Dairy cows selling to £2120 at Ballymena Mart

Beef cows sold to 249p for a Belgian Blue 730kg at £1817, Friesian cows to 145p for 780kg at £1131, beef heifers to 255p for 470kg at £1198, beef bullocks to 247p for 720kg at £1778 and to a top per head of £1940 for 870kg.

Friesian bullocks to 203p for 730kg at £1481.

Beef cows sold to: W Ward and Sons, Crumlin Belgian Blue 730kg £1817 (249), Belgian Blue 770kg £1755 (228), Timothy Wray, Carnlough Limousin 710kg £1519 (214), Alistair Thompson, Hillsborough Limousin 740kg £1576 (213), local farmer Limousin 600kg £1272 (212), Timothy Wray, Carnlough Limousin 710kg £1491 (210), L McAuley, Glenarm Charolais 720kg £1504 (209), local farmer Limousin 790kg £1635 (207), Gilbert Crawford, Maghera Charolais 860kg £1771 (206), W and N Martin, Broughshane Limousin 640kg £1248 (195), Gilbert Crawford Charolais 1110kg £2153 (194) and Mervyn McConkey, Larne Limousin 770kg £1470 (191).

Friesian cows sold to: WR Hamilton, Broughshane 780kg £1131 (145), D Maybin, Broughshane 770kg £1070 (139), DJ and S Allen, Limavady 900kg £1242 (138), Mrs J Duncan, Crumlin 570kg £775 (136), David McClintock, Moorfields 740kg £1006 (136), D and D Robinson, Carnalbana 650kg £877 (135), DJ and S Allen, Limavady 850kg £1147 (135), 760kg £1010 (133), 750kg £990 (132), D Mulholland, Crumlin 690kg £910 (132), McGookin Farming, Ballyclare 680kg £884 (130), FC Patterson, Broughshane 790kg £1019 (129), P Brown, Clough 620kg £799 (129), W Patterson, Ballyclare 570kg £735 (129), S Wilson, Ballymena 740kg £954 (129) and N and J Coleman, Doagh 760kg £972 (128).

Beef heifers sold to: J Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 470kg £1198 (255), local farmer Limousin 730kg £1730 (237), I McMullan, Carnlough Limousin 620kg £1457 (235), James Boyd, Newtownabbey Limousin 590kg £1362 (231), local farmer Limousin 670kg £1541 (230), JF Savage and Partners, Ballywalter Limousin 580kg £1334 (230), Limousin 510kg £1173 (230), John Davidson, Moorfields Charolais 620kg £1419 (229), Charolais 570kg £1305 (229), JF Savage and Partners Limousin 580kg £1322 (228), Limousin 540kg £1231 (228), I McMullan, Carnlough Blonde d’Aquitaine 570kg £1299 (228), Mrs M Crawford, Carnalbana Limousin 670kg £1527 (228), Shaun McCloskey, Dungiven Charolais 590kg £1345 (228), H McFetridge, Garvagh Limousin 610kg £1390 (228), JF Savage and Partners Limousin 570kg £1282 (225) and J Gardiner, Ballymena Limousin 630kg £1417 (225).

Beef bullocks

Top price per kg: W Irwin, Limavady Blonde d’Aquitaine 720kg £1778 (247), Norman McBurney, Moorfields Limousin 720kg £1756 (244), D McKillop, Glenariffe Charolais 400kg £976 (244), local farmer Belgian Blue 620kg £1506 (243), Thomas McErlain, Bellaghy Limousin 680kg £1652 (241), Norman McBurney, Charolais 700kg £1694 (242), W Irwin, Limavady Limousin 720kg £1735 (241), J Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 540kg £1301 (241), Norman McBurney Limousin 680kg £1632 (240), John Blair Cullybackey Charolais 680kg £1618 (238), S Kelly, Kells Belgian Blue 760kg £1808 (238), John Minford, Parkgate Charolais 690kg £1642 (238), Steven McCann, Randalstown Limousin 680kg £1611 (237), Norman McBurney Charolais 730kg £1730 (237) and local farmer Limousin 620kg £1463 (236).

