Dairy cattle sell to a top price of £2220 at Ballymena Mart

Beef cows sold to 217p for a Limousin 740kg at £1605, Friesian cows to 132p for 680kg at £897, beef heifers to 243p for 680kg at £1652, beef bullocks to 246p for 710kg at £1746, and to a top per head of £1912 for 850kg.

Friesian bullocks to 183p for 640kg at £1171.

Beef cows sold to: Brendan McCoy, Toomebridge Limousin 740kg £1605 (217), Drumahilla Farms, Newtownards Limousin 790kg £1698 (215), L McAuley, Glenarm Limousin 700kg £1449 (207), Liam McGarry, Loughgiel Belgian Blue 570kg £1145 (201), D Devlin, Randalstown Blonde d’Aquitaine 800kg £1592 (199), Drumahilla Farms Limousin 750kg £1447 (193), L McAuley Limousin 740kg £1406 (190), Thomas Clyde, Antrim Limousin 630kg £1197 (190), Martin McGarry, Broughshane Limousin 790kg £1429 (181), ASJ and JE Fleming, Downpatrick Limousin 630kg £1134 (180), Thomas Clyde Limousin 770kg £1386 (180) and R McCracken, Magilligan Limousin 770kg £1378 (179).

Friesian cows sold to: Mervyn Smyth, Cloughmills 680kg £897 (132), R Dunlop, Broughshane 670kg £871 (130), J Ritchie, Enniskillen 770kg £1001 (130), 790kg £995 (126), M McAllister, Crumlin 720kg £900 (125), J Ritchie 710kg £887 (125), D Maybin, Broughshane 660kg £818 (124), M McAllister 740kg £902 (122), WJ Taylor, Kircubbin 720kg £878 (122), J King, Ballymena 710kg £866 (122), WS Kennedy, Ballyclare 710kg £859 (121) and J Ritchie 630kg £762 (121), 780kg £943 (121).

Beef heifers: Drumhilla Farms, Newtownards Limousin 680kg £1652 (243), Robin Nicholson, Monkstown Limousin 760kg £1808 (238), Drumhilla Farms Charolais 700kg £1666 (238), Charolais 690kg £1635 (237), Limousin 740kg £1753 (237), Limousin 740kg £1739 (235), Limousin 710kg £1654 (233), Limousin 670kg £1561 (233), Alastair Dale, Ballymena Charolais 660kg £1531 (232), Drumahilla Farms Charolais 730kg £1693 (232), Alastair Dale Charolais 650kg £1501 (231), Robin Nicholson, Monkstown Charolais 690kg £1587 (230), Alastair Dale Charolais 600kg £1380 (230) and Robin Nicholson Charolais 700kg £1610 (230).

Beef bullocks (top per head)

R McCracken, Magilligan Limousin 710kg £1746 (246), Limousin 710kg £1739 (245), Robin Nicholson Limousin 750kg £1822 (243), Drumahilla Farms Limousin 660kg £1603 (243), Limousin 680kg £1652 (243), Robin Nicholson Limousin 710kg £1704 (240), R McCracken, Limousin 710kg £1696 (239), Drumhilla Farms Limousin 740kg £1768 (239), Limousin 640kg £1529 (239), Robin Nicholson Limousin 680kg £1618 (238), EJ McErlean, Portglenone Charolais 680kg £1611 (237) and Drumahilla Farms Charolais 690kg £1635 (237), Charolais 710kg £1682 (237).

Beef bullocks (top per head)

Fergus Ferguson, Stewartstown Charolais 850kg £1912, JA Briggs, Strabane Charolais 880kg £1909, William Kee, Strabane Charolais 840kg £1881, Robin Nicholson, Monkstown Simmental 880kg £1865, Drumahilla Farms Charolais 800kg £1864, Robin Nicholson Limousin 820kg £1853, Limousin 790kg £1848, William Kee, Charolais 810kg £1838, Robin Nicholson Limousin 750kg £1822, Drumahilla Farms Charolais 780kg £1786, Limousin 740kg £1768 and local farmer Charolais 770kg £1755.

