‘Real bonfire’ of trade for pigs at Royal Ulster at Balmoral (October 1976)
“A real bonfire”, was how Cyril Millar, the successful Landrace breeder of Coleraine, described the trade for pigs at Balmoral for the Royal Ulster in October 1976.
The Royal Ulster saw a trade that peaked at 720 guineas for a Landrace boar and sent average prices soaring to a new record and double that of 1975.
But Mr Millar, who was a member of the Pigs Marketing Board, warned: “It is most essential at this time of good trade that producers should keep their heads and not go overboard and breed any type of stock.
“We do not want producers to go berserk and breed anything.”
Mr Millar said that the Scottish breeders who had purchased several pigs had been impressed by the quality of the Northern Irish pigs and by such a choice of animals provided at Balmoral.
He stressed that the Scots wanted pigs of good conformation as well as good performance figures - “a balanced combination of both factors”.
Three of Mr Millar's pigs went to Scotland - his reserve champion Landrace boar at 310 guineas; reserve champion female at 310 guineas and an unplaced boar at 300 guineas.
Farming Life noted that it had “been the best ever public pig sale at Balmoral” with average prices double those of 1975.
William Stevenson, of Ballymoney, was a prominent Large White exhibitor, hitting high averages, with a top of 370 guineas for a first-prize boar which went to Scotland.
William Gabbie and Sons, of Crossgar, who exhibited the champion Large White boar also received high average prices, including 300 guineas for a tested boar.
The champion gilt, and overall Large White champion, exhibited by Henry Wilson, of Artlone, Randalstown, made 300 guineas, paid by Mr Jack Campbell, of Dervock.
The Landrace were also in brisk demand. Ernest Smyrell, in addition to getting the top price of 720 guineas, received other high prices, including 400 guineas for a boar which went to S McKeown, of Ahoghill.
Mr Smyrell also received 360 guineas for a choice Landrace boar which was purchased by the Scottish judge, Mr S Lathangie, of Ladybank, Fife.
Another boar went to Scotland for 300 guineas.
John Warden also sold a board to Scotland at 350 guineas and John McBride got 300 guineas and for one purchased by Scott and Smith , of town. Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone.