Sharper trade for beef cattle at Ballymena

Fat cows sold to: G Devlin, Randalstown Blonde 750kg £1282 (171), MM and S McManus, Swatragh Lui 760kg £1246 (164), Stephen Hall, Monkstown Lim 730kg £1146 (157), Wm Archbold, Newtownabbey Blonde 710kg £1086 (153), Kelly Bros, Ballymena Lim 750kg £1132 (151), Wm Archbold Blonde 700kg £1050 (150), Kelly Bros Lim 660kg £990 (150), MM and S McManus BB 770kg £1155 (150), Stephen Hall Lim 690kg £1021 (148), MM and S McManus Lim 740kg £1095 (148), Stephen Hall Lim 750kg £1095 (146), MM and S McManus Lim 660kg £957 (145), R Shaw, Rasharkin Lim 630kg £894 (142), MM and S McManus AA 740kg £1050 (142), Desmond Fulton, Ballymoney BB 710kg £994 (140), Stephen Hall, Lim 660kg £910 (138), John Graham, Killinchy Lim 740kg £1013 (137), D Hall, Monkstown Lim 740kg £999 (135), John Graham, Killinchy Lim 720kg £964 (134), James Delargy, Cushendall Lim 530kg £699 (132), D Hall, Lim 670kg £871 (130), James Delargy Lim 740kg £962 (130), Eamon McGarry, Broughshane Char 870kg £1113 (128), Desmond Fulton, Ballymoney Lim 680kg £870 (128).

Friesian cows sold to: R Chambers, Ballycastle 690kg £779 (113), R and C Steede, Cullybackey 710kg £745 (105), 640kg £672 (105), GA and CR Crawford, Clough 760kg £790 (104), Forsythe Bros, Loughgiel 630kg £636 (101), A Harbinson, Rathkenny 680kg £686 (101), G Connon, Aldergrove 620kg £620 (100), R and C Steede, Cullybackey 590kg £584 (99), Harold Johnston, Ahoghill 750kg £735 (98), A and W McMaster, Broughshane 660kg £633 (96), G Devlin, Randalstown 620kg £595 (96), J and M Wilson, Broughshane 690kg £662 (96), GA and CR Crawford 720kg £684 (95), R Chambers, Ballycastle 630kg £592 (94), Gary McCammond, Larne 690kg £648 (94), TG Brown, Knockloughrim 630kg £592 (94), A Harbinson, Rathkenny 760kg £714 (94), GA and CR Crawford 630kg £585 (93), M and R Park, Ballymena 630kg £579 (92), Forsythe Bros, Loughgiel 590kg £536 (91).

Beef heifers sold to: Joe O’Connor, Dungiven BB 680kg £1305 (192), P and S Kelly, Kells BB 660kg £1247 (189), Lewis Davidson, Glenwherry Lim 620kg £1159 (187), local farmer Char 650kg £1189 (183), Logan Anderson, Kilwaughter Lim 560kg £1024 (183), J Speers, Armagh Lim 640kg £1171 (183), Mrs N Jamison, Ballymena BB 550kg £995 (181), J Collins, Ballymena Lim 630kg £1121 (178), Stephen Hall, Monkstown Lim 610kg £1085 (178), Desmond Fulton, Ballymoney Lim 580kg £1026 (177), Sam McNabney, Clough Blonde 550kg £968 (176), Roy Kennedy, Ballyclare Sim 570kg £1003 (176), W Kirkpatrick, Dundrod Char 600kg £1050 (175), J Speers, Armagh Lim 670kg £1172 (175), Mrs N Jamison, Ballymena BB 620kg £1072 (173), McCready McCartney Sal 670kg £1159 (173), J Collins, Ballymoney Lim 660kg £1128 (171), Oliver Duffin, Cargan Here 610kg £1043 (171), B McComb, Muckamore Lim 680kg £1156 (170), P and S Kelly, Kells Lim 640kg £1088 (170), E McNeilly, Gracehill BB 630kg £1071 (170), Sam McNabney, Clough Char 570kg £969 (170).

