Steady trade for cattle at Ballymena Mart, beef bullocks to £3371 per head

Beef cows sold to 368p for 710kg at £2612, Friesian cows to 276p for 580kg at £1600 and beef heifers to 392p for 780kg at £2940.

Beef bullocks to 418p for 660kg at £2758 and to a top per head of £3371 for 860kg and Friesian bullocks to 324p for 790kg at £2559.

Beef cows

R Armstrong, Lisburn Limousin 710kg £2612 (368), V Hamilton, Cushendun Charolais 810kg £2851 (352), Limousin 760kg £2599 (342), McAuley Bos, Glenarm Limousin 830kg £2822 (340), K O'Neill, Rasharkin Limousin 640kg £2176 (340), V Hamilton Simmental 900kg £3042 (338), K O'Neill Charolais 670kg £2224 (332), W and G Hanna, Ballymoney Charolais 860kg £2855 (332), McAuley Brothers Aberdeen Angus 820kg £2689 (328), V Scott, Glarryford Charolais 870kg £2818 (324), Graham Brothers, Aughafatten Limousin 780kg £2527 (324), 810kg £2624 (324), R Booth, Ahoghill Simmental 790kg £2480 (314) and K O'Neill Limousin 650kg £2015 (310).

Friesian cows

R J McLean, Ballyclare 580kg £1600 (276), J and S McElnay, Bushmills 640kg £1728 (270), R J McLean, Ballyclare 630kg £1701 (270), Rosedernott Farm, Cloughmills 660kg £1702 (258), D H Jackson, Bangor 620kg £1599 (258), D Wallace, Antrim 830kg £2108 (254), R Crawford, Glarryford 670kg £1688 (252), S Kennedy, Doagh 890kg £2207 (248), L Johnston, Toomebridge 750kg £1860 (248), D H Jackson, Bangor 600kg £1476 (246), R J McLean 700kg £1694 (242) and D H Jackson 710kg £1704 (240).

Beef heifers

R Armstrong, Lisburn Belgian Blue 750kg £2940 (392), Linton Brothers, Cloughmills Limousin 650kg £2548 (392), G A McMaster, Broughshane Charolais 760kg £2933 (386), R Armstrong Limousin 790kg £3049 (386), O Laverty, Cloughmills Charolais 670kg £2572 (384), V Cousley, Moneymore Limousin 740kg £2812 (380), R Armstrong Limousin 720kg £2692 (374), O Laverty Limousin 630kg £2343 (372), J Irwin, Ballymoney Belgian Blue 580kg £2146 (370), V Cousley Saler 710kg £2556 (360), Linton Brothers Charolais 710kg £2556 (360), Limousin 590kg £2124 (360), 690kg £2484 (360), O Laverty Belgian Blue 630kg £2255 (358) and J Hutchinson, Ballyclare Charolais 670kg £2358 (352).

Beef bullocks

Top per head

F Cassidy, Kilrea Charolais 860kg £3371, J Scott, Toomebridge Charolais 860kg £3268, 770kg £3187, G A McMaster, Broughshane Charolais 770kg £3187, F Cassidy, Kilrea Charolais 780kg £3120, 800kg £3120, V N Fleck, Broughshane Limousin 820kg £3099, J Scott, Toomebridge Charolais 810kg £3094 x2 and F Cassidy Charolais 770kg £3080.

Top per kilo

Local farmer Limousin 660kg £2758 (418), J Scott, Toomebridge Charolais 770kg £3187 (414), G A McMaster, Broughshane Charolais 770kg £3187 (414), J Scott Limousin 710kg £2896 (408), local farmer Limousin 670kg £2680 (400), F Cassidy Charolais 770kg £3080 (400), 780kg £3120 (400), J Scott Charolais 660kg £2640 (400), Limousin 720kg £2880 (400), Charolais 680kg £2706 (398), G A McMaster Limousin 680kg £2692 (396) and J Scott Charolais 670kg £2653 (396), Limousin 690kg £2732 (396), 740kg £2930 (396).

