1699)
W S Furnival Ltd – Aberdeen Angus – 289p (£1558)
D W Page & Son – Aberdeen Angus cross – 288p (£1610)
A J Down – Hereford cross – 285p (£1735)

Top Heifers

G L Boulden & Sons – Blonde cross – 300p (£1797)
G L Boulden & Sons – Limousin cross – 300p (£1782)
Alaistair Boyd & Co – Limousin – 295p (£1281)
P Bates – Sussex – 290p – £1433
W S Furnival Ltd – Aberdeen Angus cross – 289p (£1370)

Average Prices

Steers 200 to 550 kg – 3 – Top 289p – Ave. 261p
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 14 – Top 291p – Ave. 277p
Steers 651 + – 1 – Top 234p – Ave. 234p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 4 – Top 295p – Ave. 267p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 3 – Top 273p – Ave. 262p
Heifers 591 kg + – 2 – Top 300p – Ave. 300p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 34 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

No stopping this cow trade which continues to spiral ever higher as nobody can see an end to the shortage either in the short, medium, or long term.
Not surprisingly only a short entry prior to Christmas but competition sharp and certainly good numbers will be wanted early in the New Year.
Best cows to feed or slaughter taking another lift with younger feeders to 256p, £1418 from the late Alan Husk, whilst heavyweight meat cows from L E Humphreys & Sons sold to 239p, £1693. Good commercial cows either side of 200p with only the leanest and oldest down below 150p.
Limousin cross 256p, £1418 (Non FA) A J Husk, 239p, 233p, £1693, £1511 L E Humphreys & Sons, 207p, £1415 (Non FA) G Bates Ltd, 199p, £1300 W G Vant & Sons; Angus cross 195p, 191p, £1478, £1362 (Non FA) J & A Lyon; Simmental cross 185p, £1245 G Bates Ltd; Beef Shorthorn 179p, £1250 (Non FA)  Kingswood Farmers; British Blue cross 179p, £1073 (Non FA) J H & A H Godden.
A few meat cows from the dairy sector but mostly lean or plain cows looking to be tidied up before Christmas. Good heavyweights to 188p from Appleton Farms, and grossing up to £1552 from M A & F W Owen.
Holstein Friesian 188p £1491 Appleton Farms, 171p, £1552 M A & F W Owen; Danish Red 178p, £1163 W F Farms; British Friesian 170p, £1178 Parrett & Son.
Stock bull (1) – A good lean Limousin bull well sold at 180p, £1992.

Beef Cows – 23 Sold – Top 256, Average 177.9
Dairy Cows – 10 Sold – Top 188, Average 158.9

Store & Breeding Cattle – 12 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07712 246474

Only a handful of stores to finalise the cattle sales of 2024 on behalf of the late Alan Husk with Limousin cross steers 19 mths to £1160 and heifers to £930 followed by 8 mths Limousin steers to £800 from the same home. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with store cattle you have to sell in the new year with normal sales resuming on the 7^th January and looking to build an early catalogued Store Cattle sale on Tuesday 14^th January 2025.   

Calves – 34 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357

A decent trade, but as is so often the case just before Christmas, perhaps not quite the intensity of trade we sometimes see.
Mostly British Blue cross calves this week with older bulls from W G & T A Manford to £260 whilst the best fresh bulls from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd sold to £230. Secondary types, and Channel Island cross calves a little easier. Some nice young British Blue cross heifers from J W Boyd & Sons Ltd to £230 and £200.
Very few Aberdeen Angus cross on offer this week with heifers £90-£145; British Friesian bulls to £106.
Older weanling saw British Blue cross heifers to £440 and bulls to £350.

Bull Calves
British Blue cross – 12 – Ave £160.00 – Top £260.00 – W G & T A Manford
British Friesian – 2 – Ave £89.00 – Top £106.00 – R & J Ledger
Heifer Calves
British Blue cross – 13 – Ave £131.92 – Top £230.00 – J W Boyd & Sons Ltd
Aberdeen Angus cross – 4 – Ave £125.00 – Top £145.00 – J W Boyd & Sons Ltd
Bull Weanling
British Blue cross – 1 – Ave £350.00 – Top – £350.00 – W G & T A Manford
Heifer weanling
British Blue cross – 2 – Ave £425.00 – Top £440.00 W G & T A Manford

