Dairy cows selling to £2260 at Ballymena Mart

Beef cows sold to 224p for 720kg at £1612, Friesian cows to 155p for 800kg at £1240, beef heifers to 252p for 670kg at £1688, beef bullocks to 253p for 680kg at £1720 and to a top per head of £1936 for 800kgs.

Friesian bullocks to 187p for 730kg at £1365.

Beef cows sold to: TP Crawford, Kircubbin Limousin 720kg £1612 (224), Richard McVicker, Ballycastle Par 730kg £1591 (218), WA Weatherup, Comber Limousin 550kg £1177 (214), TP Crawford Limousin 680kg £1441 (212), T McFerran, Ballyhalbert Limousin 720kg £1519 (211), TP Crawford Belgian Blue 740kg £1539 (208), T McFerran Limousin 700kg £1442 (206), David Mairs, Magheragall Limousin 620kg £1258 (203), Edward Kennedy, Ballyclare Limousin 640kg £1254 (196), Derek Campton, Cookstown Simmental 750kg £1440 (192), Edward Kennedy, Ballyclare Limousin 750kg £1425 (190), John Lowe, Cookstown Simmental 660kg £1234 (187) and S McCambridge, Blonde d’Aquitaine 610kg £1140 (187).

Friesian cows sold to: J Marshall, Portglenone 800kg £1240 (155), TR Lilburn, Dromore 820kg £1205 (147), JF Smith, Islandmagee 840kg £1226 (146), W Jackson, Ballynure 670kg £951 (142), JF Smith 790kg £1121 (142), D Mulholland, Crumlin 740kg £1043 (141), Roger Lyttle, Larne 850kg £1198 (141), Harold Johnston, Ahoghill 660kg £930 (141), David Clark, Antrim 660kg £930 (141), C Moody, Bushmills 660kg £930 (141), D Mulholland, Crumlin 730kg £1022 (140), B Alexander, Ahoghill 730kg £1022 (140) and Harold Johnston, Ahoghill 670kg £938 (140), 640kg £896 (140).

Beef heifers sold to: Fergus Ferguson, Stewartstown Charolais 670kg £1688 (252), local farmer Blonde d’Aquitaine 660kg £1623 (246), Alastair Dale, Ballymena Limousin 600kg £1458 (243), Charolais 620kg £1488 (240), local farmer Limousin 690kg £1649 (239), Ivan Cherry, Ballymena Limousin 570kg £1356 (238), D Hall, Armagh Limousin 620kg £1475 (238), RH Calvert, Ballywalter Charolais 600kg £1422 (237), D Hall Limousin 600kg £1422 (237), Limousin 630kg £1493 (237), Robert Workman, Kilwaughter Charolais 550kg £1298 (236), D Hall Charolais 560kg £1321 (236), Limousin 630kg £1486 (236) and Fergus Ferguson Limousin 630kg £1486 (236).

Beef bullocks (top per kg)

Colin McDowell, Rathriland Charolais 680kg £1720 (253), Francis Cassidy, Kilrea Limousin 750kg £1882 (251), W Donaldson, Holywood Limousin 670kg £1675 (250), local farmer Limousin 600kg £1500 (250), Limousin 700kg £1743 (249), M Kells, Portadown Char 650kg £1618 (249), Richard Chambers, Bushmills Blonde d’Aquitaine 650kg £1605 (247), Francis Cassidy Charolais 780kg £1918 (246), H Cowan Castledawson Limousin 710kg £1739 (245), W Donaldson Limousin 590kg £1445 (245) and J Scott, Toomebridge Limousin 740kg £1813 (245).

Bullocks (top per head)

David Bingham, Ballyroney Charolais 800kg £1936, Francis Cassidy, Kilrea Charolais 780kg £1918, Francis Cassidy Limousin 750kg £1882, Robert Linton, Ahoghill Limousin 770kg £1878, Desmond Morrow, Glenarm Shorthorn 820kg £1861, Colin McDowell, Rathfriland Charolais 780kg £1856, local farmer Belgian Blue 770kg £1840, local farmer Charolais 980kg £1832, L McIvor, Cookstown Charolais 770kg £1824, J McKeague, Ballycastle Charolais 780kg £1817, W Thompson, Dromore Limousin 800kg £1816, J Scott, Toomebridge Limousin 740kg £1813 and David Bingham, Ballyroney Simmental 780kg £1809.

