Beef bullocks selling to a top price of £2541 per head at Ballymena Mart

Beef cows sold to 265p for 610kg at £1616, Friesian cows to 175p for 730kg at £1277.

Beef heifers to 305p for 600kg at £1830.

Beef bullocks to 310p for 740kg at £2294 and to a top per head of £2541 for 970kg.

Friesian bullocks to 227p for 720kg at £1634.

Beef cows

J McAuley, Cushendall Limousin 610kg £1616 (265), R O’Neill, Dunloy Limousin 790kg £1959 (248), J Knox, Broughshane Limousin 730kg £1788 (245), D Frew, Randalstown Limousin 660kg £1551 (235), 680kg £1591 (234), McAuley Brothers, Glenarm Limousin 790kg £1840 (233), S and F O’Kane, Dungiven BB 810kg £1887 (233), W T McGookin, Larne Aberdeen Angus 660kg £1531 (232), F McNeilly, Glarryford Limousin 690kg £1587 (230), P Brankin, Aghalee Limousin 720kg £1641 (228), H McCambridge, Carnlough Limousin 610kg £1390 (228), R O’Neill, Dunloy Limousin 650kg £1469 (226), D Andrew, Templepatrick Limousin 600kg £1296 (216), D Adams, Portglenone Limousin 760kg £1641 (216), 690kg £1490 (216) and M Gordon, Clough Friesian 620kg £1302 (210).

Friesian cows

W Hoey, Ballymena 730kg £1277 (175), T J Turtle, Broughshane 770kg £1285 (167), W Hoey, Ballymena 850kg £1343 (158), ESG Ivy Farm, Crumlin 720kg £1123 (156), G Connon, Aldergrove 710kg £1107 (156), J and G Hamilton, Broughshane 720kg £1116 (155), D and D McKay, Rathkenny 640kg £979 (153), D Wharry, Glenarm 680kg £1033 (152), D and D McKay, Rathkenny 690kg £1048 (152), 650kg £975 (150), J and A Wilson, Broughshane 700kg £1050 (150) and D and D Robinson, Carnalbanagh 740kg £1102 (149), 660kg £970 (147).

Beef heifers

R O’Neill, Dunloy Aberdeen Angus 600kg £1830 (305), J McKeever, Ahoghill Parthenais 680kg £2053 (302), R O’Neill, Dunloy Aberdeen Angus 610kg £1817 (298), J McLoughlin, Bushmills Limousin 630kg £1820 (289), E J McErlean, Portglenone Limousin 670kg £1902 (284), Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Charolais 620kg £1760 (284), E J McErlean, Portglenone Limousin 660kg £1867 (283), local farmer Aberdeen Angus 600kg £1698 (283), Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Charolais 640kg £1792 (280), W Allen, Ballymena Simmental 550kg £1534 (279), Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Limousin 580kg £1612 (278), Charolais 720kg £1987 (276), W Reid, Aughafatten Limousin 700kg £1925 (275), J McLoughlin, Bushmills Charolais 600kg £1638 (273), Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Charolais 550kg £1496 (272) and R McIntyre, Glarryford Limousin 540kg £1458 (270).

Beef bullocks

Top per kg

R McCurdy, Broughshane Limousin 740kg £2294 (310) A Ross, Limousin 720kg £2196 (305) J Adams, Cullybackey Limousin 700kg £2135 (305) R McCurdy, Limousin 710kg £2130 (300) TA and DA Aiken, Coleraine Limousin 790kg £2330 (295) J Adams, Limousin 720kg £2124 (295) S Coyle, Stewartstown Limousin 710kg £2073 (292) PG and M McBride, Moneymore Limousin 650kg £1885 (290) J Adams, Limousin 690kg £1994 (289) A Devlin, Ballycastle Limousin 740kg £2138 (289) TA and DA Aiken, Limousin 580kg £1664 (287) A Ross, Charolais 720kg £2052 (285) TA and DA Aiken Coleraine Limousin 680kg £1917 (282) J McNeill, Limousin 630kg £1776 (282) and TA and DA Aiken, Limousin 650kg £1807 (278).

