Beef cows sell to 193p for a 780kg Limousin at Ballymena

Beef cows sold to 193p for a Lim 780kg at £1505, Fr cows to 128p for 750kg at £960.

Beef bullocks to 206p for 610kg at £1256. Beef heifers to 210p for 590kg at £1239, Fr bullocks to 167p for 670kg at £1118.

Beef cows sold to: J L McKinney, Maghera Lim 780kg, £1505 (193), H McCracken, Ballywalter Lim 850kg, £1572 (185), Donal Kane, Cushendall BB 530kg, £906 (171), P McEldowney, Swatragh Lim 580kg, £980 (169), Sim 660kg, £1102 (167), James McKeagney, Upperlands Blonde 620kg, £1016 (164), Donal Kane, Cushendall Lim 640kg, £1024 (160), M Thompson, Craigavon Char 1000kg, £1600 (160), H McCracken, Ballywalter Lim 670kg, £1038 (155), G Wilson, Ballyboley BB 540kg, £810 (150), Francis Strathern, Bellaghy Lim 650kg, £968 (149), T A Rodgers, Broughshane Lim 700kg, £1036 (148), Wm Smyth, Moorfields St 580kg, £852 (147), Graham Bros, Aughafatten Lim 680kg, £992 (146), M Thompson, Gilford Lim 830kg, £1203 (145), J Todd, Ballycastle Lim 660kg, £943 (143), Donal Kane, Cushendall Lim 680kg, £965 (142), James McKeagney Lim 700kg, £994 (142), P McEldowney, Swatragh AA 680kg, £958 (141), Martin McGarry, Broughshane Blonde 620kg, £874 (141), F McAuley, Toomebridge Lim 680kg, £952 (140), Graham Bros, Lim 680kg, £952 (140), J McKeever, Ahoghill Par 690kg, £959 (139), Par 650kg, £897 (138), I McKay, Dervock AA 700kg, £959 (137).

Friesian cows sold to: W Beattie, Glarryford 750kg, £960 (128), D McAuley, Toomebridge 770kg, £931 (121), W Kerr, 490kg, £588 (120), local farmer 610kg, £719 (118), Denis Boyd, Straid 590kg, £690 (117), W Beattie 750kg, £877 (117), 570kg, £661 (116), John Moore, Ballyclare 720kg, £835 (116), G R Blair, Cookstown 670kg, £770 (115), W Beattie 550kg, £632 (115), 670kg, £763 (114), D N McCrea, Strabane 780kg, £889 (114), W Beattie 540kg, £610 (113), 590kg, £660 (112), D McAuley, Toomebridge 760kg, £843 (111), Denis Boyd, Straid 600kg, £660 (110), James Gibson, Aughafatten 630kg, £693 (110), G R Blair, Cookstown 560kg, £610 (109), J Stewart, Templepatrick 680kg, £720 (106), Alis Bell, Ballymena 680kg, £714 (105), W L Mackey, Muckamore 650kg, £676 (104), 710kg, £738 (104), W and H Farr, Stewartstown 680kg, £707 (104), G R Blair 650kg, £676 (104), S Boyle, Loughgiel 670kg, £690 (103).

Beef bullocks sold to: Mrs H McConkey, Antrim Lim 610kg, £1256 (206), Lim 600kg, £1212, (202), Lim 660kg, £1273, (193), S Fullerton, Bushmills AA 650kg, £1241, (191), G and M McGuickan, Dunloy Char 700kg, £1323, (189), Stanley Campbell, Castlewellan BB 610kg, £1152, (189), BB 590kg, £1091, (185), Mrs Hazel McConkey, Antrim Lim 680kg, £1230 (181), W Watt, Antrim AA 770kg, £1386 (180), M Thompson, Gilford Lim 590kg, £106 (180), D Bellingham, Ballymoney Char 750kg, £1350 (180), Francis Strathern, Bellaghy Lim 710kg, £1270 (179), W McQuigg, Aghadowey Char 710kg, £1263 (178), J McErlean, Portglenone Lim 640kg, £1139 (178), G and M McGuickan, Dunloy Here 650kg, £1150 (177), S Darragh, Toomebridge Lim 680kg, £1203 (177), W Watt, Muckamore Char 790kg, £1390 (176), W McQuigg, Aghadowey Char 730kg, £1284 (176), D Bellingham, Ballymoney Sim 720kg, £1260 (175), Francis Strathern, Bellaghy Lim 660kg, £1155 (175), W Watt, Muckamore AA 740kg, £1287 (174), S Darragh, Toomebridge Lim 620kg, £1072 (173), S Fullerton, Bushmills AA 680kg, £1169 (172), W Watt, Muckamore AA 710kg, £1207 (170), Andrew Houston, Lisburn Lim 750kg, £1275 (170).