Friesian bullocks sold to: Terence Duffin, Toomebridge 730kg £1365 (187), Glenn Armstrong, Beragh 680kg £1258 (185), 620kg £1140 (184), W Kerr, Glarryford 610kg £1110 (182), Glenn Armstrong 590kg £1067 (181), RJ Gage, Clough 570kg £1031 (181), Rosedernott farm, Cloughmills 570kg £1026 (180), Terence Duffin 700kg £1253 (179), Rosedernott farm 590kg £1056 (179), Glenn Armstrong 650kg £1163 (179), 640kg £1139 (178) and M Wilson, Ballinderry 560kg £996 (178).

Friday, April 23, 2021: 20 dairy cows sold to £2260, leading prices: Blair Jamieson, Broughshane £2260, E and J Arthur, Templepatrick £1780, Beatie Lilburn £1780, W Black, Aghadowey £1720, D Foreman, Belfast £1670, J Ferguson, Straid £1640 and S Dunlop, Dundrod £1590.

25 sucklers sold to £1660, leading prices: WJ McClintock, Broughshane Belgian Blue heifer and bull calf £1660, K and P Buchanan, Larne Char heifer and heifer calf £1540, Nigel Herdman, Moira Stabliser in calf heifer £1460, Thomas Corken, Larne Belgian Blue in calf heifer £1380, Roger Lyttle, Larne Limousin heifer and heifer calf £1370 and Nigel Herdman, Stabliser in calf heifer £1360.

An entry of 390 dropped calves sold to £560 for bull calves, £450 for heifer calves and £300 for Friesian bull calves.

Beef bred bull calves sold to: N and J Coleman, Doagh Charolais £560, S and T Clyde, Straid Belgian Blue £560, G Devlin, Randalstown Charolais £530, Fairmount farm, Claudy (3) Simmental £520, AP Redmond, Portavogie Belgian Blue £510, S and T Clyde Belgian Blue £495.

Heifer calves sold to: AP Redmond, Portavogie Belgian Blue £450, Ian Henry, Cookstown Limousin £450, AP Redmond Belgian Blue £445, WJ Presho, Comber Belgian Blue £440, AP Redmond Belgian Blue £435, JV and RJ Moore, Larne Limousin £420, B Alexander, Ahoghill Charolais £415 and D Montgomery, Glenwherry Limousin £410.

Friesian bull calves sold to: Nigel Ross, Banbridge (2) £300, P McGowan, Toomebridge £260, Nigel Ross £240, WEJ Young, Banbridge £240, G Devlin, Randalstown (3) £230 and Nigel Ross (3) £230).

An entry of 410 weanlings resulted in another great trade.

Bullocks sold to £725 over for a Charolais 380kg at £1105 offered by Ken Bell, Broughshane.

Heifers sold to £1020 over for a Belgian Blue 300kg at £1320 from J McQuiston, Ballymoney.

Bulls/bullocks 0-300kgs

S Clyde, Randalstown Limousin 240kg £800 (333), Samuel Dobbin, Ballycastle Charolais 290kg £965 (332), local farmer Limousin 230kg £740 (321), Ivan Tanner, Castlerock Charolais 290kg £920 (317), Kenneth Bell, Broughshane Charolais 290kg £910 (313), Limousin 300kg £900 (300) and W Dennison, Antrim Charolais 270kg £810 (300).

301-350kgs

Local farmer Limousin 330kg £1020 (309), Matt Gingles, Kilwaughter Limousin 310kg £940 (303), Ivan Tanner, Castlerock Charolais 310kg £940 (303), Charolais 330kg £980 (297), Charolais 330kg £970 (293), P McConnell, Ligoniel Charolais 350kg £1020 (291) and R McNabney, Broughshane Limousin 340kg £990 (291).

351kg and over

J McKinty, Larne Limousin 360kg £1070 (297), Kenneth Bell, Broughshane Charolaisolais 380kg £1105 (290), Paul McLarnon, Hannahstown Limousin 370kg £1030 (278), Matt Gingles, Kilwaughter Aberdeen Angus 360kg £1000 (277), P McConnell, Ligoniel Charolais 370kg £1020 (275), G McKeown, Aughafatten Charolais 410kg £1130 (275) and Donal McIlwaine, Cushendall Limousin 360kg £990 (275),

Bulls/bullocks 0-300kgs

J McQuiston, Ballymoney British Blue 300kg £1320 (440), James Boyd, Newtownabbey Limousin 200kg £615 (307), Adrian Linton, Glarryford (2) Belgian Blue 190kg £575 (302), Samuel Dobbin, Ballycastle Simmental 250kg £720 (288), A Abbott, Lisburn Limousin 270kg £760 (281), J and D Colgan, Ballycastle Charolais 230kg £640 (278) and R Thompson, Ligoniel Limousin 250kg £690 (276).