Top per head

W Kee, Strabane Charolais 970kg £2541, Charolais 980kg £2528, A Houston, Lisburn Charolais 880kg £2340, TA and DA Aiken, Limousin 790kg £2330, JJ McCloskey, Kilrea Charolais 870kg £2305 , R McCurdy, Limousin 740kg £2294, A Ross, Limousin 720kg £2196, JJ McCloskey, Charolais 840kg £2192, D Laverty, Portglenone Abondance 840kg £2175, Belgian Blue 910kg £2165, A Delvin, Ballycastle Limousin 740kg £2138, A Devlin, Ballycastle Limousin 740kg £2138 and J Adams, Cullybackey Limousin 700kg £2135.

Friesian bullocks

B Kane, Castledawson 720kg £1634 (227) M McVicker, 590kg £1309 (222) 600kg £1326 (221) B Kerr, 600kg £1320 (220) 670kg £1474 (220) RJ Gage, Clough 570kg £1254 (220) H McCambridge, 580kg £1276, B Kerr, 560kg £1220 (218) H McCambridge, 550kg £1199 (218) B Kerr, Cullybackey 610kg £1317 (216) D Winter, 600kg £1296 (216) RJ Gage, 540kg £1161 (215) B Kerr, 620kg £1326 (214) 540kg £1155 (214) and M McVicker, 590kg £1256 (213) 640kg £1331 (208).

Friday 2nd February 2024: Dairy cows - S Kennedy, Doagh £2080, A Farms, Cloughmills 2x £1900, £1880, D and M McGregor, £1850, D Wallace, Antrim £1850, T and J Mackey, £1800, B McStravick, £1800, Droghal Farm, £1780, J Hunter, Crumlin £1750, A Adams, £1720, D Wallace, £1700, Droghal Farm, £1620, P Mairs £1600, D and M McGregor, £1600 and Droghal Farm £1600.

Bulls

W Black, Aghadowey £4000, £1500 and A Napier, Ballynahinch Abondance £1350.

Sucklers

S Wilson, Ballynure Charolais heifer with Charolais heifer calf at foot £2880, R Clyde, Templepatrick Limousin heifer with Limousin bull at foot £2820, Limousin heifer with Limousin bull calf at foot £2550 and S Wilson, Ballynure Saler £1800, 3x £1720, Limousin £1680, Saler £1620.

Calves

A smaller show of 250 calves resulted in a super trade.

Bull calves topped at £580 for a eight week old Belgian Blue.

Heifers topped at £460 for a smart Belgian Blue at four weeks old.

Reared Friesian calves topped at £3445 for three month old bull.

Young Friesian at three weeks topped at £120.

Bulls

S Warwick, Ballyclare Charolais £530, B Compton, Glarryford Abondance £490, S Warwick, Ballyclare Charolais £480, T Martin, Belgian Blue £460, Belgian Blue £460, J Adair, Belgian Blue £460, B Compton, Abondance £450, Abondance £450, Abondance £450 and J Adair, Kells Belgian Blue £450.

Heifers

B Compton, Glarryford 2x Abondance £460, J Adair, Kells Belgian Blue £460, H Dorman, Belgian Blue £405, T Martin, Belgian Blue £395, J King, Ballymena 7x Abondance £385, WT Robinson, Glenarm Belgian Blue £385 and H Dorman, Belgian Blue £375.

Friesian bulls

J King, 3x £345, 6 x £325, D McKeeman, Ballymoney £300, B Compton, £290, £275 and J Watt 4 x £270.

Weanlings

455 weanlings in Ballymena resulted in a tremendous trade.

Bullocks sold to £1170 over for a Charolais 430kg at £1690 presented by Adam McKeown, Ballymena.

Heifers sold to £1270 over for a Limousin 330kg at £1600 offered by S Moore, Crumlin.

