Beef bullocks selling to a top price of £2469 for 840kg at Ballymena Mart

Beef cows sold to 274p for 780kg at £2137 and Friesian cows to 169p for 720kg at £1216.

Beef heifers to 314p at 610kg at £1915.

Beef bullocks to 306p for 670kg at £2050.

Top per head of £2469 for 840kg.

Friesian bullocks to 236p for 620kg at £1463.

Beef cows

J McKeever, Ahoghill Parthenais 780kg £2137 (274), P McSparron, Cushendun Limousin 680kg £1788 (263), J McKeever, Ahoghill Parthenais 620kg £1599 (258), P McSparron, Cushendun Limousin 490kg £1249 (255), J Hayes, Rasharkin Blonde d'Aquitaine 700kg £1764 (252), P McSparron, Cushendun Limousin 580kg £1438 (248), D Laverty, Portglenone Limousin 730kg £1795 (246), Antrim Estates, Glenarm Shorthorn beef 760kg £1839 (242), J McKeever, Ahoghill Parthenais 580kg £1397 (241), R Henry, Kilwaughter Aberdeen Angus 720kg £1728 (240), W T McGookin, Larne Charolais 840kg £1999 (238), R Henry, Kilwaughter Limousin 660kg £1551 (235), W T McGookin, Larne Charolais 760kg £1763 (232), J Murray, Aghalee Limousin 620kg £1407 (227) and S Bonnar, Moorfields Limousin 620kg £1395 (225).

Friesian cows

G Forsythe, Cloughmills 720kg £1216 (169), D Minford, Crumlin 770kg £1293 (168), G Forsythe, Cloughmills 790kg £1279 (162), D Minford, Crumlin 750kg £1215 (162), A T McAuley, Bushmills 550kg £874 (159), local farmer 630kg £995 (158), Esg Ivy Farm, Crumlin 680kg £1060 (156), G Forsythe, Cloughmills 740kg £1147 (155) and J Hunter, Crumlin 630kg £976 (155).

Beef heifers

Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Limousin 610kg £1915 (314), M Masterson, Downpatrick Charolais 530kg £1658 (313), D Duffin, Toomebridge Limousin 560kg £1708 (305), J McLaughlin, Bushmills Limousin 640kg £1915 (304), Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Charolais 670kg £2036 (304), R O’Neill, Bellaghy Limousin 620kg £1878 (303), P Devlin, Moneymore Limousin 600kg £1806 (301), J McLaughlin, Bushmills Charolais 650kg £1943 (299), 580kg £1734 (299), Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Charolais 710kg £2122 (299), S Hogg, Ballymoney Limousin 640kg £1907 (298) and J Kidd, Randalstown Limousin 610kg £1817 (298).

Beef bullocks

Top per kg

J Hayes, Rasharkin Blonde d'Aquitaine 670kg £2050 (306) J McKeever, Ahoghill Parthenais 680kg £2067 (304) WH MCB Lowry, Comber Charolais 710kg £2151 (303) J Beattie, Ballymoney Charolais 540kg £1894 (296) Charolais 700kg £2058 (294) JC Prentice, Comber Charolais 840kg £2469 (294) G and A McMaster, Broughshane Charolais 660kg £1927 (292) P Devlin, Moneymore Limousin 730kg £2102 (288) J J McCloskey, Kilrea Limousin 750kg £2152 (287) J Beattie, Ballymoney Charolais 630kg £1795 (285) R Canning, Charolais 790kg £2251 ( 285) and J Prentice, Charolais 810kg £2292 (283) Limousin 720kg £2030 (282).

Top per head

JC Prentice, Comber Charolais 840kg £2469, G Corrie, Newtownards Limousin 910kg £2393, J C Prentice, Charolais 810kg £2292, J Beattie, Ballymoney Charolais 840kg £2284, JC Prentice, Charolais 800kg £2256, R Canning, Charolais 790kg £2251, JC Prentice, Charolais 820kg £2238, R Canning, Charolais 790kg £2235, G and A McMaster, Broughshane Simmental 820kg £2189, I Davidson, Larne Limousin 780kg £2160, C McAllister, Moorfields Abondance 850kg £2159, JJ McCloskey, Kilrea Limousin 750kg £2152, WH MCB Lowry, Charolais 710kg £2151, J Beattie, Charolais 770kg £2140, R Canning, Limousin 800kg £2104 and P Devlin, Limousin 730kg £2102.