Friesian bullocks

Local farmer 790kg £2559 (324), 710kg £2272 (320).

Friday 21st November 2025: Dairy cows - A good show of 72 lots in the dairy ring included the annual autumn Ayrshire sale which topped at 2800gns for a second calver from T J Gordon, Ballyclare with maiden heifers to 900gns from M King, Kirkinriola.

The rest of the dairy sale topped at £3600 for a second calver from Castledillon Estate, Armagh.

Castledillon Estate, Armagh Holstein £3600, £3500, C Casey, Cloughmills £3300, Castledillon Estate £3300, S Kennedy, Doagh Friesian £3200, Castledillon Estate Holstein £3200, P Tinsley, Dromore Friesian £3100, C Casey Holstein £3050, P Tinsley Friesian £3000 x2 and Castledillon Estate Holstein £3000, £2850.

Suckler cows

A smaller show of sucklers topped at £3400 for a Limousin with bull calf at foot.

A Christie, Ballymoney Limousin and bull calf £3400, Aberdeen Angus and bull calf £2950, Aberdeen Angus and bull calf £2750 and A Ferguson, Straid Hereford and heifer calf £2200, Hereford and bull calf £2100.

Calves

A show of 260 calves sold to an average of £602.

Bulls to £1320 for a Simmental.

Heifers to £1340 for a Charolais and Friesian bulls to £740.

Bulls

J Bates, Ballyclare Simmental £1320, W J McBurney, Ballymena Aberdeen Angus £1130, J Bates Stabiliser £1060, M J Millar, Straid Belgian Blue £1030, £1020, local farmer Charolais £1010, B Alexander, Ahoghill Belgian Blue £940, D Bill, Templepatrick Aberdeen Angus £910, D Patton, Newtownards Hereford £900, Limousin £880, local farmer Charolais £860, D Patton Charolais £855, Limousin £850 x2 and J Stirling, Ballymena Charolais £850.

Heifers

J Bates, Ballyclare Charolais £1340, Simmental £1310, £1140, local farmer Charolais £1130, £1100, £1080, S Kennedy, Doagh Belgian Blue £1070 and D Patton, Newtownards Limousin £1030, Hereford £950 x2.

Holstein/friesian bulls

S McCormick, Bangor £740, W J McBurney, Ballymena £710, local farmer £700, W G Johnston, Ligoniel £670, £620, £600, W Magee, Kilwaughter £590, W G Johnston £550, W J McBurney £440, F and S Hill, Randalstown £345, B Jamieson, Broughshane £330 and W Magee £320.

Weanlings

140 weanlings in Ballymena on Friday resulted in another terrific trade.

Bullocks sold to £1890 over for a Limousin 410kg £2300 presented by N Megarry, Crumlin.

Heifers sold to £1350 over for a Limousin 420kg £2000 from the same seller.

Bullocks

Up to 300kg

Local farmer, Limousin 260kg £1580 (607), Charolais 250kg £1490 (596), Charolais 250kg £1480 (592), Limousin 280kg £1610 (575), Charolais 260kg £1480 (569), I Townley, Limavady Abondance 290kg £1650 (569), P Allen, Randalstown Charolais 270kg £1500 (555), local farmer, Charolais 270kg £1450 (537), Charolais 280kg £1490 (532), Limousin 300kg £1580 (526), I Townley, Ballykelly Charolais 300kg £1570 (523), P Allen, Randalstown Charolais 280kg £1440 (514), P McCambridge, Cushendall Limousin 230kg £1160 (504), R Thompson, Belfast Limousin 280kg £1400 (500), P Allen, Charolais 300kg £1500 (500) and T Adams, Ballymoney Simmental 290kg £1440 (496).