Beef heifers sold to: Carmel O’Hare, Loughbrickland Lim 590kg, £1239, (210), J Irvine, Carrick Lim 500kg, £1040, (208), Jennifer Irvine, Carrick Lim 550kg, £1133, (206), BB 580kg £1183, (204), H McCracken, Ballywalter Lim 590kg, £1180, (200), Carmel O’Hare Lim 530kg, £1054, (199), John McKeague, Dunloy Char 610kg, £1189, (195), Char 560kg, £1092, (195), J McKinley, Bushmills AA 570kg, £1100, (193), AA 590kg, £1121 (190), John McKeague, Dunloy Char 550kg, £1039, (189), Carmel O’Hare, Loughbrickland Char 640kg, £1203, (188), John McKeague Char 560kg, £1052, (188), F McNeilly, Glarryford Lim 530kg, £980, (185), Carmel O’Hare Char 550kg, £990, (180).

Friesian bullocks sold to: Stanley Campbell, Castlewellan 670kg, £1118, (167), R Waide, Cloughmills 490kg, £695, (142), 510kg, £714, (140), G Wilson, Ballyboley 570kg, £798, (140), J McNeilly, Glarryford 570kg, £792, (139), G Wilson, 550kg, £742, (135), 560kg, £750, (134), F McNeilly 650kg, £845, (130), G Wilson 490kg, £637, (130), R Park, Ballyclare 610kg, £768, (126), 700kg, £882, (126), 600kg, £750, (125), W Hamilton, Broughshane 490kg, £588, (120), R Park, Ballyclare 610kg £719, (118), W Hamilton 570kg, £632, (111), R Park 460kg, £414, (90).

Dairy stock continued to meet stronger demand selling to £1480 for a calved heifer from A T McAuley, Bushmills, while Thomas Hamilton, Carrickfergus sold a springing heifer for £1120. G McAuley, Ballyclare, sold a calved cow at £960, W McKee, Larne, sold a calved heifer at £930.

39 lots in the suckler ring sold well to £1740 for a Sim heifer with bull calf at foot. Ruling prices: W Millar, Broughshane Sim hfr and bull calf £1740, Richard Creith, Bushmills spk cow and bull calf £1700, W J Patton, Cloughmills spk hfr and hfr calf £1580, Richard Creith spk cow and bull calf £1580, W Millar, Here cow and hfr calf £1550, Richard Creith spk cow and hfr calf £1480, J Lindsay, Dundonald Blonde hfr and bull calf £1380, W J Patton spk hfr and bull calf £1350, G Orr, Ballywalter Char hfr and bull calf £1300, Char hfr and bull calf £1300, David Compton, Carninney Lim cow and bull calf £1300, Richard Creith, Bushmills spk cow and bull calf £1300, W J Patton, Cloughmills spk hfr and hfr calf £1280, spk hfr and hfr calf £1250, J Lindsay, Dundonald Char cow and hfr calf £1250, Here cow and bull calf £1220, Mrs Mary Rea, Mallusk Lim cow and hfr calf £1220.

169 lots in the calf ring sold to £380 for a strong AA bull, young bull calves to £350 for a Sim (two months). Strong heifer calves to £365 for an AA, younger lots to £305 for a B Blue.

