Excellent prices for pedigree bulls at Ballymena Mart, top price of £5700

Beef cows to 255p for 680kg at £1734, Friesian cows to 156p for 630kg at £982, beef heifers to 310p for 660kg at £2046 and beef bullocks to 318p for 780kg at £2480.

Beef cows

Local farmer Simmental 680kg £1734 (255) N Collins, Aghadowey Belgian Blue 810kg £1927 (238) James McLoughlin, Carnlough Belgian Blue 580kg £1368 (236) R Devlin Simmental 690kg £1614 (234) T Clyde, Antrim Limousin 630kg £1449 (230) local farmer, Blonde d'Aquitaine 630kg £1442 (229) W and M Orr, Ballycastle Limousin 640kg £1446 (226) T Duffin, Toomebridge Limousin 680kg £1523 (224) local farmer, Limousin 750kg £1665 (222) P McSparron, Limousin 640kg £1414 (221) W and M Orr, Ballycastle Limousin 610kg £1329 (218) T Clyde, Antrim Limousin 680kg £1462 (215) L Hamill, Abondance 690kg £1469 (213) N Collins, Limousin 790kg £1643 (208) and McClurg and Mullen, Limousin 650kg £1345 (207).

Friesian cows

R Crawford, Glarryford 630kg £982 (156) R Alexander, Cloughmills 830kg £1294 (156) R Crawford, 640kg £992 (155) W Hamill, Ballymena 620kg £961 (155) Jackson’s Ballynure 700kg £1078 (154) F O Boyle, Randalstown 660kg £1003 (152) Jacksons Ballynure 690kg £1041 (151) G Connon, 680kg £1026 (151) O Magill, Crumlin 650kg £975 (150) local farmer, 630kg £938 (149) RJ and JA Wright 720kg £1065 (148) F O’Boyle 630kg £926 (147) R Crawford, Glarryford 650kg £942 (145) and WS Kennedy, Ballyclare 760kg £1094 (144).

Beef heifers

M Johnston, Toomebridge Belgian Blue 660kg £2046 (310) T McConnell, Parkgate 640kg £1945 (304) Limousin 620kg £1866 (301) K McCammon, Cookstown Charolais 710kg £2115 (298) T McConnell, Parkgate Charolais 650kg £1924 (296) local farmer, Limousin 590kg £1728 (293) T McConnell, Charolais 590kg £1722 (292) W Gabbie, Limousin 630kg £1839 (292) T McConnell, Charolais 620kg £1785 (2880 W and M Orr, Ballycastle Limousin 620kg £1773 (286) Linton Brothers, Charolais 630kg £1789 (284) W and M Orr, Limousin 540kg £1512 (280) J McCaughan, Charolais 630kg £1751 (278) Linton Brothers, Charolais 640kg £1779 (278) J McCaughan, Armoy Simmental 620kg £1705 (275) and local farmer, Limousin 590kg £1604 (272).

Beef bullocks

Top per kilo

F Cassidy, Kilrea Charolais 780kg £2480 (318), local farmer Limousin 600kg £1848 (308), J Adams, Cullybackey Limousin 660kg £2019 (306), R McCartney, Cookstown Limousin 760kg £2302 (303), J Adams, Cullybackey Limousin 680kg £2040 (300), D Gilliland, Ballymena Limousin 610kg £1830 (300), F Cassidy, Kilrea Limousin 780kg £2340 (300), Charolais 830kg £2473 (298), D Gilliland, Ballymena Limousin 630kg £1871 (297), local farmer Limousin 680kg £2019 (297), 670kg £1969 (294), F Cassidy, Kilrea Limousin 850kg £2490 (293), 810kg £2357 (291), D Winter, Randalstown Aberdeen Angus 700kg £2016 (288), J Adams, Cullybackey Limousin 670kg £1896 (283) and W Gabbie, Crossgar Limousin 620kg £1748 (282).