Top prices per head - Malcolm Surphlis, Lisnaskea Limousin 870kg £1940, J McEldowney, Kilrea Charolais 860kg £1935, James Brennan, Knockloughrim Charolais 890kg £1886, S Kelly, Ballymena Limousin 840kg £1881, Limousin 870kg £1879, Limousin 840kg £1822, Limousin 820kg £1812, Belgian Blue 760kg £1808, Thomas McErlain, Bellaghy Belgian Blue 800kg £1784, I Gilliland, Ballymena Limousin 860kg £1780, W Irwin, Limavady Blonde d’Aquitaine 720kg £1778, local farmer Charolais 790kg £1777, Charolais 800kg £1776, W Irwin, Limavady Charolais 780kg £1770, D Gilliland, Ballymena Aberdeen Angus 810kg £1765 and Norman McBurney Limousin 720kg £1756.

Friesian bullocks sold to: I Dale, Ballymena 730kg £1481 (203), A Smyth, Portglenone 700kg £1365 (195), Moore Wallace, Dunloy 680kg £1258 (185), Barry Kane, Castledawson 690kg £1262 (183), H Simms, Carrick 610kg £1110 (182), C Crawford, Clough 720kg £1288 (179), A Smyth, Portglenone 690kg £1214 (176), Barry Kane 640kg £1107 (173), H Simms, 670kg £1145 (171), C Crawford, 710kg £1192 (168) and C and J Ruddell, Coleraine 580kg £939 (162).

Friday, January 15, 2021: 30 dairy cows sold to £2120 twice, leading prices as follows: A Bell, Nutts Corner £2120, W Johnston, Glenavy £2120, P Tinsley, Dromore £2070, D Maybin, Broughshane £2060, £2020, D Foreman, Belfast £1960, WG Johnston, Ligoniel £1920, A Bell, Nutts Corner £1920, Barry McStravick, Gawleys Gate £1900, P Tinsley, Dromore £1870, RH and HA Shanks, Dunadry £1860, Barry McStravick £1860, S Booth, Ballygawley £1830, Barry McStravick £1820, GB Patton and Son, Carrowdore £1780, D Foreman, Belfast £1770, Barry McStravick £1720, P Tinsley, Dromore £1720, RH and HA Shanks £1700 and P Tinsley £1660.

Another good show of sucklers sold to £1710, leading prices: R Pollock, Glenavy Limousin heifer and bull calf £1710, Aberdeen Angus Ferguson, Stewartstown Hereford heifer and heifer calf £1420, R Pollock, Glenavy Limousin in calf heifer £1400, C Smyth, Portaferry in calf heifer £1360, F Tannahill, Macosquin Limousin heifer and bull calf £1360, A Farrell, Fivemiletown Simmental in calf heifer £1360, C Smyth Belgian Blue in calf heifer £1350, A Farrell Limousin in calf heifer £1350, Simmental in calf heifer £1340, Charolais in calf heifer £1340 and C Smyth Belgian Blue in calf heifer £1330, Belgian Blue in calf heifer £1280, Belgian Blue in calf heifer £1280, European Angus in calf heifer £1230.

A great entry of 380 dropped calves presented at Ballymena resulted in a terrific trade.

Bull calves sold to £640, heifers sold to £555 and Friesian bulls sold to £340.

Beef bred bull calves sold to: Leslie Wilson Belgian Blue £640, Belgian Blue £625, Belgian Blue £625, F Warwick, Moorfields Limousin £625, Leslie Wilson Belgian Blue £615, Belgian Blue £605, Leslie Wilson £600, Hamilton Alexander, Glenarm Limousin £590, David McClurkin, Ligoniel Shorthorn £545, J Lynn Cullybackey Aberdeen Angus £545, Roger Lyttle, Larne Belgian Blue £540 and David McClurkin Hereford £520.

Heifer calves sold to: Leslie Wilson, Doagh Belgian Blue £555, Belgian Blue £540, B Alexander, Ahoghill Belgian Blue £530, Daniel Patton, Newtownards Belgian Blue £505, G Devlin, Randalstown Belgian Blue £490, B Alexander Charolais £475, Hamilton Alexander, Glenarm Limousin £475, James Adair, Kells Belgian Blue £470, J Lynn, Cullybackey Aberdeen Angus £465, Samuel Brenna, Larne Charolais £465, David McClurkin, Ligoniel Hereford £460, J Lynn, Cullybackey (2) Aberdeen Angus £455, F Warwick, Moorfields Limousin £435, J Maxwell, Upperlands Limousin £435 and Cairnleigh Ltd, Aghalee Hereford £430.