Bull calves sold to: T Caulfield, Magherafelt AA £380, T A Hendren, Glenavy Here £370, R J T Fleming, Templepatrick Sim £350, T Caulfield, Magherafelt Lim £350, J Walker, Randalstown Here £345, T Caulfield, AA £330, J R McNeilly, Randalstown (2) Here £330, A A Ferguson, Stewartstown BB £330, Here £325, Wm Bonnes, Randalstown SH £325, T A Hendren, Glenavy Here £325, A A Ferguson (2) BB £315, J Walker, Randalstown Here £305, D Mallon, Toomebridge AA £305.

Heifer calves sold to: David A Kernohan, Ballymena AA £365, A A Ferguson, Stewartstown Here £335, George Forsythe, Cloughmills Hol £330, David Kernohan, Ballymena AA £315, Ian Thompson, Templepatrick BB £305, R J T Fleming, Templepatrick Sim £290, J R McNeilly, Randalstown (2) Here £288, R J T Fleming Sim £280, James Graham, Raloo Sim £280, David Kernohan, Ballymena (2) AA £280, D Montgomery, Glenwherry AA £275, J Angus and Sons, Portaferry Ea £270, David Kernohan (2) £265.

Friesian bull calves sold to: N McClure, Ballymoney (stronger) (2) £305, David A Kernohan, Ballymena £235, T Caulfield, Magherafelt (2) £195, £190, £170, £150, £135, A A Ferguson, Stewartstown £125, S McGrogan, Toomebridge £105, T E Milligan, Maghera (3) £100, Brian McConnell, Doagh £100, AA Ferguson £100.

237 weanlings in Ballymena met strong demand with lightweights to £3 per kg for 160kg Char at £480, stronger lots to 255 pence for a 280kg Char at £715. Heifers to 257p for an Angus 350kg at £900.

Bulls/blks sold to:

0-250kgs: D McCaughey, Randalstown Char 160kg £480 (300), Char 140kg £345 (246), Char 210kg £445 (211), W E Adamson, Carrickfergus Aub 240kg £500 (208), W McCurdy, Broughshane SH 250kg £510 (204).

251-300kgs: W McCurdy, Broughshane Char 280kg £715 (255), Char 260kg £660 (253), A and D McAfee, Bushmills Char 280kg £700 (250), Char 290kg £700 (241), J M McKinty, Ballyclare Char 290kg £675 (232), Hugh McNeill, Ballygally AA 300kg £685 (228), S Beattie, Ballyclare Sim 260kg £535 (205), W E Adamson, Carrickfergus Aub 260kg £535 (205), Aub 270kg £550 (203), J Dowds, Broughshane Char 300kg £605 (201).

301-350kgs: W and M Orr, Ballycastle Lim 350kg £810 (231), AA 330kg £755 (228), W D Marshall, Clough Char 350kg £800 (228), W and M Orr, Ballycastle Lim 320kg £730 (228), Colin Harper, Crumlin Lim 340kg £760 (223), A Park, Ballynure Lim 320kg £700 (218), P McConnell, Ligoniel Lim 350kg £765 (218), W D Marshall, Char 330kg £720 (218), Char 350kg £760 (217), BB 340kg £735 (216), AA 330kg £705 (213), Mrs A Henry, Antrim Lim 350kg £745 (212), J Dowds, Broughshane Char 350kg £740 (211), Brian Ervine, Straid Aub 350kg £740 (211), Jean Craig, Larne Lim 320kg £665 (207), JM McKinty, Ballyclare Char 340kg £705 (207).