301kg to 350kg

S Graham, Portglenone Limousin 320kg £1810 (565), Limousin 330kg £1820 (551), local farmer, Limousin 340kg £1820 (353), Belgian Blue 320kg £1700 (531), J McNeill, Moorefields Simmental 330kg £1700 (515), Simmental 330kg £1700 (515), local farmer, Charolais 330kg £1630 (493), I Townley, Limavady Simmental 350kg £1700 (485), local farmer, Limousin 330kg £1530 (463), P McCambridge, Cushendall Limousin 310kg £1410 (454), J McNeill, Simmental 340kg £1490 (438), P Allen, Randalstown Abondance 350kg £1490 (425), N Boyle, Ballyclare Abondance 340kg £1390 (408), Abondance 330kg £1330 (403) and J and R Hamilton, Broughshane Friesian 350kg £1000 (285).

Over 351kg

N Megarry, Crumlin Limousin 410kg £2300 (561), J Buick, Kells Limousin 370kg £1940 (524), Limousin 360kg £1860 (516), P and R McCullagh, Feeny Blonde d'Aquitaine 370kg £1820 (491), J Buick, Limousin 370kg £1770 (478), J McNeill, Moorefields Simmental 380kg £1780 (468), Simmental 390kg £1820 (466), J Buick, Limousin 390kg £1810 (464), I Townley, Limavady Simmental 380kg £1760 (463), J Buick, Limousin 420kg £1900 (452), I Townley, Limavady Abondance 410kg £1840 (448), A Bellingham Charolais 450kg £2010 (446), J Buick, Limousin 430kg £1900 (441), S McAllister, Ballycarry Limousin 390kg £1710 (438), J Alcorn, Glengormley Abondance 430kg £1810 (420) and J McNeill, Simmental 400kg £1680 (420).

Heifers

Up to 300kg

S Graham, Portglenone Limousin 230kg £1410 (613), P and R McCullagh, Feeny Charolais 300kg £1700 (566), S Graham, Limousin 290kg £1590 (458), R Thompson, Belfast Limousin 290kg £1580 (544), P McCambridge, Cushendall Limousin 260kg £1380 (530), R and R McCullagh, Blonde d'Aquitaine 270kg £1390 (514), T Adams, Armoy Simmental 220kg £1090 (495), R Thompson, Limousin 290kg £1400 (482), T Adams, Simmental 290kg £1380 (475), I Townley, Limavady Limousin 290kg £1300 (448), N Boyle, Ballyclare Abondance 250kg £1090 (436), Abondance 270kg £1100 (407), R Carlisle, Templepatrick Abondance 250kg £1010 (404) and J and S McElnay, Bushmills Abondance 290kg £1440 (393) x2.

Heifers

301 to 350kg

W Moore, Ballycarry Simmental 330kg £1750 (530), P and R McCullough, Feeney Blonde d'Aquitaine 330kg £1670 (506), R Thompson, Ligoniel Limousin 310kg £1480 (477), R Carlisle, Templepatrick Limousin 310kg £1470 (474), W Moore Limousin 350kg £1610 (460), R Thompson Limousin 340kg £1470 (432), R Carlisle Limousin 340kg £1440 (423), K Topping, Larne Charolais 350kg £1480 (422), F and A McGowan, Dunloy Simmental 330kg £1380 (418), J and S McElnay, Bushmills Speckle Park 330kg £1360 (412) x2 and A Bellingham, Ballymoney Saler 340kg £1370 (402).

Over 351kg

P and R McCullagh, Feeney Limousin 360kg £1810 (502), W Moore, Ballycarry Simmental 360kg £1780 (494), N Megarry, Crumlin Limousin 420kg £2000 (476), 400kg £1820 (455), R Carlisle, Templepatrick Limousin 410kg £1780 (434), W Moore Limousin 380kg £1620 (426), A Bellingham, Ballymoney Charolais 400kg £1580 (395) and K Topping, Larne Charolais 410kg £1600 (390).

Monday 24th November 2025: A smaller entry of almost 700 sheep on Monday night resulted in a slightly sharper trade.

Breeding sheep topped at £270 for a pen of five Texels presented by A Dodd, Saintfield, ewe lambs topped at £250 for a Dutch Spotted from J Watt, Armoy.