Friesian bullocks sold to: Ross Bloomfield, Kilrea 640kg £1171 (183), David Strahan, Broughshane 810kg £1441 (178), Steven Millar, Ballymena 600kg £1068 (178), A Speers, Cullybackey 660kg £1168 (177), David Strahan 730kg 31284 (176), W Weatherup, Carrickfergus 560kg £968 (173), Ross Bloomfield 650kg £1105 (170), 690kg £1166 (169), W Weatherup 610kg £1030 (169), Ross Bloomfield 680kg £1135 (167) and A Speers, Cullybackey 570kg £946 (166).

Friday, November 20, 2020: Strong demand for 35 dairy cattle to a top of £2220 for a calved heifer from Blair Jamieson, Broughshane.

Ruling prices: Blair Jamieson, Broughshane £2220, Barry McStravick, Gawleys Gate £2200, R Thompson, Ligoniel £2080, D Bleleock, Crumlin £2020, I Stewart, Bushmills £2000, Martin King, Ballymena £1980, Robert McCluggage, Larne £1960, John Stewart, Portaferry £1920, Daniel Patton, Newtownards £1900, McCloskey Farms, Ballymoney £1900, Barry McStravick £1880, SG Wallace, Broughshane £1820, John Stewart, Portaferry £1790, Martin King, £1780, Gary McConnell, Glenarm £1780, Alan McNair, Ballyclare £1770, I Stewart, Bushmills £1700, Samuel Kennedy, Doagh £1700, £1690, McCloskey Farms £1680, SG Wallace £1640, D Livingstone, Randalstown £1620 and McCloskey Farms £1520.

39 lots of sucklers sold to £1750 for cows with calves and £1420 for in calf cows.

Ruling prices: C Smyth, Portaferry European Angus cow and heifer calf £1750, Ian Davidson, Larne Limousin heifer and bull calf £1750, G Monan, Portaferry Limousin cow and bull calf £1700, C Smyth, European Angus cow and calf £1700, G Monan Limousin cow and heifer calf £1680, C Smyth, European Angus cow and bull calf £1550, D McKeown, Dundrod Simmental heifer and bull calf £1550, C Smyth European Angus cow and heifer calf £1520 European Angus cow and bull calf £1480, R Dawson, Stoneyford Simmental cow and bull calf £1420, NG Robinson, Moneyreagh Belgian Blue cow in calf £1420, Keith Gunning, Newtownards Hereford cow and heifer calf £1400 and D McKeown, Dundrod Limousin cow and bull calf £1400.

At the annual autumn sale of beef bred breeding bulls, top price of 3040gns went to Kim Steele-Nicholson, Antrim for a 17 month Limousin, Aberdeen Angus bulls to 2550gns, Charolais to 2040gns.

Ruling prices: Kim Steele-Nicholson, Antrim Limousin 3040gns, Trevor Campbell, Donaghadee Aberdeen Angus 2550gns, Johnston and Mills, Scarva Aberdeen Angus 2350gns, Neil Martin, Dromara Limousin 2300gns, Johnston and Mills Aberdeen Angus 2280gns, WT McGookin, Larne Charolais 2040gns, Ian Rea, Crumlin Charolais 2020gns, W Campbell, Carnlough Limousin 2000gns, Ian McClure, Ballymoney Charolais 1800gns and N Drennan, Ballyclare Limousin 1700gns.

A large entry of 302 calves sold rapidly to £550 for a five month old Belgian Blue bull, young bull calves to £450 for a month old Limousin, young heifer calves to £415 for a month old Belgian Blue.