301-350kgs

AJ Wilson, Ballymena Charolais 310kg £1050 (338), A Abbott, Lisburn Charolais 310kg £850 (274), S McAllister, Glenarm Charolais 310kg £835 (269), P McCammond, Larne Simmental 320kg £850 (265), AJ Wilson, Ballymena Cha r340kg £900 (264), M McConnell, Muckamore Charolais 350kg £925 (264), Paul McLarnon, Hannahstown Limousin 350kg £920 (262), J McQuiston, Ballymoney British Blue 340kg £880 (258) and AJ Wilson, Ballymena Charolais 340kg £880 (258).

351kg amd over

A McGuckian, Dunloy Limousin 370kg £1050 (283), S O’Rawe, Ballycastle Limousin 370kg £1020 (275), J McQuiston, Ballymoney British Blue 370kg 990kg £267), WR Geddis, Magheragall Limousin 370kg £960 (259), Limousin 390kg £990 (253), Stuart Tanner, Castlerock Charolais 360kg £900 (250) and W and H Brown, Kircubbin Limousin 380kg £950 (250).

Monday, April 26, 2020: A great show of breeding sheep in Ballymena on Monday evening resulted in a terrific trade.

Ewes and lambs sold to £385, store lambs to £200, pet lambs to £50 and dry hoggets to £138.

Breeding sheep sold to: B Alexander, Glarryford 1 Texel ewe and 3 lambs £385, 1 Charollais ewe and 1 lamb £300, 1 Texel ewe and 2 lambs £295, Wm Hamill, Aughafatten 1 Texel ewe and 2 lambs £290, S Fry, Kells 4 Suffolk ewes and 7 lambs £290, E McGee, Limavady 1 Texel ewes and 2 lambs £275, I Montgomery, Glenwherry 3 Crossbred ewes and 6 lambs £270 and Kim Steele Nicholson, Antrim 2 Crossbred ewes and 4 lambs £270.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021: An entry of 230 store cattle in Ballymena resulted in another steady trade.

Heifers sold to £770 over for a Limousin 590kg at £1360 presented by Richard Chambers, Ballycastle.

Bullocks sold to £930 over for a Charolais 740kg at £1670 offered by Don Loughlin, Dungiven.

Heifers 0-500kgs

Patrick McMullan, Ballymena (4) Belgian Blue 300kg £745 (248), Belgian Blue 300kg £725 (241), Belgian Blue 220kg £520 (236), H and E McDowell, Castlereagh Limousin 380kg £880 (231) and Ian Gibson, Broughshane Charolais 450kg £1040 (231).

501kg and over

Richard Chambers, Ballycastle Limousin 550kg £1285 (233), Limousin 590kg £1360 (230), Limousin 590kg £1350 (228), D Davidson, Ballymena Limousin 510kg £1125 (220), Don Laughlin, Dungiven Charolais 590kg £1270 (215), Matt Gingles, Kilwaughter Aberdeen Angus 510kg £1080 (211) and Don Laughlin Charolais 620kg £1310 (211).

Bulls/bullocks 0-500kgs

Patrick McMullan, Ballymena Belgian Blue 220kg £560 (254), (2) Belgian Blue 320kg £800 (250), (2) Belgian Blue 260kg £620 (238), J Lavery, Aghalee Charolais 320kg £760 (237), F Duffin, Toomebridge Charolais 380kg £890 (234), J Lavery Limousin 370kg 3855 (231) and WA Bamford, Carrick (2) Aubrac 320kg £735 (229).

501kg and over

WD Boyes and Partners, Moira Limousin 550kg £1335 (242), Limousin 520kg £1210 (232), THW McDowell, Dundonald Limousin 560kg £1300 (232), RJ and G McCullough, Ballyclare Simmental 550kg £1260 (229), Don Laughlin, Dungiven Charolais 740kg £1670 (225), B Richmond, Cloughmills Charolais 570kg £1285 (225), WD Boyes, Limousin 570kg £1285 (225) and RJ and G McCullough Simmental 590kg £1320 (223).

Wednesday, April 28, 2021: 838 sheep in Ballymena resulted in another steady trade.