351kg and over: W McCurdy, Broughshane Char 370kg £870 (235), P McConnell, Ligoniel Char 390kg £890 (228), Mrs A Henry, Antrim Lim 390kg £885 (226), J Dowds, Broughshane Char 390kg £885 (226), W and M Orr, Ballycastle Lim 410kg £920 (224), Mrs A Henry, Antrim Lim 390kg £875 (224), W Moore, Ballycarry Char 400kg £890 (222), WD Marshall, Clough Lim 370kg £820 (221), W and M Orr, Ballycastle Lim 380kg £830 (218), WD Marshall Char 390kg £850 (218), John Calwell, Ballycarry Blonde 360kg £770 (213), W D Marshall Lim 360kg £765 (212), W Moore, Lim 430kg £905 (210), P McConnell, Ligoniel Lim 400kg £840 (210), W and D McClure, Dundrod Lim 410kg £860 (209), Colin Harper, Crumlin Char 370kg £770 (208).

Heifers 251-300kgs: W McCurdy, Broughshane Char 260kg £625 (240), Mrs E McCabe, Nutts Corner Char 280kg £625 (223), Jean Craig, Larne Char 290kg £635 (219), Char 270kg £580 (214), PJ McKinley, Martinstown Lim 300kg £620 (206), Carson Livingstone, Ballymena Char 260kg £520 (200).

301-350kgs: L Coulter, Nutts Corner AA 350kg £900 (257), John Calwell, Ballycarry Lim 320kg £730 (228), J McKinty, Larne Char 330kg £735 (222), J M McKinty, Ballyclare Char 330kg £720 (218), A and D McAfee, Bushmills Char 310kg £665 (214), Jean Craig, Larne AA 320kg £665 (207), L Coulter, Nutts Corner Char 320kg £665 (207), W and M Orr, Ballycastle Char 320kg £660 (206), Mrs E McCabe, Nutts Corner Char 320kg £660 (206), W McQuitty, Clough Char 320kg £655 (204), Jean Craig, Larne Lim 330kg £670 (203), W McCurdy, Broughshane Char 340kg £690 (202), Jean Craig Char 320kg £640 (200).

351kg and over: D Laverty, Portglenone BB 480kg £1055 (219), BB 370kg £800 (216), M McDonald, Randalstown Lim 390kg £800 (205), W Moore, Ballycarry Lim 410kg £830 (202).

The annual show and sale of Mule and Greyface hoggets at Ballymena Mart returned an excellent trade with averages up by £17 per head to level at £138 for an entry of just over 2500 sheep. Top price of the day was paid to Wm Crawford of Newtownstewart who received £220 per head for his first prizewinning pen of Mule hgts and he went on to also achieve an incredible average of £181 per head for his entry of 99 hoggets. Greyface hoggets sold to £150 per head paid for second and third prizewinning pens presented by Dessie Gray and Ian McCluggage. For the first time a show of Suffolk Cheviot ewe lambs was held and attracted a very strong trade selling to £180 per head paid to Sandra Hunter, Bushmills for her second prizewinning pen while N and M Walsh, Rathfriland took first place in the show and second top price of £175 per head. Thanks goes to John Murphy Antrim who judged the Greyface hoggets and Suffolk Cheviot X ewe lambs also Hugh Henry Larne who judged the Mule hoggets. Leading prices, prizewinning positions and averages in each section are as follows:

Mule hoggets – Wm Crawford, Newtownstewart 10 Mules at £220, 10 at £210, V Anderson, Cloughmills 2 at £202, Wm Crawford 10 at £190, 14 at £190, 14 at £180, 14 at £180, Diane Gibson, Mallusk 10 at £178, Wm Crawford 10 at £170, D Gray, Limavady 10 at £170 (second), Diane Gibson 10 at £170, V Anderson, Cloughmills 10 at £168 (third), Diane Gibson 12 at £162, 12 at £162, W Blackburn, Clogher 14 at £160, Diane Gibson 12 at £160, I Lawrence, Tobermore 14 at £160, Diane Gibson 11 at £158, 12 at £158. Leading averages – (2505 ave £138 up £17 per head on 2015) Wm Crawford 99 ave £181, Diane Gibson 169 ave £150, W Blackburn 88 ave £146.95, K McFadden 140 ave £145, V Anderson 90 ave £144, D Gray 139 ave £141.74. Greyface hoggets – D Gray, Limavady at £150 (second), I McCluggage at £150 (third ), J Cameron 18 at £128 (first).