Ruling prices for beef bred bull calves to: J and CJ Hooks, Carrowdore Belgian Blue £550, NG Robinson, Moneyreagh Limousin £520, Stephen Hall, Monkstown Belgian Blue £510, Aidan Connolly, Loughgiel Limousin £450, TJ and I Bell, Ballyclare Limousin £435, (2) Limousin £430, J King, Ballymena Hereford £430, Cairnleigh Ltd, Aghalee Aberdeen Angus £425, Lyle Bryson, Dunadry Limousin £420, J King, Ballymena, Joshua McClintock, Moorfields Simmental £415, Aidan Connolly, Loughgiel Hereford £415, J King, Ballymena Belgian Blue £415, Aidan Connolly Hereford £415, I Montgomery, Glenwherry Hereford £410, Ian Semple, Dungiven Hereford £410, TJ and I Bell, Ballyclare Limousin ££410, A McMaster, Kells Blonde d’Aquitaine £410, F Allen, Randalstown Belgian Blue £400, TJ and I Bell, Ballyclare Limousin £400, William Pearson, Newtownards Simmental £400 and J King Belgian Blue £400, Cairnleigh Hereford £400.

Heifer calves sold to: W McConnell, Ballyclare Charolais £550, Stephen Hall, Monkstown Limousin £520, J and CJ Hooks, Carrowdore Belgian Blue £490, Belgian Blue £480, NG Robinson, Moneyreagh Limousin £450, Aberdeen Angus £435, Stephen Hall Simmental £430, MT Boyd, Kilwaughter Hereford £420, Graeme Martin, Broughshane Belgian Blue £415, Aidan Connolly, Loughgiel Limousin £390, David McClintock, Moorfields Limousin £380, I Montgomery, Glenwherry Hereford £380, D Montgomery, Glenwherry Aberdeen Angus £380, Aberdeen Angus £380, S Irons, Coleraine Hereford £380, TJ and I Bell, Ballyclare Charolais £380, J King, Ballymena Belgian Blue £380, Irwin Gamble, Articlave (2) Aberdeen Angus £375, Aidan Connolly, Loughgiel (3) Limousin £370, S Pinkerton, Nutts Corner Charolais £370 and TJ and I Bell, Ballyclare Limousin £370.

Friesian bull calves sold to: David McClintock, Moorfields £350, S Currie, Larne £350, Brian Paisley, Ballynure £245, Graeme Martin, Broughshane £225, Stephen Stewart, Newtownabbey (2) £215, Brian Paisley, Ballynure £200, £190, A Hoey, Glenwherry £175, £175, WS Kennedy, Ballyclare £175, Greenmount College (3) £170 and J Maxwell, Upperlands (2) £170.

An entry of 200 weanlings in Ballymena resulted in a super trade.

Bullocks sold to £670 over for a Limousin 500kg at £1170 presented by G Monan, Portaferry.

Heifers sold to £840 over for a Limousin 710kg at £1550 offered by J Adams, Glarryford.

Bulls/bullocks 0-300kgs

J McAuley, Ballyclare Charolais 190kg £620 (326), RJ Dawson, Stoneyford Charolais 190kg £590 (310), Limousin 250kg £770 (308), David Mairs, Magheragall (2) Limousin 280kg £830 (296), Ivor G Hyndman, Maghera Limousin 270kg £800 (296), Limousin 240kg £710 (295), F Warwick, Moorfields (2) Limousin 230kg £680 (295), RJ Dawson, Limousin 210kg £620 (295), David Mairs Limousin 280kg £820 (292), RJ Dawson Charolais 260kg £760 (292), K Magorrian, Ballykinlar Charolais 260kg £755 (290) and Ivor G Hyndman, Maghera (3) Limousin 300kg £870 (290).

301-350kgs

Kyle Molyneaux, Dundrod Limousin 310kg £890 (287), Pauline Dougherty, Castlerock Charolais 310kg £880 (283), K Magorrian, Downpatrick Charolais 320kg £900 (281), John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 350kg £970 (277, Charolais 320kg £880 (275), Limousin 340kg £925 (272), WH Harkness, Crumlin Charolais 330kg £890 (269), Pauline Dougherty, Castlerock Charolais 340kg £900 (264), WH Harkness, Charolais 330kg £870 (263), Simmental 340kg £890 (261), Kyle Molyneuax Charolais 340kg £890 (261), Archie Esler, Carnlough Charolais 340kg £870 (255), WH Harkness Simmental 330kg £830 (251), O McConnon, Randalstown (2) Limousin 310kg £770 (248) and David Mairs, Magheragall Limousin 340kg £820 (241).