Beef bullocks sold to: G Connon, Aldergrove AA 610kg £1195 (196), David McCabe, Muckamore Here 530kg £991 (187), R Gilliland, Antrim Char 740kg £1376 (186), David McCabe Here 600kg £1116 (186), G Connon, Aldergrove AA 650kg £1209 (186), Samuel Dobbin, Ballycastle Char 720kg £1324 (184), Oliver Duffin, Cargan Char 650kg £1189 (183), R Gilliland, Antrim Char 750kg £1365 (182), G Connon, Aldergrove Lim 610kg £1104 (181), John Hamilton, Rathkenny Lim 620kg £1116 (180), Samuel Dobbin, Ballycastle Char 700kg £1260 (180), John Hamilton, Rathkenny Char 590kg £1050 (178), David McCabe, Muckamore Here 640kg £1113 (174), S Boyle, Dunloy Par 440kg £761 (173), David McCabe Here 630kg £1083 (172), P Graffin, Portlenone Char 770kg £1316 (171), R Gilliland, Antrim Sim 740kg £1265 (171), David McCabe, Muckamore Here 640kg £1088 (170).

Fr bullocks sold to: D and M Hamill, Crumlin 520kg £691 (133), P and S Kelly, Kells 810kg £1053 (130), D and N Hamill 510kg £652 (128), 540kg £637 (118).

Strong demand for good quality dairy stock. 29 cows and heifers sold to £1800 for a calved heifer from MW Patterson, Ballynahinch. Ruling prices: MW Patterson, Ballynahinch calved hfr £1800, calved hfr £1430, Ardlauragh farm, Crumlin calved hfr £1320, WG Johnston, Ligoniel calved hfr £1310, D Blelock, Crumlin calved hfr £1300, WR and BDH Graham, Moorfields calved cow £1300, Veronica Conlon, Newtownhamilton calved hfr £1280, Sam Wallace, Broughshane calved cow £1280, Veronica Conlon calved hfr £1270, D Blelock calved hfr £1270, WG Johnston calved hfr £1260, WT Bristow, Portglenone calved hfr £1240, David McNeilly, Randalstown calved cow £1220, WJ Kerr, Cloughmills calved cow £1200, D Blelock calved cow £1200, Blair Jamison, Broughshane calved cow £1200, S Dunlop, Crumlin calved hfr £1200, David Wallace calved hfr £1200, Ardlauragh farm calved hfr £1170, calved hfr £1170, calved hfr £1160, calved hfr £1150, WT Bristow, Portglenone calved hfr £1150, David Wallace, Antrim £1120, Sam Wallace calved cow £1110.

Suckler stock sold well to £1480 for a Lim cow with Char bull calf at foot.. Ruling prices: D Allen, Moneymore Lim cow and bull calf £1480, Patrick Logan, Ahoghill Lim hfr and hfr calf £1300, Samuel Oliver, Limavady Char in calf cow £1300, Patrick Logan FKV hfr and bull calf £1200, Samuel Oliver Sim in calf cow £1060, SG Lindsay, Newtownabbey Blonde in calf cow £1040.

Just over 300 dropped calves sold sharply to £375 for a young Lim bull. A strong Lim heifer sold at £435. Strong Fr bulls to £195 and young Fr bulls to £105 each.

Highest prices for beef bred bull calves were: Alastair McBurney, Clough Lim £375, Ian Paisley, Magheramourne FKV £370, Alastair McBurney (2) £360, D McKay, Broughshane Lim £360, Robin Bingham, Nutts Corner Char £355, TJ Turtle, Broughshane Here £355, M McAllister, Crumlin BB £350, David Chestnutt, Bushmills BB £350, Wm Crawford, Gracehill BB £340, T Herbinson, Randalstown AA £335, James McAuley, Cushendall Lim £330, S Park, Parkgate Lim £325, M McAllister, Crumlin BB £320, Andrew Abraham, Antrim BB £320, T Herbinson, Randalstown AA £320.

Heifer calves sold to: D McKay, Broughshane Lim (strong) £435, A Minnis, Comber BB £395, Andrew Abraham, Antrim BB (young) £320, Ian Paisley, Magheramourne Lim £315, Hamilton Alexander, Glenarm Lim £300, J Nutt, Mosside (2) Here £290, TJ Turtle, Broughshane Here £290, J Nutt Here £285, David Wilson, Carntall AA £280, James Graham, Raloo Sim £275, J Nutt (2) Here £275, O Magill, Crumlin BB £270, Andrew Abraham, Antrim Here £270, J Ferguson, Straid Lim £270.

Fr bull calves sold to: J Minnis, Comber (strong) £195, Alan McNair, Ballyclare (2) £190, Mrs JE McIlroy, Magheramourne £160, Graeme Martin, Broughshane £150, McCloskey farms, Ballymoney £150, £125, Ryan Gordon, Broughshane £120, HS McFerran, Ballywalter (3) £115, J Minnis, Comber £115, R McCormick, Armoy £105, Mrs JE McIlroy (3) £100.