Top per head

F Cassidy, Kilrea Limousin 850kg £2490, Charolais 780kg £2480, 830kg £2473, 810kg £2357, Limousin 780kg £2340, R McCartney, Cookstown Limousin 760kg £2302, N McKeague, Ballycastle Charolais 870kg £2296, J Adams, Cullybackey Limousin 680kg £2040, 660kg £2019, local farmer Limousin 680kg £2019, D Winter, Randalstown Aberdeen Angus 700kg £2016 and R McCartney, Cookstown Charolais 740kg £2012.

Friesian bullocks

J Mackey, Ballynure 570kg £1356 (238), D Duffin, Toomebridge 710kg £1682 (237), K Scullion, Portglenone 640kg £1459 (228), 660kg £1491 (226), J and M Hamill, Broughshane 550kg £1226 (223), 580kg £1281 (221), J Mackey, Ballynure 630kg £1379 (219), D Winter, Randalstown 500kg £1075 (215), W G Johnston, Ligoniel 870kg £1827 (210) and local farmer 500kg £1000 (200).

Friday 1st March 2024: Dairy cows - 45 dairy cows and heifers sold to £1950.

Leading prices as follows: JW Suffern, Crumlin £1950, £1900, G and I Currie, £1900, J Adams, £1900, JW Suffern, £1880, P Mairs, Comber £1850, D Wallace, Antrim £1850, B McStravick, £1850, D Howard, Moneymore £1800, D Wallace, £1800, J Adams, Ballymena £1800, T Carlisle £1800, JW Suffern, £1780, P Mairs, £1780 and B McStravick £1720, D Howard, £1700.

Sucklers

25 sucklers sold to £1900 for a heifer and bull calf.

Leading prices as follows: D Allen, Moneymore Limousin and bull calf £1900, Limousin and bull calf £1720, S Orr, Downpatrick Hereford in calf £1500, S Houston, Bangor British Blue heifer and bull calf £1500, S Orr, Speckled Park in calf £1420, P Johnston, Newtownabbey Simmental In calf £1400, S Orr, Abondance £1320, £1300, £1280, St MacNissi College, Abondance £1250, S Orr, Abondance £1220, £1220, St MacNissi, Hereford £1220 and S Orr, 2x Limousin £1180, Limousin £1120,

Pedigree bulls

WJ Porter, Dromore Abondance £5700, Abondance £5500, Shorthorn beef £4700, Abondance £4600, Abondance £3900, Abondance £3500, Abondance £3500 and Abondance £3300.

Calves

Bulls

TJ Johnston, Limousin £725, G Devlin, 2x Belgian Blue £690, RJ White, Limousin £640, AM Crawford, Belgian Blue £600, G Devlin, Abondance £580, D and R Hamilton, Carrick Hereford £540, AM Crawford, Belgian Blue £535, Abondance £530, H Thompson, Abondance £510, D and R Hamilton, Hereford £505, A M Crawford, Belgian Blue £500, I Montgomery, Abondance £500, D and R Hamilton, Abondance £495 and G Devlin, £495, D Clark, Abondance £495.

Heifers

RJ White, Ballymoney Limousin £700, A M Crawford, Belgian Blue £560, Belgian Blue £540, RJ White, Limousin £540, P McConnell, Belfast Limousin £535, A and D McAfee, Charolais £500, G Devlin, British Blue £470, AM Crawford, Belgian Blue £460, H Thompson, Belgian Blue £455, I McFarlane, 2x Belgian Blue £445, A M Crawford, Abondance £430, H Thompson, Belgian Blue £430, AP Redmond, Belgian Blue £420 and J King, Ballymena Belgian Blue £415.

Friesian bulls

JV and RJ Moore, Larne £430, WJ Bartlett, Armoy £350, H Thompson, Randalstown £240, I McFarlane, £235, AM Crawford, £205, P and B McVey, 2x £200, JV and RJ Moore, £190, I McFarlane, £170, JV and RJ Moore, £160, D Clark, £155, R Bingham, £100 and WJ Bartlett, £90.

Weanlings

An entry of 303 weanlings in Ballymena on Friday resulted in another terrific trade.