Friesian bullocks

M Gardiner, Ballymena 620kg £1463 (236) J and M Hamill, Broughshane 520kg £1180 (227) J and M Hamill, 570kg £1276 (224) 550kg £1210 (220) CJA and P Crawford, 650kg £1397 (215) J Mackey, Ballynure 570kg £1225 (215) J and M Hamill, 530kg £1118 (211) J Ritchie, 530kg £1118 (211) J Mackey, 470kg £987 (210) RH and HA Shanks, 590kg £1197 (203) and J Mackey, 490kg £980 (200).

Friday 12th April 2024: Dairy cows - J and M Wilson, Broughshane Friesian £2280, D Livingstone, Randalstown Holstein £2000, W G Johnston, Ligoniel Holstein £1850, J and M Wilson, Broughshane Friesian £1800 and R Savage, Magherafelt Holstein £1780.

Bulls

J McHenry, Mosside Charolais 4200gns, M Irwin, Fintona Aberdeen Angus 3300gns, D Hume, Randalstown Limousin 3000gns, M McKeefry, Garvagh Limousin 2900gns, D G Green, Lisburn Limousin 2800gns, A Henry, Antrim Limousin 2700gns, J McHenry, Mosside Charolais 2500gns and Crawford Brothers, Maguiresbridge Limousin 2500gns x2.

Calves

Bulls

T S Dunn and Partner, Gransha Charolais £665, £660, Aberdeen Angus £600, M McGimpsey, Newtownards Belgian Blue £590, L Stewart, Ballymena Aberdeen Angus £590, R J T Fleming, Templepatrick Aberdeen Angus £570, M McGimpsey, Newtownards Aberdeen Angus £560, G Devlin, Randalstown Belgian Blue £550, S Chestnutt, Ballymoney Belgian Blue £545, C and R Brown, Whitechurch Belgian Blue £535, M McGimpsey, Newtownards Hereford £530, R J T Fleming, Templepatrick Simmental £530, T S Dunn and Partner, Gransha Aberdeen Angus £520, G Devlin, Randalstown Belgian Blue £520 and C and R Brown, Whitechurch Belgian Blue £520 x2.

Heifers

M McGimpsey, Newtownards Hereford £670, T S Dunn and Partner, Gransha Charolais £640, R J T Fleming, Templepatrick Simmental £590, £585, G Devlin, Randalstown Belgian Blue £580, G Harris, Newtownards Limousin £570, R J T Fleming, Templepatrick Simmental £550, T S Dunn and Partner, Gransha Belgian Blue £530 and R J T Fleming, Templepatrick Simmental £510, £500.

Holstein/Friesian bulls

S Chestnutt, Ballymoney £430 x2, T S Dunn and Partner, Gransha £320, £265, R O’Flynn, Kircubbin £265 x2, £220 x2, D Boreland, Bushmills £210 x2, W J Bartlett, Armoy £195, C Lagan, Broughshane £165, W Hoey, Ballymena £165, A McBurney, Cloughmills £150 and W Hoey, Ballymena £150.

Weanlings

An entry of 400 weanlings resulted in a super trade.

Bullocks sold to £1170 over for a Limousin 390kg at £1560 presented by A Henry, Antrim.

Heifers sold to £1290 over for a Limousin 390kg at £1680 offered by P Faulkner, Ringsend.

Bullocks

Up to 300kg

M Adams, Cloughmills Charolais 280kg £1040 (371), M J Millar, Straid Limousin 300kg £1050 (350), W Bonnes, Randalstown Charolais 280kg £970 (346), W D Marshall, Clough Limousin 280kg £940 (335), A Bowman, Comber Limousin 280kg £940 (335), M and A Morgan, Lisburn Charolais 260kg £870 (334), M Adams, Cloughmills Charolais 300kg £1000 (333), W D Marshall, Clough 290kg £960 (331), A Bowman, Comber Limousin 260kg £850 (326), B Matthews, Clough Limousin 290kg £940 (324), M J Millar, Straid Limousin 300kg £910 (303), W McLaughlin, Dunloy Charolais 270kg £800 (296) and A Bowman, Comber Limousin 220kg £650 (295).

301 to 350kg

P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 350kg £1310 (374), D McCollum, Loughgiel Limousin 350kg £1280 (365), S Taylor, Ligoniel Charolais 350kg £1280 (365), P McSparron, Cushendun Charolais 330kg £1200 (363), D Kennedy, Larne Limousin 350kg £1270 (362), S Taylor, Ligoniel Charolais 350kg £1260 (360), B McAllister, Glenarm Limousin 350kg £1250 (357), P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 340kg £1170 (344), R Hunter, Larne Limousin 320kg £1090 (340), Shaws Hill Farm, Kells Simmental 340kg £1140 (335), D McCollum, Loughgiel Limousin 350kg £1170 (334), P McSparron, Cushendun Charolais 350kg £1150 (328), Shaws Hill Farm, Kells Charolais 350kg £1150 (328) and local farmer Limousin 320kg £1040 (325).

Over 351kg

A Henry, Antrim Limousin 390kg £1560 (400), P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 360kg £1360 (377), £1350 (375), A Henry, Antrim Limousin 430kg £1600 (372), P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 360kg £1330 (369), I Beggs, Whitehead Limousin 420kg £1540 (366), S Taylor, Ligoniel Charolais 370kg £1350 (364), P McCann, Portglenone Limousin 360kg £1310 (363), B McAllister, Glenarm Limousin 380kg £1380 (363), P McSparron, Cushendun Charolais 400kg £1450 (362) and P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 400kg £1440 (360).

Heifers

Up to 300kg

M Adams, Cloughmills Charolais 240kg £920 (383), T Butler, Ballycastle Charolais 290kg £1110 (382), S Hill, Carrickfergus Limousin 270kg £950 (351), M J Millar, Straid Limousin 280kg £960 (342), W Bonnes, Randalstown Limousin 250kg £840 (336), 270kg £890 (329), M Adams, Cloughmills Charolais 260kg £850 (326), D Kennedy, Larne Limousin 290kg £940 (324), B Connon, Larne Limousin 300kg £910 (303), 300kg £890 (296), M Adams, Cloughmills Charolais 300kg £880 (293), J Weatherup, Ballyclare Blonde d'Aquitaine 290kg £850 (293) and B Connon, Larne Limousin 300kg £870 (290).

301 to 350kg

B McAllister, Glenarm Limousin 320kg £1400 (437), M McCann, Randalstown Simmental 330kg £1310 (397), B McAllister, Glenarm Limousin 330kg £1280 (387), S Taylor, Ligoniel Charolais 350kg £1300 (371), W Bonnes, Randalstown Charolais 330kg £1200 (363), P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 350kg £1270 (362), 330kg £1190 (360), B McAllister, Glenarm Limousin 350kg £1250 (357) x3, L Marron, Portglenone Limousin 340kg £1200 (352), P McSparron, Cushendun Charolais 350kg £1220 (348), P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 330kg £1150 (348) and S Hill, Carrickfergus Limousin 350kg £1190 (340).