Ashford Primestock Show Report
Monday 2^nd & Tuesday 3^rd December 2024

This was the second Ashford Primestock Show under the management of Hobbs Parker Auctioneers LLP. There were a total of 54 classes entered comprising 68 cattle, 69 pairs of lambs, 11 pens of five lambs and 10 pigs. Combined with the fantastic entry we saw exceptionally high standards and quality throughout which made for strong competition.
The Champion Beast was an impressive black Limousin cross heifer produced and shown by Jason and Sarah Wareham and was a very worthy winner. The heifer weighed 600kg and sold for 580p per kg (£3,477.00) to Mr Ben Whiting. The Reserve Champion Beast was also a black Limousin cross heifer, this time produced and shown by Mr Sean Marsh weighing 705kg and selling for 480p per kg (£3,380.48), also to Mr Ben Whiting.
The Young Farmers Champion came from Snowfields Academy YFC, the Limousin heifer weighed 630kg and achieved 380p per kg (£2390.85) to Mr Sean Hutchings. The Champion Penned Cattle were a pair of Limousin x British Blue steers produced by W S Furnival Ltd with one weighing 655kg and selling at 327p per kg (£2,138.58) and the other weighing 660kg and selling for 320p per kg (£2,108.70), both to Beredens Farm.
The Champion Lambs were a terrific pair of Texel cross lambs produced and shown by Miss Amy Hedges and were deserving winners. The lambs weighed 59kg and were sold for £320 per head to Husk Farms Ltd. The Reserve Champion Lambs were a pair of Beltex cross lambs presented by T Lyle & Partners weighing 60kg and achieved £220 per head to Beredens Farm. The Young Farmers Champion was awarded to Miss Lexie Taylor from Weald YFC for a pair of Beltex lambs weighing 52kg and selling for £195/head to Mr John Howe.
The Champion Pigs were a smart pair of Pietrain cross gilts presented by Snowfields Academy YFC weighing 86kg and sold for 280p per kg (£240.80/head) to Mr Andrew Laver. The Reserve Champion Pig went to The North School YFC with a single Pietrain gilt weighing 98kg achieving 225p per kg (£220.50) to Husk Farms Ltd.

Cattle

Champion Beast – J & S Wareham
Limousin cross heifer achieving 580p per kg (£3,477.00) to Mr B Whiting
Reserve Champion Beast – Mr S Marsh
Limousin cross heifer achieving 480p per kg (£3,380.48) to Mr B Whiting
Champion YFC Beast –Snowfields Academy YFC
Limousin cross heifer achieving 380p per kg (£2390.85) to Mr S Hutchings
Champion Penned Cattle – W S Furnival Ltd
A pair of Limousin x British Blue steers achieving 327p & 320p per kg (£2,138.58 & £2,108.70) to Beredens Farm

Sheep

Champion Lambs – Miss A Hedges
A pair of Texel cross lambs at 59kg achieving £320/head to Husk Farms Ltd
Reserve Champion Lambs – T Lyle & Partners
A pair of Beltex cross lambs at 60kg achieving £220/head to Beredens Farm
Champion YFC Lambs – Miss L Taylor, Weald YFC
A pair of Beltex lambs at 52kg achieving £195/head to Mr J Howe

Pigs

Champion Pigs – Snowfields Academy YFC
Pietrain cross achieving 280p per kg (£240.80/head) to Mr A Laver
Reserve Champion Pig – The North School YFC
Pietrain achieving 225p per kg (£220.50) to Husk Farms Ltd

32 Young Handlers came forward this year and once again a great performance was shown by all. In the cattle class, 1^st place was awarded to Master Matthew Bullock and in the lamb classes, 1^st place for 6-12 years was awarded to Master Harry Lucas and 1^st place for 13-17 years was awarded to Miss Zoe Husk. Zoe then went on to win Champion Young Handler in the lamb section.
Once again, there was an excellent show of wool on offer with 53 individual entries over the 4 classes. The Champion Fleece was awarded to Mr H Metcalfe and the Reserve Champion Fleece was awarded to Langrish Farmers both of whom exhibited Romney wool.
The produce, cookery and craft classes were extremely well supported with 21 individual classes entered from Christmas biscuits and wreaths to sausage rolls and quiches these classes showed an array of talent. We saw a fabulous entry of 17 traditional and novelty iced Christmas cakes which were auctioned on the Monday evening for this year’s show charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. The cakes raised an impressive £5,500.
Mr Sean Marsh kindly donated a Hereford cross heifer which was sold on the Tuesday with the proceeds going to the show charity. The heifer achieved £1,200 to Mr William Newman of P C Turner, Farnborough.
The Ashford Primestock Show Dinner was held on Wednesday 4^th December. Our 2024 Show President, Mr Peter Joules, hosted the evening and an enjoyable night was had by all. A further £3,890 was raised at the dinner, £1,510 of which came from the charity auction and £2,480 from the charity raffle.
Hobbs Parker Auctioneers LLP would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the operation and running of the show to include all judges, stewards, staff, sponsors and purchasers.
A total donation of £10,690 will be presented to the RABI early in 2025. We look forward to seeing you at the show again next year on Monday 1^st & Tuesday 2^nd December 2025.

Forthcoming Auctions

Friday Livestock – 27th December 2024

Regular Weekly Market with a sale of Store and Breeding Cattle

For our Auction Calendar and Catalogues click here