Friesian bull calves sold to: J Lynn, Cullybackey £340, Andrew Armstrong, Broughshane (5) £340, McGookin Farming, Ballyclare £340, J Lynn, Cullybackey £310, McGookin Farming (3) £285, £270, HB Scott, Ballygowan £265 and Alan McNair, Ballyclare (2) £260.

An entry of 450 weanlings in Ballymena resulted in a super trade.

Bullocks sold to £700 over for a Charolais 430kg at £1130 offered by Shaws Hill farm, Doagh.

Heifers sold to £1210 over for a Limousin 410kg at £1620 presented by S and M Black, Carnlough.

Bulls/bullocks 0-300kgs

D McKillop, Glenarm (2) Limousin 280kg £915 (326), M McNeill, Cushendall Charolais 300kg £980 (326), local farmer Limousin 270kg £870 (322), P Devlin, Toomebridge Shorthorn beef 140kg £450 (321), local farmer Charolais 280kg £885 (316), P McConnell, Ligoniel Charolais 280kg £850 (303) and D McKillop, Glenarm (3) Limousin 270kg £800 (296).

301-350kg

Local farmer Charolais 330kg £970 (293), R Henry, Kilwaughter Limousin 320kg £940 (293), SG Lowry, Glenavy Charolais 320kg £915 (285), local farmer Charolais 340kg £970 (285), Mrs M Foster, Kells (2) Limousin 330kg £940 (284), D McKillop, Glenariffe Charolais 320kg £910 (284) and S McCormick, Martinstown Charolais 320kg £910 (284).

351kg and over

SG Lowry, Glenavy Limousin 360kg £990 (275), S McCormick, Martinstown Charolais 390kg £1060 (271), Jean Craig, Larne Limousin 380kg £1030 (271), SG Lowry Limousin 360kg £970 (269), Shaws hill farm Limousin 380kg £1020 (268), D McKillop, Glenarm Limousin 360kg £960 (266), R Woodside, Ballyclare Limousin 360kg £960 (266) and Jean Craig, Larne Limousin 380kg £1010 (265).

Heifers 0-300kgs

P Devlin, Toomebridge, (3) Limousin 180kg £570 (316), D McKillop, Glenarm Limousin 270kg £800 (296), D Thompson, Bushmills Limousin 290kg £850 (293), WJ Bryson, Crumlin Simmental 270kg £765 (283) and D McKillop Charolais 240kg £680 (283), Limousin 300kg £840 (280), Limousin 300kg £840 (280).

301-350kgs

TJ McLornan, Nutts Corner (2) Limousin 310kg £940 (303), W Craig, Larne Limousin 330kg £935 (283), M McNeill, Cushendun Charolais 340kg £950 (279), AJ Wilson, Ballymena Charolais 350kg £970 (277), E Gillan, Deerfin Limousin 320kg £885 (276), J Jones, Belfast Charolais 310kg £845 (272) and H Crawford, Carnalbana Charolais 340kg £920 (270).

351kg and over

S and M Black, Carnlough Limousin 410kg £1620 (395), Limousin 360kg £1180 (327), M Warwick, Antrim (2) Limousin 360kg £990 (275), D Thompson, Bushmills Limousin 370kg £1000 (270) and S and M Black Limousin 400kg £1080 (270), (2) Limousin 360kg £950 (263).

Monday, January 18, 2021: A small entry of sheep in Ballymena resulted in another flying trade.

Ewes and lambs sold to £310, springing ewes to £188, store lambs to £86 and pet lambs to £36.