Over 351kg

P Faulkner, Ringsend Limousin 390kg £1680 (430), W McLaughlin, Dunloy Limousin 370kg £1290 (348), T O’Kane, Newtowncrommelin Charolais 360kg £1250 (347), T Butler, Ballycastle Charolais 360kg £1240 (344), D Kennedy, Larne Limousin 360kg £1215 (337), P McCann, Portglenone Limousin 360kg £1200 (333), A Henry, Antrim Limousin 420kg £1370 (326), B McAllister, Glenarm Limousin 380kg £1230 (323), L Turtle, Broughshane Limousin 360kg £1160 (322), T Butler, Ballycastle Charolais 360kg £1160 (322), B McAllister, Glenarm Limousin 360kg £1160 (322), S Taylor, Ligoniel Charolais 370kg £1190 (321), T Butler, Ballycastle Charolais 380kg £1220 (321), J O’Kane, Cushendall Charolais 370kg £1180 (318) and M McCann, Randalstown Limousin 390kg £1240 (318).

Monday evening 15th April 2024: A good entry of sheep in Ballymena on Monday evening resulted in a slightly easier trade due to wet weather conditions.

Ewes and lambs sold to £288 and pet lambs to £50.

Ewes and lambs

S Caldwell, Portglenone 3 Texel and 9 lambs £288, W Semple, 5 Texel and 9 lambs £285, TA Smyth, 2 Mule and 4 lambs £270, M Magill, Glenarm 3 Mil and 6 lambs £270, K Baxter, Glenarm 2 Texel and 3 lambs £265, M Magill, 1 Mil and 2 lambs £262, WD Marshall, Clough 5 Texel and 9 lambs £262, J Thompson, 1 Mule and 2 lambs £260, I Montgomery, 1 Suffolk and 2 lambs £260, P Gregg, Ballymena 1 Zwartble and 2 lambs £260, W Semple, 6 Texel and 10 lambs £260, M Blaney, 3 Mule and 5 lambs £260, N Alexander, Gracehill 3 Texel and 5 Lambs £255, M Magill, Glenarm 1 Mule and 2 lambs £255, G Graham, Gracehill 1 Texel and 2 lambs £255 and N Alexander, 3 Texel and 5 lambs £252.

Pet lambs

I J and A Wilson, £50, P Gregg, Gracehill £48, S Park, £48, £46, SA Patterson, Carrickfergus £44 and N and J Coleman Doagh £44.

Tuesday 16th April 2024: Another good entry of 280 store cattle in Ballymena on Tuesday resulted in a steady trade.

Heifers sold to £1670 over for a Limousin 550kg at £2220 presented by W Weatherup, Carrickfergus.

Bullocks sold to £1290 over for a Limousin 670kg at £1960 offered by Mrs D Kennedy, Carrickfergus.

Bullocks

0kg to 500kg

J Weatherup, Ballyclare Charolais 350kg £1290 (368), Charolais 380kg £1300 (342) Charolais 360kg £1220 (338) H and E McDonnell, Simmental 490kg £1610 (328) J Weatherup, Charolais 410kg £1340 (326) M Smyth, Kells Limousin 420kg £1290 (307) C Heron, Limousin 500kg £1510 (302) M Smyth, Kells Limousin 440kg £1320 (300) Limousin 480kg £1435 (299) Limousin 450kg £1340 (297) Limousin 460kg £1360 (295) Limousin 440kg £1290 (293) Limousin 500kg £1460 (292) J Hutchinson, Ballyclare Charolais 440kg £1280 (290) local farmer, Limousin 450kg £1270 (282) and C Heron, Limousin 490kg £1380 (281).

501kg and over

H and E McDowell, Simmental 510kg £1570 (307) local farmer, Limousin 510kg £1510 (296) J Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 580kg £1700 (293) C Heron, Ballymena Limousin 550kg £1610 (292) D Kennedy, Limousin 670kg £1960 (292) J Smyth, Charolais 600kg £1750 (291) local farmer, Limousin 510kg £1470 (288) C Heron, Limousin 520kg £1490 (286) Charolais 560kg £1590 (583) D Kennedy, Limousin 660kg £1870 (283) M Smyth, Kells Limousin 520kg £1470 (282) D Kennedy, Limousin 610kg £1720 (282) C Heron, Limousin 600kg £1690 (281) NJ Thompson, Abondance 520kg £1460 (280) K and M Gawn, Kells Abondance 570kg £1590 (279) and C Heron, Shorthorn beef 540kg £1490 (275).