Bullocks sold to £1090 over for a Charolais 410kg at £1500 offered by David Boyd, Newtownabbey.

Heifers sold to £1060 over for a Charolais 390kg at £1450 also presented by David Boyd.

Bullocks

Up to 300kg

S Dawson, Lisburn Charolais 270kg £1100 (407), S and O Quigg, Garvagh Charolais 240kg £940 (391), F and R Auld, Newtownabbey Limousin 210kg £820 (390), 210kg £790 (376), 240kg £900 (375), 230kg £860 (373), S Montford, Broughshane Charolais 300kg £1100 (366), G Quinn, Lisburn Simmental 270kg £990 (366), F and R Auld, Newtownabbey Limousin 240kg £870 (362), S and O Quigg, Garvagh Charolais 280kg £1000 (357), local farmer Blonde d'Aquitaine 250kg £890 (356), W Dawson, Stoneyford Charolais 290kg £1030 (355), M Murphy, Moorfields Aberdeen Angus 140kg £490 (350) x2, G Connon, Aldergrove Hereford 260kg £900 (346) and W and C Harron, Glenavy Charolais 300kg £1020 (340).

301-350kg

D Boyd, Newtownabbey Charolais 350kg £1390 (397), £1280 (365), S and O Quigg, Garvagh Charolais 330kg £1170 (354), R Montford, Broughshane Charolais 350kg £1230 (351), J K Davidson, Broughshane Limousin 310kg £1080 (348), G Quinn, Lisburn Simmental 320kg £1110 (346), C McErlain, Armoy Charolais 310kg £1070 (345), S and O Quigg, Garvagh Charolais 320kg £1100 (343), G Wells, Moira Simmental 330kg £1120 (339), C McLoughlin, Carnlough Charolais 310kg £1050 (338), S G Simms, Gleno Belgian Blue 320kg £1070 (334) x2, D Gourley, Ballygally Aberdeen Angus 310kg £1035 (333), J Knox, Broughshane Limousin 350kg £1160 (331), R Montford, Broughshane Charolais 330kg £1080 (327) and J K Davidson, Broughshane Limousin 330kg £1080 (327).

Over 351kg

D Boyd, Newtownabbey Charolais 410kg £1500 (365), 390kg £1420 (364), G McKeown, Aughafatten Charolais 440kg £1580 (359), M Ramsey, Ballyclare Limousin 390kg £1400 (359), G Wells, Moira Charolais 400kg £1410 (352), D Boyd, Newtownabbey Charolais 430kg £1510 (351), M Ramsey, Ballyclare Limousin 410kg £1410 (343), G Wells, Moira Charolais 370kg £1270 (343), J Carey, Martinstown Limousin 450kg £1540 (342), A McErlean, Portglenone Limousin 380kg £1300 (342), N McLoughlin, Cushendall Charolais 410kg £1390 (339), A McErlean, Portglenone Limousin 360kg £1220 (338), 430kg £1450 (337), M Ramsey, Ballyclare Limousin 380kg £1280 (336), N McLoughlin, Cushendall Charolais 360kg £1210 (336) and G Wells, Moira Charolais 360kg £1200 (333).

Heifers

Up to 300kg

F and R Auld, Newtownabbey Limousin 210kg £785 (373), S and O Quigg, Garvagh Charolais 240kg £840 (350), F and R Auld, Newtownabbey Limousin 210kg £730 (347), V Hamilton, Cushendun Charolais 290kg £950 (327), W Dawson, Stoneyford Charolais 300kg £970 (323), G and I Davidson, Raloo Limousin 230kg £740 (321), M Murphy, Moorfields Aberdeen Angus 120kg £385 (320), J K Davidson, Broughshane Limousin 290kg £920 (317), A V Magill, Carnlough Charolais 300kg £930 (310), F and R Auld, Newtownabbey Limousin 250kg £770 (308), Aberdeen Angus 220kg £670 (304), R Hunter, Larne Limousin 270kg £805 (298), 300kg £870 (290) and F and R Auld, Newtownabbey Limousin 290kg £835 (287), Aberdeen Angus 250kg £700 (280).