Store lambs to £135 for 26 Texels from S White, Cloughmills.

The Blackbrea Suffolk sale topped at £11,000 for a ewe presented by S and W Tait, Omagh.

Store lambs

S White, Cloughmills 26 Texel £135, A McLoughlin, Carnlough 25 Texel £123.50, W R Boyle, Larne 10 Texel £120, M Hamill, Carnlough 3 Dutch Spotted £120, M McAllister, Glenarm 5 Texel £120, A McLoughlin 15 Texel £116, M McAllister 5 Texel £114.50, K and M Gawn, Kells 20 Texel £114, R M Carson, Islandmagee 3 Texel £112, D McCormick, Ballycastle 19 Suffolk £111.50 and M McAnally, Carrickfergus 21 Texel £110.

Ewe lambs

J Watt, Armoy 1 Dutch Spotted £250, 1 Dutch Spotted £205, A and B Hunter, Ballyno 15 Texel £140, O McConnon, Randalstown 6 Texel £6 Texel £140, J Kerr, Coleraine 2 Texel £140, O McConnon 11 Texel £133, W J McClintock 9 Texel £127, P Brown, Ballycastle 5 Mule £116, R Frazer, Rathfriland 11 Cheviot £115, M McNally, Carrickfergus 10 Zwartble £110, F Turnly, Carnlough 11 Easycare £104, R Frazer, 8 Suffolk £102, M Hamill, Carnlough 2 Dutch Spotted £98, J Kerr, Coleraine 2 Mule £98 and M Hamill, 2 Dutch Spotted £96.

Breeding Sheep

A Dodd, Saintfield 5 Texel £270, 5 Dorset £252, 4 Dorset £240, 3 Dorset £218, 6 Dorset £215, 2 Dorset £215 and 4 Dorset £150.

Tuesday 25th November 2025: 135 store cattle in Ballymena on Tuesday sold to another good trade.

Bullocks to £2110 over for a Charolais 760kg £2870 and heifers to £1640 over for a Charolais 560kg £2200.

Bullocks

Up to 500kg

E McCorry, Glengormley Limousin 360kg £1790 (497), W McMullan, Portaferry Charolais 360kg £1780 (494), Charolais 380kg £1780 (492), Limousin 370kg £1790 (483), Charolais 390kg £1880 (482), E McCorry, Glengormley Limousin 410kg £1940 (473), W McMullan, Portaferry Charolais 400kg £1850 (462), D Thompson, Bushmills Limousin 450kg £2070 (460), W McMullan, Simmental 340kg £1530 (450), E McCorry, Limousin 450kg £2020 (448), J Duffin, Larne Limousin 490kg £2190 (446), E McCorry, Limousin 450kg £2010 (446), J Jones, Belfast Charolais 390kg £1740 (446), W McMullan, Portaferry Charolais 410kg £1820 (443), Limousin 430kg £1900 (441) and local farmer Limousin 500kg £2200 (440).

Over 501kg

Local farmer Limousin 520kg £2260 (434), J Duffin, Larne Limousin 510kg £2150 (421), Limousin 550kg £2290 (416), J Hutchinson, Ballyclare Limousin 550kg £2280 (414), W J and I Brown, Magherafelt Belgian Blue 530kg £2190 (413), A McCartney, Nutt's Corner Charolais 530kg £2170 (409), G Millar, Moneymore Charolais 590kg £2410 (408), J Keating, Portaferry Charolais 520kg £2100 (403), A McCartney, Charolais 620kg £2485 (400), M McVicker Abondance 520kg £2060 (396), G Millar, Moneymore Charolais 660kg £2610 (395), Charolais 690kg £2710 (392), Limousin 690kg £2690 (389), Charolais 660kg £2570 (389) and J Keating, Portaferry Charolais 540kg £2090 (387), Charolais 570kg £2190 (384).