Suffolk X ewe lambs – Sandra Hunter, Bushmills 10 at £180 (second), N and M Walsh, Rathfriland 16 at £175 (first), J Alexander Toome 12 at £140, 12 at £140, S Hall, Larne 2 at £134, R Workman, Larne 11 at £132, 10 at £128, N and M Walsh 16 at £128, G Walsh, Castlewellan 11 at £126, R Thompson, Glenarm 15 at £125, L Anderson, Kilwaughter 11 at £124, 10 at £120 (third), R Workman 11 at £120. Leading averages – (749 averaged £104.50 up £5per head on 2015) N and M Walsh 91 ave £118.39, R Workman 90 ave £111, G Walsh 50 ave £110, R Thompson 150 ave £106.

Ewe lambs sold to: W and J O’Kane, Carnlough 10 CB £80, 10 CB £80, 12 CB £77, 12 CB £76, 10 CB £70, 10 CB £70, P Anderson, Portstewart 8 Dor £69, J Graham, Glenariffe 14 Char £67.50, J Forsythe, Islandmagee 10 Tex £65, Ryan Gordon, Broughshane 4 Tex £53.

Ewes sold to: Sam Stuart, Magheramourne 1 Dor ewe £126, William Young, Desertmartin 1 Tex ewe £110, Brian Thompson, Lisburn 9 Tex ewes £110, Mrs R Dunlop, Portglenone 1 Suff ewe £88.

Store lambs sold to: P Convery, Maghera 4 Suff £82, A V Magill, Carnlough 40 Suff £67.50, Frank McCormick, Martinstown 43 Suff £67, K Kidd, Broughshane 24 Tex £66.50, Ian Gibson, Broughshane 32 Tex £66, P Convery, Maghera 4 Suff £66, A V Magill, Carnlough 45 Suff £66, 42 Suff £66, Frank McCormick, Martinstown 43 Suff £65, John Houston, Broughshane 32 Tex £64, Patrick Devine, Aughafatten 17 Tex £63.50, M McQuillan, Glenravel 13 Char £63, W and J O’Kane, Carnlough 40 CB £62.50, John O’Neill, 20 Tex £62, Frank McCormick, 60 Mule £62, Ian Gibson, Broughshane 18 Suff £62, McKay Bros, Cushendun 10 CB £61, H Blaney, Ahoghill 25 Tex £61, M McQuillan, Glenravel 25 Char £61, P Convery, Maghera 13 Suff £59, McAuley Farms, Cushendun 24 Tex £58, T Stewart, Cairncastle 36 CB £58, J R Loughery, Limavady 50 CB £58, W and J O’Kane, Carnlough 40 CB £58.

Hoggets sold to: Jennifer McCurdy, Bushmills 11 Suff £152, S Taggart, Bushmills 10 Suff £148, AS Pearson, Newtownards 11 Tex £146, David McCabe, Muckamore 9 Tex £146, 6 Mule £142, Ivan Stevenson, Broughshane 10 Tex £141, David McCabe 9 Tex £140, M Fulton, Ballymena 12 CB £136, R McIntyre, Cloughmills 10 Mule £136, John McIlwaine, Ballynure 13 CB £135, M Fulton 12 CB £135, R McIntyre 11 Mule £135, M Fulton 12 CB £134, T McBride, Raloo 12 CB £133, A S Pearson, Newtownards 11 Tex £132, T McBride 12 CB £132, Ivan Stevenson, 10 Tex £131, John McIlwaine, Ballynure 10 C B £130, Ivan Stevenson 10 Tex £128, A S Pearson 11 Tex £125, R McIntyre 9 Mule £124, J Auld, 6 Tex £124, Daniel Rea, Glenarm 12 CB £122, Ivan Stevenson 9 Tex £121, Wilnor Reid, 10 Tex £120.