Heifers

301kg to 350kg

C McErlain, Armoy Charolais 320kg £1230 (384) R and R Auld, Limousin 330kg £1180 (357) J Knox, Broughshane Charolais 320kg £1100 (343) W Dawson, Lisburn Charolais 310kg £1065 (343) D Boyd, Charolais 320kg £1080 (337) J Carey, Martinstown Limousin 330kg £1080 (327) M Ramsey, Limousin 340kg £1100 (323) S and Q Quigg, Garvagh Charolais 310kg £980 (316) JK Davidson, Limousin 340kg £1070 (314) Limousin 330kg £1030 (312) J Carey, Limousin 310kg £950 (306) AJ Wilson, Limousin 340kg £1040 (305) R Millar, Gleno Sal 340kg £1020 (300) AJ Wilson, Limousin 350kg £1040 (297) V Hamilton, Charolais 350kg £1020 (291) and C McErlain, Armoy Limousin 350kg £1020 (291).

351kg and over

D Boyd, Newtownabbey Charolais 370kg £1380 (373) Charolais 390kg £1450 (371) Charolais 390kg £1430 (366) Charolais 380kg £1370 (360) Charolais 370kg £1290 (348) V McErlaine, Charolais 370kg £1290 (348) D Boyd, Charolais 380kg £1310 (344) V McErlaine, Charolais 370kg £1270 (343) E Donnelly, Charolais 390kg £1300 (333) ) N McLoughlin, Gruig, Charolais 400kg £1330 (3320 D Boyd, Charolais 370kg £1210 (327) N McLoughlin, Charolais 410kg £1300 (317) D Boyd, Charolais 410kg £1270 (309) N McLoughlin, Gruig, Charolais 440kg £1360 (309) JK Davidson, Limousin 360kg £1090 (302) and AJ Wilson, Charolais 390kg £1180 (302).

Monday 4th March 2024: An entry of 370 sheep in Ballymena on Monday night met a great trade.

Breeders to £205, ewes and lambs to £325 for 1 Suffolk and 2 lambs, ewe lambs to £149 and pets to £48.

Breeders

A Hillan, Broughshane 6 North Country Cheviot £205, 5 Crossbred £205, 6 North Country Cheviot £200, North Country Cheviot £190, S Dennison, Antrim 11 Texel £180, A and D Glass, Ballycastle 9 Suffolk £176, A Hillan, 8 Crossbred £162, S Dennison, 5 Suffolk £156, 1 Suffolk £156, 7 Mule £114, 1 Mule £114, A Hillan, Crossbred £108 and G McConnell, 8 Cheviot £102, 7 Cheviot £92.

Ewes and lambs

T Mulholland, Ballymena 1 Suffolk and 2 lambs £325, 1 Texel and 2 lambs £320, P Johnston, 1 Suffolk and 2 lambs £300, N Feeney, Carnlough 1 Texel and 2 lambs £275, S Caldwell, Portglenone 4 Texel and 8 lambs £258, J Lamont, Kells 3 Mule and 3 lambs £255, S Caldwell, 4 Texel and 8 lambs £250, N Alexander, Gracehill 6 Texel and 11 lambs £250, S Loughery, Limavady 3 Mule and 6 lambs £250 and P McKeown, Martinstown 1 Dorset and 2 lambs £245.

Store lambs

S Heffron, Randalstown 7 Suffolk £122, S Beattie, Ballyclare 3 Dorset £114, M Baird, Larne 8 Crossbred £106 and P Kelly, Dungannon, 11 Charollais £77.

Ewe lambs

S Minn, Moorefields 11 Dorset £149 and S Beattie, Ballyclare 2 Dorset £108, 2 Lelyn £100.