Heifers

Up to 500kg

D Thompson, Bushmills Limousin 410kg £1680 (409), F Keating, Portaferry Charolais 490kg £1980 (404), D Thompson, Bushmills Limousin 410kg £1650 (402), F Keating, Charolais 500kg £2010 (402), J Duffin, Larne Limousin 500kg £2000 (400), D Thompson, Bushmills Limousin 480kg £1910 (397), Simmental 480kg £1890 (393), Limousin 440kg £1720 (390), L Park, Ballynure 500kg £1950 (390), P McAuley, Bushmills Abondance 1950 (390), local farmer, Limousin 490kg £1910 (389), J Jones Charolais 430kg £1670 (388), local farmer Limousin 500kg £1940 (388) and G O’Rawe, Clough Hereford 500kg £1930 (386), Hereford 490kg £1870 (381), Hereford 430kg £1640 (381).

Over 501kg

F Keating, Portaferry Charolais 560kg £2200 (392), Charolais 530kg £2080 (392), J Hutchinson, Ballyclare Charolais 530kg £1975 (372), F Keating Belgian Blue 510kg £1880 (368), J McCarroll, Ballymena Simmental 520kg £1860 (357), F Keating Belgian Blue 520kg £1820 (350), J McCarroll, Limousin 530kg £1830 (345), E Thom, Desertmartin Abondance 510kg £1725 (338) and J Duffin, Martinstown Hereford 690kg £2000 (289).

Wednesday 26th November 2025: 1859 sheep in Ballymena resulted in a sharper trade.

Fat lambs sold to 675p for a Texel at 22.5kg £152 for D Kyle, Toomebridge and a top per head of £163.50 for R Gingles, Kilwaughter.

Fat ewes sold to £266.

Fat lambs

Top per head

R Gingles, Kilwaughter 8 Texel 33.5kg £163.50, A Gault, Newtownabbey 1 Suffolk 42kg £158.50, A and J Jamison, Ballinlea 3 Texel 30.5kg £157.50, J A Ross, Islandmagee 3 Texel 28kg £156, J Donaghy, Randalstown 4 Crossbred 29kg £154, G Martin, Broughshane 19 Texel 24.5kg £153, J Gilliland, Muckamore 7 Suffolk 30.5kg £153, S White, Cloughmills 24 Texel 27kg £152.50, T Wilson, Templepatrick 2 Crossbred 31.5kg £152.50, M and A Millar, Ballymena 13 Texel £28kg £152, D Kyle, Toomebridge 1 Texel 22.5kg £152, W A Hagan, Ballyclare 28 Texel 27.5kg £152, H McCracken, Ballywalter 24 Charollais 27.5kg £151.50, J Minford, Parkgate 4 Suffolk 28kg £151, D Carson 7 Hampshire 31.5kg £150 and A and J Jamison 7 Hampshire 31.5kg £150.

Top per kg

D Kyle, Toomebridge 1 Texel 22.5kg £152 (675), J and L Kennedy15 Texel 21kg £137 (652), J Gardiner, Larne 4 Texel 20.5kg £132 (643), A Gardiner, Magheramorne 5 Charollais 134.50 (640), L Finlay, Rathkeel 9 Texel 21.5kg £137 (637), J Fenton, Glarryford 12 Texel 23.5kg £148 (629), R T Buchanon, Doagh 9 Texel £128.50 (626), E and M O’Neill, Martinstown 18 Texel 21kg £131.50 (626), G Martin, Broughshane 19 Texel 24.5kg £153 (624), R J McKay, Carnlough 19 Texel £149.50 (622), J Stewart, Crumlin 11 Texel 22kg £137 (622), J McQuiston, Ballymoney 14 Texel 21kg £130.50 (621), J S Hamilton, Ballymena 38 Charollais 22kg £136 (618), G Caldwell, Clough 4 Charollais 22kg £136 (618), A White, Kells 10 Texel 22.5kg £138.50 (615) and Parkmore Farms, Glenarriffe 1 Texel £20.5kg £126 (614).

Fat ewes (327)

First quality

Suffolk - £140-£228

Texel - £190-£266

Crossbred - £96-£156

Blackface - £72-£120