Heifers

0kg to 500kg

W Weatherup, Carrickfergus Limousin 470kg £1980 (421) J Gault, Ballyclare Limousin 400kg £1200 (300) Limousin 400kg £1180 (495) A and E Wylie, Charolais 430kg £1260 (293) Charolais 400kg £1160 (290) D Mason, Limousin 490kg £1420 (289) Limousin 490kg £1400 (285) J Weatherup, Ballyclare Charolais 330kg £940 (284) J Hutchinson Charolais 430kg £1220 (283) D Kennedy, Limousin 460kg £1300 (282) A Devlin, Ballycastle Limousin 450kg £1270 (282) Limousin 490kg £1380 (281) W Weatherup, Limousin 500kg £1400 (280) D Mason, Limousin 490kg £1360 (277) Limousin 450kg £1240 (275) and A Devlin, Ballycastle Jersey 480kg £1300 (270).

501kg and over

W Weatherup, Carrickfergus Limousin 550kg £2220 (403) Limousin 520kg £1600 (307) D Kennedy, Limousin £1740 (305) D Mason, Limousin 550kg £1670 (303) Limousin 540kg £1620 (300) Limousin 610kg £1830 (300) Limousin 510kg £1500 (294) A Devlin, Limousin 510kg £1500 (294) D Mason, Limousin 560kg £1640 (292) S McConaghy, Limousin 560kg £1640 (292) Limousin 530kg £1530 (288) Charolais 510kg £1470 (288) D Mason, Limousin 590kg £1680 (284) S McConaghy, Limousin 540kg £1530 (283) A Devlin, Limousin 510kg £1440 (282) and D Mason, Limousin 560kg £1580 (282).

Wednesday 17th April 2024: An entry of 1796 sheep in Ballymena on Wednesday resulted in an improved trade again.

Fat hoggets sold to 795p for 10 Crossbred 22.5kg at £179 from Joel Lamont, Kells and to a top per head of £228 for a heavy Texel from H Hall, Newtownabbey.

Spring lambs sold to £9 per kg for 4 Texels 20kg at £180 presented by Ivan Morison, Dunloy and to a top per head of £204 for 2 heavy lambs from Raymond Gingles, Kilwaughter.

at ewe sold to £250.

Suffolk spring lamb show

The Northern Ireland Suffolk branch held their annual spring lamb competition kindly judged by Iain Wilson, Islandmagee.

First prize pedigree and overall champion pair was awarded to Andrew McNally selling for £210, second prize A Barkley £200 and third A Gault £196.

First prize commercial lambs RC and JC Watson £188 and 2nd S Toye £188.

A McNeilly, Randalstown 2 Suffolk (first and champion) 28kg £210, A Barkley, Dunloy 2 Suffolk (second) 23.5kg £200, P D W Taylor, Macosquin 2 Suffolk 28kg £198, A Gault, Newtownabbey 2 Suffolk (third) 22.5kg £196, M Butler, Rathkenny 2 Suffolk 23.5kg £192, R and J Watson, Rasharkin 2 Suffolk 22.5kg £189, 2 Suffolk (first commercial) 21.5kg £188, S Toye, Kilrea 2 Suffolk (second) 22kg £188, W G Johnston, Ligoniel 2 Suffolk 21kg £186 x2, A McNeilly, Randalstown 2 Suffolk 21kg £184, S Toye, Kilrea 1 Suffolk 21kg £180 and P D W Taylor, Macosquin 2 Suffolk 20.5kg £180.