Pet lambs

AC Hunter, Raloo £48, £42, SM Glass, £36, B Blaney, Ballymena £34, A Smyth, Moorefields £30, AC Hunter, £28, RJ Ross, £28, V Turtle, Ahoghill £28, S Gregg, Glarryford £28, A Millar, Antrim £28, A and J Currie, Ballyclare £26 and B Blaney, Ballymena £26.

Tuesday 5th March 2024: An entry of 180 store cattle in Ballymena on Tuesday resulted in a steady trade.

Bullocks sold to £1310 over for a Charolais 630kg at £1940 presented by C Tinsdale, Carnlough.

Heifers sold to £1080 over for a Charolais 540kg at £1620 offered by James Smyth, Randalstown.

Heifers

0kg to 500kg

M Simmons, Antrim Charolais 390kg £1280 (328) Charolais 380kg £1240 (326) local farmer, Limousin 440kg £1370 (311) A McNeilly, Muckamore Abondance 430kg £1240 (288) J McCaughan, Armoy Limousin 450kg £1270 (282) N Boyd, Broughshane Limousin 390kg £1090 (279) J Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 480kg £1330 (277) A McNeilly, Muckamore Limousin 480kg £1320 (275) WJI Hood, Ballymena Belgian Blue 400kg £1100 (275) J McCaughan, Armoy Limousin 480kg £1320 (275) RJ J and G McCullough, Templepatrick Sal 480kg £1310 (272) McCready McCartney, Charolais 420kg £1140 (271) N Boyd, Limousin 400kg £1080 (270) Limousin 440kg £1180 (268) A McNeilly, Limousin 490kg £1305 (266) and N Boyd, Limousin 470kg £1250 (266).

501kg and over

J Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 510kg £1580 (309) Charolais 540kg £1620 (300) Charolais 520kg £1510 (290) T Wray, Carnlough Limousin 530kg £1520 (286) J McCaughan, Limousin 510kg £1460 (286) Charolais 540kg £1500 (277) J Smyth, Charolais 510kg £1400 (274) S McKenna, Maghera Belgian Blue 530kg £1450 (273) R Currie, Ballymoney Hereford 550kg £1490 (270) RJ J and G McCullough, Sal 520kg £1380 (265) D and H Parks, Moira 550kg £1440 (261) WJI Hood, Belgian Blue 560kg £1460 (260) Belgian Blue 560kg £1460 (206) RJ J and G McCullough, Belgian Blue 510kg £1280 (251) M Farlow, Simmental 510kg £1250 (245) and local farmer, Abondance 510kg £1230 (241).

Bullocks

0kg to 500kg

M Simmons, Antrim Charolais 410kg £1360 (331) Charolais 450kg £1440 (320) A Montgomery, Glenarm Charolais 410kg £1280 (312) RJ Anderson, Charolais 500kg £1560 (312) KD Reid, Charolais 450kg £1390 (308) R Hunter, Larne Limousin 470kg £1450 (308) local farmer, Limousin 470kg £1450 (308) W Holland, Doagh Abondance 480kg £1470 (306) R Hunter, Larne Limousin 490kg £1480 (302) A Montgomery, Charolais 480kg £1430 (297) W Holland, Abondance 490kg £1450 (295) local farmer, Limousin 460kg £1360 (295) RJ Anderson, Charolais 480kg £1400 (291) A Smyth, Randalstown Limousin 470kg £1340 (285) W Holland, Abondance 500kg £1400 (280) and RJ Anderson, Limousin 500kg £1390 (278).

501kg and over

R Canning, Limavady, Charolais 520kg £1660 (319) C Tinsdale, Charolais 580kg £1830 (315) K Hunter, Limousin 510kg £1590 (311) C Tinsdale, Charolais 630kg £1940 (307) R Currie, Ballymoney Belgian Blue 520kg £1585 (304) C Tinsdale, Charolais 590kg £1790 (303) R Currie, Belgian Blue 560kg £1690 (301) R Canning, Limousin 560kg £1670 (298) R Hunter, Larne Limousin 530kg £1560 (294) JS Hamilton, Abondance 590kg £1710 (289) W Holland, Doagh Abondance 590kg £1700 (288) K D Reid, Charolais 530kg £1520 (286) A McNeilly, Limousin 540kg £1490 (275) McCready McCartney, Charolais 580kg £1600 (275) and W Holland, Abondance 560kg £1430 (275) Abondance 520kg £1430 (275).