Bullocks

0kg to 300kg

G Boyd, Maghera Abondance 140kg £560 (400) T Wray, Carnlough Limousin 270kg £1060 (392), local farmer, Charolais 220kg £860 (309) Charolais 200kg £780 (390) Charolais 200kg £780 (390) Charolais 200kg £780 (390) P Sharpe, Charolais 290kg £1110 (328) S Gowdy, Limousin 290kg £1080 (372) and H Crawford, Carnalbana Charolais 290kg £1080 (372).

301kg to 350kg

T Wray, Carnlough Limousin 350kg £1350 (385) S Marshall, Ballymena Charolais 340kg £1310 (385) Charolais 340kg £1290 (379) C and I Dunlop, Charolais 330kg £1250 (378) S Marshall, Charolais 330kg £1240 (375) H Crawford, Carnalbana Charolais 330kg £1220 (369) T Wray, Carnlough Limousin 330kg £1210 (366) S Marshall, Charolais 330kg £1190 (360) and B Hunter, Doagh Limousin 310kg £1115 (359).

351kg and over

G McClintock, Glenwherry Charolais 360kg £1420 (394) T Wray, Carnlough Limousin 350kg £1350 (385) C and I Dunlop, Charolais 380 £1430 (373) G McClintock, Limousin 430kg £1610 (374) A McKeown, Charolais 430kg £1600 (372) Charolais 410kg £1520 (370) W McCurdy, Broughshane Charolais 380kg £1400 (368) and S Molyneaux, Dundrod Charolais 400kg £1460 (365) Charolais 380kg £1380 (363).

Heifers

0kg to 300kg

S Gowdy, Carrickfergus Limousin £1210 (417) Charolais 280kg £1055 (376) M Murray, Cushendall Charolais 220kg £800 (363) Limousin 220kg £800 (363) H Crawford, Carnalbana Charolais 290kg £1030 (355) local farmer Limousin 2440kg £845 (352) Limousin 240kg £845 (352) DR L McClintock, Glenarm Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousin 240kg £815 (339) and local farmer, Charolais 180kg £610 (338).

301kg to 350kg

S Moore, Limousin 330kg £1600 (484) S Gowdy, Carrickfergus Limousin 320kg £1340 (418) Charolais 320kg £1190 (371) G McClintock, Limousin 330kg £1220 (369) T Wray, Carnlough Charolais 330kg £1150 (348) S Gowdy, Carrickfergus Limousin 310kg £1080 (348) M and A Millar, Limousin 320kg £1110 (346) S Gowdy, Carrickfergus Limousin 320kg £1110 (346) G McClintock, Limousin 320kg £1110 (346) and S Moore, Limousin 310kg £1075 (346).

351kg and over

G McClintock, Glenwherry Charolais 360kg £1350 (375) local farmer, Limousin 390kg £1440 (369) A McKeown, Charolais 390kg £1390 (356) H Crawford, Charolais 400kg £1330 (332) G McClintock, Charolais 390kg £1290 (330) W McCurdy, Broughshane Charolais 370kg £1220 (329) T Wray, Carnlough Charolais 370kg £1200 (324) S Moore, Limousin 520kg £1680 (323) M and A Millar, Limousin 390kg £1250 (320) and R Evans, Charolais 390kg £1240 (318).

Monday 5th February 2024: A good entry of sheep in Ballymena on Monday evening resulted in a steady trade.

Ewes and lambs sold to £270, springing ewes to £175, store lambs to £105 and pet lambs to £28.

Ewes and lambs

R Marshall, Ballymena Suffolk and 2 lamb £270, 3 Suffolk and 5 lambs £265, 1 Dorset and 2 lambs £250, L Campbell, Carnlough 1 Swaledale and 2 lambs £228, D McClintock, Suffolk and 2 lambs £226, R Marshall, 2 Dorset and 4 lambs £225, 1 Dorset and 1 lamb £205, Charollais and 1 lamb £205, 2 Dorset and 2 lambs £200, Charollais and 1 lambs £186 and local farmer 1 Mule and 1 lamb £178.