Ewes and lambs sold to: David Scott, Ballymena 1 Zwartble ewe and 2 lambs £310, 1 Zwartble ewe and 2 lambs £300, 2 Dorset ewe and 4 lambs £290, 1 Dorset ewe and 2 lambs £290, local farmer 1 Crossbred ewe and 2 lambs £280, 1 Texel ewe and 2 lambs £280, Paul Crawford, Islandmagee 2 Dorset ewes and 4 lambs £250, David Scott, Ballymena 1 Dorset ewe and 1 lamb £230, local farmer 1 Texel ewe and 1 lamb £230, 1 Texel ewe and 1 lamb £230, Paul Butler Rathkenny 1 Hampshire Down ewe and 1 lamb £225, 1 Charollais ewe and 3 lambs £220, Paul Crawford, Islamdmagee 2 Dorset ewes and 3 lambs £215, Paul Butler 2 Texel and 2 lambs £205 and P Anderson, Portstewart 1 Dorset ewe and 1 lamb £205.

In lamb ewes sold to: RH McIlwaine, Kilwaughter 3 Suffolk in lamb £188, L and J Armstrong, Broughshane 12 Mule £175, RH McIlwaine 5 Mule £172, 6 Mule £168, James Allen, Broughshane 5 Mule £165, local farmer 4 Texel £165, Andrew Armstrong, Broughshane 8 Suffolk £158, RH McIlwaine 1 Mule £152, Keith Ferguson, Ballymena 10 Texel £150 and local farmer 4 Texel £150.

Store lambs sold to: Trevor Davidson, Glenwherry 3 Texel £86, Brian Stirling, Ballymena 6 Mule £85, K O’Hara, Cushendun 2 Cheviot £81, R Morrow, Glenarm 4 Suffolk £80, M McCullough, Ballymena 12 Suffolk £70 and J McAuley, Cushendun 2 Texel £70.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021: 230 store cattle presented at Ballymena on Tuesday resulted in another super trade.

Bullocks sold to £730 over for a Charolais 510kg at £1240 presented by James Smyth, Randalstown.

Heifers sold to £690 over for a Limousin 510kg at £1200 offered by A Dougherty, Kircubbin.

Bulls/bullocks 0-500kgs

David Boyd, Knockagh Simmental 420kg £1010 (240), Simmental 410kg £960 (234), Andrew McKnight, Antrim Limousin 450kg £1040 (231), Mervyn Campbell, Crumlin Limousin 450kg £1040 (231), Andrew McKnight Limousin 420kg £970 (231), Limousin 430kg £980 (227), Howard McCutcheon, Groomsport Belgian Blue 500kg £1130 (226), N Boyd, Broughshane Limousin 480kg £1080 (225), WJ E and A Adams, Banbridge Limousin 450kg £1010 (224), Peter Rea, Carnalbana Limousin 410kg £920 (224) and WJ E and A Adams Blonde d’Aquitaine 420kg £940 (223).

501kg and over

J Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 510kg £1240 (243), WJ E and A Adams, Banbridge Belgian Blue 520kg £1210 (232), Charolais 540kg £1245 (230), Wm Ridges, Ballycarry Charolais 510kg £1160 (227), P Penney, Larne Limousin 530kg £1190 (224), R Wells, Moira Charolais 540kg £1190 (220), A Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 570kg £1250 (219), N Boyd, Broughshane Limousin 510kg £1110 (217), McCready McCartney and Nutts Corner Charolais 510kg £1110 (217), Charolais 530kg £1150 (217).

Heifers 0-500kgs

S Dennison, Dunadry Belgian Blue 350kg £930 (265), Belgian Blue 410kg £980 (239), Bonnar Farms, Ballymena (3) Charolais 410kg £980 (239), S Dennison, Belgian Blue 410kg £970 (236), Bonnar Farms Charolais 440kg £1035 (235), N Boyd, Broughshane Limousin 470kg £1090 (231) and Bonnar Farms Charolais 450kg £1030 (228).

501kg and over

A Dougherty, Kircubbin Limousin 510kg £1200 (235), Limousin 550kg £1240 (225), R Wells, Moira Charolais 530kg £1180 (222), Jim Allen, Larne Charolais 580kg £1230 (212), RJ and G McCullough, Ballyclare Sal 510kg £1080 (211), W Dennison, Dunadry Belgian Blue 560kg £1185 (211), R Wells, Moira Limousin 540kg £1130 (209), R McCullough, Milebush Limousin 520kg £1080 (207), W Dennison, Dunadry Belgian Blue 560kg £1150 (205) and R Wells, Moira Charolais 570kg £1170 (205).