Spring lambs (228)

Top per kg

I Morrison, Dunloy 4 Texel 20kg £180 (900) J McIlrath, Glarryford 9 Texel 21.5kg £189 (879) J Clarke, Gracehill 6 Zwartble 19kg £167 (879) RC and JC Watson, Rasharkin 4 Suffolk 21.5kg £188 (874) TA Fenton, 16 Charollais 21kg £182 (866) S Jackson, 1 Texel 21kg £180 (857) J McDonnell, Glenarm 12 Charollais 21kg £180 (857) R Morrow, Glenarm 1 Suffolk 22.5kg £192 (853) J Heffron and K Laverty, 5 Dorset 21kg £177 (842) A Coulter, Doagh 8 Dorset 21.5kg £181 (841) SJC and Forbes, 5 Dorset 21.5kg £180 (837) J Lowe, Coagh 11 Texel 22.5kg £188 (835) RAS Barkley, 3 Suffolk 20.5kg £171 (834) A Millar, Antrim 25 Suffolk 24kg £199 (829) D McKeeman, Ballymoney 3 Hampshire 19.5kg £161 (825) G J Coulter, 16 Texel 24kg £198 (825) H Alexander, 4 Suffolk 24kg £198 (825) G Fleming, Clough 1 Suffolk 23.5kg £193 (821) R Gingles, Kilwaughter 6 Texel 24kg £196 (816) K Lorimer, 2 Texel 23.5kg £191.50 (814) P Higgins, 10 Dorset 21.5kg £175 (814) W Marshall, 2 Dorset 23.5kg £191 (812) and S Alexander, Glenarm 2 Dorset £185.

Fat hoggets (1006)

Top per kg

J Lamont, Kells 10 Crossbred 22.5kg £179 (795) C Johnston, 12 Dorset 21kg £167 (795) JSA and H Ritchie, 3 Texel 24.5kg £193 (787) D McKillop, Cushendall 37 Mule 24kg £186 (775) A McCann, 33 Mule 24kg £184.50 (768) J Liddle, Ballymena 8 Dutch Spotted 24kg £184 (766) D Wylie, Kells 17 Suffolk 25kg £191 (764) A Montgomery, Glenwherry 6 Mule 24kg £182 (758) A McCann, 30 Mule 25.5kg £192 (752) A Rainey, 8 Texel 24kg £180 (750) R Nicholson, 68 Crossbred 24kg £180 (750) B Lyttle, Moorefields 2 Texel 25kg £187 (748) N Boyd, Broughshane 8 Crossbred 23.5kg £175 (744) D McKillop, 4 Mule 26kg £193 (742) 22 Mule 26kg £193 (742) A McNeilly, Randalstown 2 Suffolk 25.5kg £189 (741) Antrim Estate, 14 Easycare 25kg £185 (740) and W Clark, 28 Mule 23kg £170 (739).

Top per head

H Hall, Newtownabbey 1 Texel 38kg £228, S Hall, Larne 2 Charollais 31.5kg £220, J Buick, Kells 11 Texel 33.5kg £214, M Patterson, Nutt's Corner 1 Texel 36.5kg £210, McAuley Bros, Glenarm 80 Texel 32kg £209, L Hamilton, Cushendun 1 Suffolk 34.5kg £207, R J Bell, Kells 6 Texel 29.5kg £202, J Clarke, Gracehill 5 Zwartble 31.5kg £199, W J Hanna, Ballyclare 6 Rouge 29.5kg £198, R Davidson, Gleno 4 Blackface 29.5kg £196, D Forsythe, Cloughmills 10 Mule 28.5kg £195, G O’Neill, Broughshane 5 Mule 27.5kg £194, D McKillop, Cushendall 26 Mule 26kg £193, J and H Ritchie, Ballymena 3 Texel 24.5kg £193, I Stevenson, Broughshane 17 Mule 27kg £193, A McCann, Glenravel 30 Mule 25.5kg £192, D Wylie, Kells 17 Suffolk 25kg £191, I Montgomery, Glenwherry 1 Blue 30.5kg £191, N McBurney, Moorfields 11 Crossbred 26kg £189, A McNeilly, Randalstown 2 Suffolk 25.5kg £189, T Boyd, Larne 8 Texel 33.5kg £189, G Gault, Doagh 2 Crossbred 30kg £189, R Morrow, Glenarm 1 Cheviot 28.5kg £189.

Fat ewes (562)

First quality

Suffolk - £170-£225

Texel - £180-£250

Crossbred - £110-£160

Blackface - £70-£110