Wednesday 6th March 2024: A great entry of 2573 sheep in Ballymena resulted in another improved trade.

Fat lambs sold to 688p for 5 22.5kg at £155 from Andrew Kennedy, Ballymena and to a top per head of £192 for a heavy Rouge offered by Andrew Kerr, Kilwaughter.

Fat ewes sold to £250.

Fat lambs (2135)

Top per kg

A Kennedy, Ballymena 5 Dorset 22.5kg £155 (688) Bushvalley Texels, 2 Texel 22.5kg £154 (684) S Flanagan, Broughshane 5 Dorset 22kg £148 (672) R McKeown, 7 Dorset 19.5kg £130 (666) D McClintock, Broughshane 2 Dutch Spotted 25.5kg £170 (666) J Fenton, 6 Texel 21kg £140 (666) I Kernohan, 9 Texel 24.5kg £162 (661) A Kennedy, Ballymena 4 Dorset 23kg £152 (660) R Brown, Ballymena 11 Texel £165 (660) J McQuiston, Ballymoney 20 Texel 22kg £145 (659) B Lyttle, Moorefields 20 Texel 22kg £145 (659) TA and DA Aiken, Coleraine 16 Beltex 22.5kg £148 (657) R Kennedy, 1 Texel 25.5kg £167 (654) M Wilkin, Islandmagee 37 Texel 21.5kg £140 (651) J McQuiston, 10 Texel 25.5kg £165.50 (649) I Montgomery, Glenwherry 30 Texel 22.5kg £146 (648) J Jenkins, Ballyclare 1 Beltex 18.5kg £120 (648) J McClure, Crumlin 8 Dorset 21.5kg £139 (646) G Fleming, Crumlin 6 Texel 22kg £142 (645) M Park, Ballymena 2 Crossbred 23.5kg £151.50 (644) A McConnell, 11 Dorset 22.5kg £145 (644) E Clarke, Portaferry 4 Texel 21.5kg £138 (641) JE Adamson, Ballyclare 12 Texel 23kg £147.50 (641) and A Dobbs, Carrickfergus 32 Texel 22kg £141 (640).

Top per head

A Kerr, Kilwaughter 1 Rouge 40.5kg £192, R Cowan, Magheramorne 3 Crossbred 40kg £182, I Stevenson, Broughshane 29 Texel 29kg £176, E Clarke, Portaferry 14 Texel 28kg £175, S White, Cloughmills 6 Texel 29kg £171, J Thompson, Glenwherry 1 Zwartble 29.5kg £170, D McClintock, 2 Dutch Spotted 25.5kg £170, H and B Doherty, Cha 29.5kg £169, N Brown, Ballycastle 10 Texel 27kg £169, C Bateson, Toome 1 Zwartble 31kg £168, H Cambridge, 18 Crossbred 26.5kg £167.50, J Adams, 2 Texel 27kg £167.50, R Kennedy, 1 Texel 25.5kg £167, H Cambridge, 30 Crossbred 29.5kg £166.50, D Steele, Glenavy 2 Crossbred 28kg £166, D and D Robinson, 2 Cheviot 28.5kg £166, J A Okane, Carnlough 11 Texel 26kg £165.50, J McQuiston, 10 Texel 25.5kg £165.50, G Montgomery, 15 Texel 26kg £165, A Houston, Lisburn 45 Texel 27kg £165, D Gilliland, Ballymena 3 Mule 30.5kg £165, R Brown, Ballymena 11 Texel 25kg £165, R McNeilly, 10 Texel 26.5kg £164 and N Boyd, Broughshane 23 Crossbred 26.5kg £164.

Fat ewes (438)

First quality

Suffolk – £140-£196

Texel –£150-£250

Crossbred –£100-£130

Blackface – £60-£88