Wednesday, January 20, 2021: Another great entry of 2930 sheep in Ballymena on Wednesday resulted in a cheaper trade.

Fat hoggets sold to a top per kg of 530p for a pen of 20kg at £106 presented by K and P Buchanan, Larne and to a top per head of £125.50 for a pen of heavy Suffolk from A McKillop, Cushendall.

Fat ewes sold to £154.

Fat hoggets (2606)

Top price per kg: K and P Buchanan, Larne 11 Charollais 20kg £106 (530), Amy McConnell, Templepatrick 8 Dorset 21kg £108 (514), Ivan Minford, Nutts Corner 6 Texel 23kg £118 (513), Graeme Martin, Broughshane 2 Texel 22kg £112 (509), John Smith, Kells 9 Dorset 23kg £117 (508), S Patterson, Milebush 23 Texel 21kg £105 (500), Brian Lyttle, Moorfields 15 Texel 22kg £110 (500), RJ McKay and Son, Carnlough 15 Crossbred 20kg £100 (500), local farmer 7 Texel 22kg £110 (500), W Monteith-Wilson, Omagh 33 Texel 21kg £105 (500), 8 Texel 21kg £105 (500), local farmer 4 Texel 20kg £100 (500), T Marcus, Glenarm 16 Texel 19kg £95 (500), WJ Cubitt, Rasharkin 7 Texel 24.5kg £122 (498), A McMullan, Glenariffe 49 Texel 23kg £114.50 (497), local farmer, Ballymoney 60 Suffolk 22.5kg £112 (497), S Adams, Broughshane 19 Blackface 21.5kg £107 (497), local farmer 60 Suffolk 23kg £114 (495), J Lynn, Cullybackey 4 Texel 23kg £114 (495), Trevor Davidson, Glenwherry 3 Texel 22kg £109 (495), J McFetridge, Glenarm 5 Dorset 21kg £104 (495), S McAllister, Glenarm 14 Lleyn 20kg £99 (495), Hugh McNeill, Ballygally 10 Texel 18kg £89 (494) and Graeme Martin, Broughshane 11 Texel 24.5kg £121 (493).

Top price per head: A McKillop, Cushendall 3 Suffolk 32kg £125.50, C Jamison, Larne 3 Texel 32.5kg £125, Colin Newell, Ballymoney 8 Texel 27.5kg £123, H McCullough, Randalstown 13 Texel 26kg £122, J and N Morrow, Glenarm 5 Texel 25kg £122, WJ Cubitt, Rasharkin 7 Texel 24.5kg £122, Graeme Martin, 11 Texel 24.5kg £121, Norman Millar, Randalstown 27 Texel 29kg £121, local farmer 3 Texel 25kg £121, R McCormick, Armoy 18 Texel 25kg £120, R Simpson, Broughshane 9 Texel 26.5kg £120, Miss J Gilliland, Muckamore 10 Suffolk 28.5kg £120, WJ Hanna, Ballyclare 13 Rouge 26.5kg £120, WJ Ramsey, Kells 2 Texel 31.5kg £120, T and J Mackey, Ballynure 2 Rouge 29kg £120, D Thompson, Randalstown 8 Texel 26.5kg £120, Timothy Wray, Carnlough 1 Texel 29kg £120, 1 Blu 37kg £120, E and SJ Hill, Randalstown 36 Texel 25.5kg £119.50, Ivan Minford, Nutts Corner 11 Suffolk 26kg £119.50, Earls Abbey, Ballyearl 4 Romney 24.5kg £119, TDG Farms, Toomebridge 31 Texel 26kg £119, Norman Millar, Randalstown 22 Texel 25.5kg £119, C Jamison, Larne 6 Texel 24.5kg £119 and A and M Armstrong, Straid 45 Suffolk 25kg £118.

Fat ewes (324)

First quality

Texel - £120-£154

Suffolk - £110-£138

Crossbred - £90-£100

Blackface - £50-£80