Fat lambs sold to 650p for 20kg at £130 and to a top per head of £150 for heavy lambs.

Fat hoggets sold to 584p for 13 x 19.5kg at £114 and to a top per head of £146 for 3 heavy Suffolk.

Fat lambs sold to £165.

Spring lambs (340)

(Top prices per kg)

D McAuley, Ballyclare 1 Suffolk 20kg £130 (650), Colin Woodside, Carrick 17 Dorset 19kg £122 (642), SM Millen, Coleraine 2 Texel 21kg £134 (638), Kelly McConnell, Muckamore 1 Suffolk 20kg £126 (630), GJ Coulter, Cookstown 21 Texel 20.5kg £129 (629), D Coulter, Cookstown 4 Texel 20.5kg £129 (629), M Wallace, Dunloy 9 Charollais 20.5kg £128 (624), Raymond Gingles, Kilwaughter 3 Crossbred 20.5kg £128 (624), Mark Hanna, Limavady 11 Suffolk 20kg £124 (620), A Beggs, Kilwaughter 6 Dorset 20kg £123 (615), David Marshall, Clough 5 Texel 21kg £129 (614), David McIlwaine, Glenwherry 2 Charollais 21kg £129 (614), M McNeill, Cushendun 2 Charollais 21kg £129 (614), local farmer 3 Dorset 19kg £116 (610), R Kirk, Bushmills 6 Texel 21kg £128 (609) and Robert Carlisle, Templepatrick 18 Charollais 20.5kg £124 (604).

Top per head: J Anderson, Bushmills Charollais 35kg £150, R Kirk, Bushmills 3 Dorset 26.5kg £142, local farmer 1 Texel 25kg £140, Robert Sloan, Glenwherry 1 Dorset 25kg £140, RJM and Mrs ME Dunlop, Gleno 1 Dorset 25kg £140, A and D McAfee, Bushmills 14 Texel 24.5kg £140, Amy McConnell, Templepatrick 1 Dorset 27.5kg £139, A McNeill, Toomebridge 2 Dorset 25kg £139, J Johnston, Ballymena 4 Dorset 25kg £138, Ian Young, Coleraine 5 Suffolk 23kg £138, L Weatherup, Ballyclare 4 Texel 23.5kg £137.50, Amy McConnell 3 Dorset 24kg £136, WL Wilson, Ballyclare 5 Texel 23kg £136 and Brian Lyttle, Moorfields 10 Hampshire Down 23kg £135.

Fat hoggets (176)

Top prices per kg

Local farmer 3 Texel 19.5kg £114 (584), James Scroggie, Armagh 1 Texel 22.5kg £124 (551), R Brown, Ballymena 16 Texel 24.5kg £133.50 (544), B Jamison, Armoy 8 Texel 23kg £120 (521), R Henry, Kilwaughter 2 Suffolk 25kg £129 (516), J McWoodburn, Kells 22 Texel 25kg £129 (516), M Fulton, Ballymena 1 Crossbred 22.5kg £116 (515), JSA and H Ritchie, Connor 26 Lleyn 23.5kg £120 (510), TA Smyth, Randalstown 90 Suffolk 26kg £132.50 (509), Hugh McCambridge, Carnlough 23 Suffolk 25kg £126 (504), JSA and H Ritchie, Connor 6 Lleyn 17.5kg £88 (502) and Oliver Duffin 1 Texel 20kg £100 (500).

Top per head

Richard Booth, Ahoghill 3 Suffolk 37.5kg £146, Robert McBride, Randalstown 5 Texel 35kg £146, S Bonnar, Broughshane 1 Suffolk 27.5kg £136, R Brown, Ballymena 16 Texel 24.5kg £133.50, Liam Hamilton, Cushendun 1 Texel 30kg £133, TA Smyth, Randalstown 9 Suffolk 26kg £132.50, Ian Hamilton, Broughshane 2 Mule 33.5kg £131, R Henry, Kilwaughter 2 Suffolk 25kg £129, J McWoodburn, Kells 22 Texel 25kg £129, Hugh McCambridge, Carnlough 23 Suffolk 25kg £126, J Scroggie, Armagh 1 Texel 22.5kg £124 and JS and H Ritchie, Connor 26 Lleyn 23.5kg £120.

Fat ewes (322)

First quality

Suffolk - £120-£120

Texel- £130-£168

Crossbred - £100-£128

Blackface - £70-£88