351kg and over

WH Harkness, Crumlin Charolais 370kg £900 (243), Kyle Molyneaux, Dundrod Charolais 400kg £960 (240), Pauline Dougherty, Castlerock (2) Charolais 380kg £910 (239), WH Harkness, Crumlin SH 380kg £910 (239), John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 410kg £980 (239), WH Harkness Charolais 410kg £975 (237), G Monan, Portaferry Limousin 420kg £990 (235), Limousin 500kg £1170 (234), John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 400kg £930 (232), Kenneth Bell, Broughshane (2) Charolais 410kg £950 (231), WH Harkness, Crumlin Simmental 390kg £880 (225), Kenneth Bell Sal 390kg £880 (225), G Monan Limousin 470kg £1060 (225) and John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 430kg £960 (223).

Heifers 0-300kgs

J McAuley, Ballyclare (2) Charolais 190kg £595 (313), Ivor G Hyndman, Maghera (4) Limousin 250kg £760 (304), J McAuley (2) Charolais 200kg £600 (300), RJ Dawson, Stoneyford Limousin 190kg £560 (294), K Magorrian, Downpatrick Charolais 250kg £730 (292), J McAuley Charolais 160kg £460 (287), RF Dawson Charolais 240kg £685 (285), J McAuley Charolais 170kg £480 (282), D McCartney, Kells (2) Charolais 280kg £790 (282) and Kyle Molyneaux Charolais 300kg £835 (278).

301-350kgs

D McCartney, Kells Charolais 310kg £865 (279), Alan Dougherty, Castlerock (2) Charolais 320kg £860 (268), John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 340kg £890 (261), Kyle Molyneaux, Dundrod Charolais 330kg £855 (259), K Magorrian, Downpatrick Charolais 310kg £800 (258), John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 320kg £825 (257), Stephen Montford, Broughshane Charolais 320kg £825 (257), WH Harkness, Crumlin Simmental 320kg £820 (256), S Henderson, Ballycastle Charolais 310kg £780 (251), Kyle Molyneaux, Dundrod Charolais 310kg £780 (251), John Kane Charolais 310kg £780 (251), Charolais 320kg £805 (251), Alan Dougherty, Castlerock Charolais 350kg £870 (248), Pauline Doherty Charolais 350kg £870 (248) and local farmer Charolais 340kg £840 (247).

351kg and over

John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 360kg £915 (254), Kyle Molyneaux Charolais 360kg £890 (247), J Jones, Belfast Charolais 360kg £870 (241), J Jones, Belfast Charolais 360kg £870 (241), Stephen Hall, Monkstown Belgian Blue 480kg £1160 (241), Ivor Hyndman, Maghera Limousin 370kg £890 (240), John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 360kg £865 (240), Stephen Hall Belgian Blue 510kg £1200 (235), Limousin 370kg £870 (235), John Kane, Cushendall Charolais 370kg £870 (235), John Kane Charolais 360kg £815 (226), WH Harkness Crumlin Simmental 360kg £810 (225), A Christie, Ballymoney Charolais 370kg £830 (224), Joe Adams, Glarryford Lim710kg £1550 (218),G Monan, Portaferry Limousin 470kg £1020 (217), K Magorrian, Ballykinlar Charolais 380kg £810 (213) and J Jones, Belfast Charolais 390kg £810 (207).

Monday, November 23, 2020: Another good sale of sheep in Ballymena on Monday evening resulted in a sharp trade.

In lamb ewes sold to £210, ewe lambs to £104, store lambs to £89.

Leading prices for store lambs: A Sampson, Castledawson 3 Suffolk £89, 6 Texel £88, R Taggart, Glenarm 1 Mule £87, J A O’Kane, Carnlough 16 Texel £85, R Boyd, Cloughmills 23 Suffolk £85, E Sherratt, Trooperslane 14 Suffolk £84, J and D Watt, Ballymoney 10 Texel £84, S Thompson, Glenarm 2 Suffolk £82, G Rowney, Ballynure 2 Texel £80, WE Adamson, Carrickfergus 8 Lleyn £80, Craig Smyth, Broughshane 17 Charollais £78, A Sampson, 2 Blackface £77, WE Adamson 27 Lleyn £77, Adam Hunter, Broughshane 18 Mule £75 and JA O’Kane, 6 Texel £75.