In lamb ewes

S Loughery, Limavady 6 Texel £175, 5 Suffolk £175, 8 Texel £158, J Moore, 5 Mule £152, 3 Mule £150, 4 Mule £150, H Park, Ballymena 6 Mule £148, 6 Mule £144, M McConnell, Glenarm 8 Crossbred £144, A Kirkpatrick, 9 Mule £142, H Park, 7 Mule £142, M McConnell, 7 Crossbred £140, G Christie, 2 Texel £138, P McAuley, 10 Suffolk £130 and M McConnell, 6 Texel £130.

Store lambs

A Scullion, Glenarm 12 Texel £105, T Kyle, Cullybackey 5 Texel 98, P Kelly, Dungannon 1 Crossbred £94, A Connolly, 2 Texel £93, M Baird, Larne 11 Texel £92, G Wilson, Glenarm 6 Texel £90, A Connolly, 1 Mule £88, P Kelly, 8 Crossbred £88, F Turnly, Carnlough 10 Texel £82, A Scullion, 4 Texel £82, O Shiels, Kilrea 188 Lelyn £80 and A Wright, 6 Texel £78.

Tuesday 6th February 2024: An entry of 230 cattle in Ballymena on Tuesday resulted in a super trade.

Bullocks sold to £1240 over for a Charolais 620kg at £1860 presented by J Lavery, Aghalee.

Heifers sold to £1290 over for a Limousin 610kg at £1900 offered by T Hamill, Ballymena.

Bullocks

0kg to 500kg

T Hamill, Ballymena Limousin 440kg £1560 (354) J Hutchinson, Limousin 480kg £1610 (335) R Wells, Charolais 360kg £1200 (333) Charolais 360kg £1200 (333) local farmer Abondance 470kg £1520 (323) R O’Neill, Dunloy Charolais 460kg £1480 (321) B Steele, Glarryford Charolais 490kg £1570 (320) Charolais 450kg £1400 (311) R O’Neill, Dunloy Charolais 480kg £1490 (310) R Wells, Moira Limousin 420kg £1300 (309) B Steele, Charolais 460kg £1410 (306) R O’Neill, Charolais 420kg £1280 (304) R Wells, Moira Charolais 430kg £1310 (304) B Steele, Charolais 440kg £1340 (304) WA Weatherup, Comber Charolais 480kg £1460 (304) and R O’Neill, Charolais 500kg £1510 (302).

501kg and over

Local farmer Limousin 530kg £1700 (320) J Hutchinson, Limousin 550kg £1705 (310) R O’Neill, Charolais 520kg £1600 (307) J Hutchinson, Limousin 550kg £1690 (3070 A McMurray, Antrim Limousin 590kg £1780 (301) J Lavery, Charolais 620kg £1860 (300) B Steele, Charolais 510kg £1520 (298) J Lavery, Limousin 610kg £1800 (295) J Hutchinson, Limousin 560kg £1640 (292) P McGuckin, Limousin 510kg £1490 (292) JS Hamilton, Charolais 610kg £1780 (291) J Smyth, Charolais 610kg £1770 (290) local farmer Charolais 570kg £1640 (287) JS Hamilton, Charolais 600kg £1720 (286) J Hutchinson, Limousin 590kg £1690 (286) and T Hamill, Limousin 580kg £1640 (282).

Heifers

0kg to 500kg

N Hamill, Ballymena Limousin 490kg £1630 (332) local farmer, Limousin 430kg £1370 (318) H McCloy, Ballymena Limousin 500kg £1570 (314) local farmer, Limousin 440kg £1350 (306) B Mullan, Limousin 420kg £1280 (304) S Mullan, Limousin 400kg £1170 (292) W Beattie, Saler 470kg £1370 (291) A Martin, Kells Blonde d'Aquitaine 400kg £1160 (290) local farmer, Limousin 480kg £1390 (289) R O’Neill, Charolais 470kg £1360 (289) B Mullan, Limousin 420kg £1200 (285) S Mullan, Limousin 450kg £1260 (280) H McCloy, Ballymena Charolais 480kg £1340 (279) local farmer, Limousin 490kg £1360 (277) H McCloy, Ballymena Charolais 480kg £1330 (277) and W Beattie, Saler 500kg £1350 (270).