An entry of 2190 sheep in Ballymena resulted in a steady trade. Fat lambs sold to 353p per kg for a pen of 44 Suff 23.5kg at £83 offered by J Alexander, Randalstown and to a top per head of £88 for 2 Texels 28kg from F McKinney, Ballymoney. Fat ewes sold to £98.

Fat lambs (1688)

Top prices per kg: J Alexander, Randalstown 44 Suff 23.5kg £83 (353), Neil McQuaige, Cushendun 12 Tex 22.5kg £78.50 (348), P Dowds, Glarryford 19 Suff 24kg £83.50 (347), W Holland, Doagh 35 Tex 23.5kg £81.50 (346), G Kernohan, Islandmagee 3 Dor 23.5kg £81 (344), Sandra Hunter, Bushmills 21 Suff 23.5kg £81 (344), B McMillan, Cullybackey 20 Tex 23.5kg £81 (344), David White, Broughshane 26 Suff 24kg £82.50 (343), Alan McNair, Ballyclare 22 Tex 23kg £78 (339), D A McWilliam, Ballyclare 9 Tex 24kg £80.8 (336), Simpson and Calvin, Ballymoney 7 Tex 23.5kg £79 (336), Steven Ingram, Islandmagee 7 Tex 17kg £57 (335), L Park, Ballynure 9 Suff 23kg £77 (334), J McCollum, Carnlough 10 Tex 23kg £77 (334), Norman McBurney, Moorfields 50 Tex 24.5kg £82 (334), Stephen White, Garvagh 4 Tex 24kg £80 (333), D Hanna, Ballymoney 11 Tex 24kg £80 (333), Martin J King, Ballymena 7 Char 24kg £80 (333), G Loughery 44Cb 22.5kg £75 (333), M Stewart, Coleraine 3 Tex 23.5kg £78 (331), R K Currie, Ballymena 6 Tex 22kg £73 (331), 1 Tex 22kg £73 (331), N Boyd, Broughshane 12 Suff 23kg £76 (330), SJ Boyd, Doagh 5 Suff 16.5kg £54.50 (330), Francis McKinney, Bendooragh 13 Tex 22.5kg £74 (328).

Top prices per kg: Francis McKinney, Bendooragh 2 Tex 28kg £88, E O’Neill, Martinstown 11 Suff 26kg £84.50, P Dowds, Glarryford 19 Suff 24kg £83.50, John A Bell, Toomebridge 3 Tex 26kg £83, J Alexander, Randalstown 44 Suff 23.5kg £83, David White, Broughshane 26 Suff 24kg £82.50, R Boyle, Larne 10 Tex 25.5kg £82.50, Norman McBurney, Moorfields 50 Tex 24.5kg £82, Frank McCormick, Martinstown 10 Suff 25.5kg £82, Alastair Kerr, Ballymena 2 Tex 28kg £82, Ken Woodside, Islandmagee 15 Tex 27kg £82, WJ Donaghy, Rasharkin 3 Tex 25kg £82, W Holland, Doagh 35 Tex 23.5kg £81.50, B McMillan, Cullybackey 20 Tex 23.5kg £81, G Kernohan, Islandmagee 3 Dor 23.5kg £81, Maria McKeown, Augahfatten 12 Tex 29kg £81, Sandra Hunter, Bushmills 21 Suff 23.5kg £81, C Gribben, Dunloy 41 Tex 25kg £81, D A McWilliams, Ballyclare 9 Tex 24g £80.80, I Marcus, Glenarm 13 Tex 25kg £80.50, J Maybin, Larne 10 Tex 24.5kg £80, Nevin Brown, Ballycastle 18 Tex 25kg £80, Neil McQuaige, Cushendun 7 Tex 25.5kg £80, Maria McKeown, Cullybackey 13 Tex 25kg £80, D Hanna, Ballymoney 11 Tex 24kg £80.

Fat ewes (502)

Top quality

Suff - £70-£90

Tex £70-£98

CB - £55-£70

BF - £40-£55