Ewe lambs sold to: P Anderson, Portstewart 4 Texel £104, Wendy McDonnell, Ballygally 2 Bor £98, P Anderson 2 Texel £97, I Lindsay, Crumlin 9 Charollais £92, A and B Hunter, Antrim 17 Texel £88, Pearse McAuley, Carnlough 7 Texel £86.50, S McGilligan, Dungiven 9 Suffolk £85.50, 1 Suffolk £85.50, Bonnar farms, Ballymena 12 Crossbred £83, O Shiels, Kilrea 25 Dorset £81.50 and Wendy McDonnell 3 Suffolk £81.

Breeders sold to: R Nelson, Glenarm 12 Suffolk £210, 6 Suffolk £200, 6 Suffolk £195, 6 Suffolk £188, 6 Suffolk £185, 6 Suffolk £182, 18 Suffolk £180, 6 Suffolk £170, 18 Suffolk £165.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020: An entry of 140 store cattle in Ballymena resulted in a super trade.

Bullocks sold to £775 over for an Aberdeen Angus 580kg at £1355 offered by A Thompson, Straid.

Heifers sold to £675 over for an Aberdeen Angus 480kg at £1155 presented by William Knowles, Cloughmills.

Heifers 0-500kgs

W Knowles, Cloughmills Aberdeen Angus 480kg £1155 (240), Simmental 450kg £1075 (238), C Kerr, Newtownabbey Limousin 460kg £1040 (226), Limousin 480kg £1080 (225), W Knowles, Cloughmills Hereford 500kg £1080 (216), JP O’Neill, Cushendall Limousin 400kg £825 (206), Aberdeen Angus 420kg £830 (197), A O’Neill, Cushendall Limousin 360kg £710 (197) and JP O’Neill Limousin 410kg £790 (192).

501kg and over

W Knowles, Cloughmills Limousin 510kg £1070 (209), K Steele, Islandmagee Simmental 570kg £1160 (203), Simmental 590kg £1140 (193), Simmental 620kg £1195 (192), Simmental 620kg £1190 (191), Simmental 600kg £1150 (191), Simmental 660kg £1260 (190), Simmental 640kg £1220 (190).

Bulls/bullocks 0-500kgs

WAH McMullan, Knockloughrim Charolais 460kg £1135 (246), Charolais 400kg £970 (242), Charolais 450kg £1060 (235), Charolais 450kg £1060 (235), J Hayes, Rasharkin Blonde d’Aquitaine 410kg £965 (235), WAH McMillan, Carryduff Limousin 440kg £1020 (231), A O’Neill, Cushendall Aberdeen Angus 430kg £985 (229), J Hayes, Rasharkin Blonde d’Aquitaine 460kg £1050 (228), C Kerr, Newtownabbey Limousin 480kg £1095(228), WAH McMullan Charolais 480kg £1095 (228), Charolais 460kg £1030 (223), A O’Neill, Cushendall Aberdeen Angus 420kg £940 (223), Martin McGarry, Broughshane (2) Simmental 490kg £1075 (219), WAH McMullan Charolais 500kg £1090 (218) and William I Ian Brown, Magherafelt Aberdeen Angus 500kg £1070 (214).

501kg and over

A Thompson, Straid Aberdeen Angus 580kg £1355 (233), T Montgomery, Broughshane Limousin 520kg £1210 (232), J Smyth, Randalstown Charolais 560kg £1290 (230), A Thompson Aberdeen Angus 550kg £1265 (230), C Kerr, Newtownabbey Limousin 550kg £1260 (229), T Montgomery, Broughshane Charolais 600kg £1370 (228), WAH McMullan, Carryduff Charolais 510kg £1160 (227), T Montgomery Simmental 550kg £1250 (227), WAH McMullan Charolais 510kg £1140 (223), J Smyth, Charolais 620kg £1380 (222), A Thompson, Limousin 570kg £1250 (219), T Montgomery Limousin 590kg £1260 (213), Simmental 550kg £1160 (210), A Thompson, Limousin 550kg £1160 (210), JP O’Neill, Cushendall Limousin 520kg £1095 (210) and A Thompson Limousin 570kg £1200 (210).