501kg and over

N Hamill, Ballymena Limousin 530kg £1700 (320) Limousin 610kg £1900 (311) J Hutchinson, Limousin 520kg £1610 (309) N Hamill, Limousin 570kg £1720 (301) J Hutchinson, Limousin 570kg £1690 (296) H McCloy, Limousin 510kg £1510 (296) G Kernohan, Limousin 540kg £1590 (294) local farmer, Charolais 520kg £1510 (290) T Hamill, Limousin 570kg £1630 (286) N Hamill, Limousin 550kg £1560 (283) S Patterson, Limousin 510kg £1440 (282) J Hutchinson, Limousin 530kg £1490 (281) N Hamill, Limousin 580kg £1620 (279) Limousin 590kg £1620 (274) and R O’Neill, Charolais 540kg £1470 (272) Charolais 510kg £1360 (266).

Wednesday 7th February 2024: A slightly smaller show of 1900 sheep in Ballymena resulted in a great trade.

Fat hoggets sold to 581p for a pen of 4 Texel 16.5kg at £96 presented by W McVey, Carnlough and to a top per head of £147 for a 31kg from J Thompson, Kells.

Fat ewes to £252.

Fat lambs (1407)

W McVey, Carnlough 4 Texel 16.5kg £96 (581) N McAuley, Ballyclare 8 Texel 20kg £115 (575) W McAllister, Kells 6 Texel 23kg £132 (573) A Kennedy, Ballymena 6 Cro 22.5kg £128 (568) L Turtle, Broughshane 12 Texel 22kg £125 (568) G Martin, Broughshane 7 Texel 23kg £130 (565) N McAuley, Ballyclare 12 Texel 21.5kg £121 (562) Belston Ltd, 4 Dorset 21kg £118 (561) A Rainey, Ahoghill 15 Charollais 24kg £134.50 (560) S Petticrew, 8 Texel 20kg £112 (560) M Ellis, Ballymena 5 Texel 19.5kg £109 (559) N Logan, 24 Suffolk 24kg £134, G Longstaff, Kells 10 Dorset 22kg £122 (554) K Steele, Ballyclare 11 Texel 22kg £122 (554) A McCullough, Cullybackey 20 Texel 24kg £133 (554) L Weatherup, Ballyclare 24 Texel 24kg £133 (554) and G Martin, Broughshane 3 Texel 20.5kg £113.50 (553).

Top per head

J Thompson, Kells 10 Texel 31kg £147, J Ross, Cullybackey 2 Texel 34.5kg £146, McAuley Brothers, Glenarm 5 Texel 28kg £145, W McAllister, Kells 3 Texel 31kg £145, L Hamilton, Cushendun 2 Texel 32.5kg £143, W McAllister, Kells 4 Texel 27.5kg £140, 5 Texel 25.5kg £140, D Gaston, Carnlough 1 Texel 27.5kg £140, J O'Brien, Ballymena 1 Suffolk 34kg £139, L&J Barron, 13 Texel 25.5kg £139, J McLaughlin, Carnlough 3 Suffolk 28kg £139, S Kerr, Kilwaughter Blackface 35kg £138.50, N Boyd, Broughshane 28 Texel 26.5kg £137.50, J McIlrath, Ballymena 2 Kerry 28.5kg £137, H Hall, 4 Beltex 27kg £137, R Brown, Ballymena 5 Texel 26.5kg £137, N McBurney, 12 Charollais 27kg £136.50 and G Forsythe, 23 Texel 25.5kg £136.50.

Fat ewes (493)

First quality

Texel – £210-£252

Suffolk –£100-£136

Crossbred –£120-£160

Blackface – £50-£90