Wednesday, November 25, 2020: An entry of 2727 sheep in Ballymena resulted in a steady trade.

Fat lambs sold to 464p for a pen of 21 Texel at £97.50 offered by Roy McKeown, Broughshane and to a top per head of £110 for a heavy Texel presented by Victor Anderson, Cloughmills.

Fat ewes sold to £140.

Fat lambs (2606)

(Top prices per kg)

Roy McKeown, Broughshane 1 Texel 21kg £97.50 (464), Graeme Martin, Broughshane 20 Texel 23.5kg £109 (463), Leslie Turtle, Broughshane 9 Texel 19.5kg £90 (461), Robert Robinson, Broughshane 2 Texel 19.5kg £89.50 (459), Brian Lyttle, Moorfields 32 Texel 23kg £105 (456), S McCracken, Randalstown 2 Texel 19.5kg £89 (456), David Warwick, Moorfields 2 Texel 23kg £104 (452), M Ellis, Ballymena 4 Texel 20.5kg £92.50 (451), WA Hagan, Ballyclare 24 Texel 22kg £99 (450), S Davison, Broughshane 1 Texel 20kg £90 (450), S Currie, Larne 64 Texel 20kg £90 (450), Craig Smyth, Broughshane 36 Texel 20.5kg £92.20 (449), Kelly Brothers, Ballymena 45 Texel 21kg £94 (447), Robert Linton, Ahoghill 4 Beltex 23kg £102 (443), S Gregg, Glarryford 2 Texel 23kg £102 (443), A and J Currie, Ballyclare 24 Texel 21.5kg £94.80 (440), Graham Brothers, Aughafatten 6 Texel 22.5kg £99 (440), 13 Texel 20.5kg £90 (439), Adam Hunter, Broughshane 25 Texel 20.5kg £90 (439), A Boyd, Cloughmills 44 Suffolk 20.5kg £90 (439), WL Wilson, Ballyclare 9 Texel 23.5kg £103 (438), D McCartney, Kells 4 Texel 21kg £92 (438) and A Coulter, Doagh 1 Texel 21.5kg £94 (437).

Top prices per kg: V Anderson, Cloughmills 1 Texel 32kg £110, Graeme Martin, Broughshane 20 Texel 23.5kg £109, William Nutt, Cloughmills 17 Texel 28kg £108.50, C Millar, Kilrea 12 Texel 29kg £108, V Anderson 2 Suffolk 30kg £108, William Steele, Ballyclare 14 Texel 28kg £107, M Stewart, Coleraine 21 Crossbred 24.5kg £107, David Moorhead, Aughafatten 6 Suffolk 28kg £106, S Gilmore and Co, Kilrea 25 Texel 24.5kg £105.80, Brian Lyttle, Moorfields 32 Texel 23kg £105, E and SJ Hill, Randalstown 26 Texel 26kg £104.80, Robert Orr, Cloughmills 12 Mule 26.5kg £104.80, John Lennox, Kilrea 4 Texel 24kg £104.50, H McCracken, Ballywalter 25 Crossbred 25kg £104.50, AV Magill, Carnlough 5 Cheviot 29kg £104, Philip Kerr, Cloughmills 30 Charollais 25kg £104, W Jamieson, Ballymoney 20 Texel 25.5kg £104, S Patterson, Carrickfergus 1 Suffolk 30kg £104, Ian Campbell, Templepatrick 4 Texel 24kg £104, D McCartney, Kells 6 Texel 24.5kg £104, David Warwick, Moorfields 2 Texel 23kg £104, William Davidson, Broughshane 2 Texel 25kg £104, D McLean, Larne 9 Suffolk 25.5kg £104 and WJ Hanna, Ballyclare 18 Rouge 24kg £104.

Fat ewes (121)

First quality

Suffolk -£90-£131

Texel - £90-£140

Crossbred - £75-£92

Blackface - £48-£66