An entry of 160 weanlings resulted in a terrific trade. Bullocks sold to £510 over for a Lim 380kg at £890 offered by JM Mullan, Maghera. Heifers sold to £445 over for a Char 390kg a t£835 presented by John Mulvenna, Larne.

Bulls 0-250kgs: Local farmer Sim 210kg £535 (254), ED Morrow, Lisburn Char 210kg £515 (245), local farmer Lim 180kg £425 (236), Stirling Kirk, Cloughmills Sim 230kg £495 (215), D Black, Cushendall SHB 250kg £515 (206), Henry McConnell, Glenwherry Lim 230kg £470 (204), D Black, Cushendall SHB 240kg £490 (204).

251-300kgs: R Millar, Gleno Char 270kg £760 (281), D Black, Cushendall Lim 280kg £660 (235), J Murray, Aghalee Lim 300kg £705 (235), Gareth Hayes, Ballymena BB 270kg £620 (229), SJC Woodburn, Ballyclare Here 300kg £685 (228), Gareth Hayes BB 280kg £590 (210), Andy Spence, Nutts Corner Lim 260kg £525 (201), Gareth Hayes SHB 300kg £600 (200), SHB 300kg £595 (198), SHB 280kg £540 (192), Andy Spence, Nutts Corner Lim 280kg £540 (192).

301-350kgs: J Murray, Aghalee Sim 320kg £800 (250), JM Mullan, Knockloughrim Lim 330kg £825 (250), J Murray Sim 320kg £790 (246), J Brown, Nutts Corner Lim 310kg £760 (245), JM Mullan Lim 320kg £780 (243), J Murray, Aghalee Sim 310kg £745 (240), JM Mullan Lim 330kg £790 (239), local farmer Char 340kg £790 (232), John Healey, Belfast Char 330kg £760 (230), TF Reid, Glenavy Lim 330kg £750 (227), J Brown, Nutts Corner Lim 350kg £790 (225), TJ Reid Lim 340kg £705 (207), S Taylor, Ligoniel Lim 340kg £700 (205).

351kg and over: JM Mullan, Knockloughrim Lim 380kg £890 (234), S Taylor, Ligoniel Char 380kg £845 (222), JC McMillan, Portglenone AA 360kg £800 (222), John E O’Kane, Cushendall Lim 360kg £795 (220), JC McMillan, (3) AA 360kg £790 (219), J Brown, Nutts Corner Lim 360kg £790 (219), J Murray, Aghalee Sim 360kg £790 (219), JC McMillan, Portglenone AA 380kg £825 (217), R Dawson, Stoneyford Char 370kg £800 (216), John E O’Kane, Cushendall Lim 370kg £790 (213), Lim 380kg £800 (210), SJC Woodburn, Ballyclare Here 380kg £795 (209), JM Mullan, Knockloughrim Lim 450kg £940 (208), John O’Kane, Cushendall Lim 390kg £795 (203), J Murray, Aghalee Sim 370kg £750 (202).

Heifers 0-250kgs: Richard McConnell, Glenwherry Lim 240kg £555 (231), local farmer Lim 210kg £480 (228), local farmer Char 250kg £560 (224), Richard McConnell Lim 230kg £490 (213), Henry McConnell, Glenwherry Lim 200kg £425 (212), Lim 240kg £490 (204), Richard McConnell Lim 210kg £425 (202), BP Hurrell, Randalstown Here 210kg £415 (197), Harry Irvine, Carrick Lim 250kg £490 (196), Henry McConnell Lim 230kg £450 (195), Lim 240kg £445 (185).

251-300kgs: R Millar, Gleno Char 260kg £695 (267), S Taylor, Ligoniel Char 290kg £705 (243), R Millar Char 290kg £695 (239), Char 300kg £695 (231), J Mulvenna, Larne Char 260kg £590 (226), local farmer Char 280kg £630 (225), S Taylor Char 280kg £590 (210), Char 290kg £595 (205), local farmer Char 280kg £570 (203), Gareth Hayes, Ballymena SHB 280kg £560 (200), R Dawson, Stoneyford Lim 300kg £600 (200).

301-350kgs: S Taylor, Ligoniel Char 310kg £685 (221), J Brown, Nutts Corner Lim 310kg £630 (203), Lim 330kg £670 (203), J Mulvenna, Larne Char 330kg £660 (200), Char 350kg £690 (197), local farmer Lim 330kg £650 (197), Hannah Healey, Belfast Lim 350kg £680 (194), Lim 330kg £640 (193), John E O’Kane, Cushendall Lim 320kg £620 (193).

351kg and over: J Mulvenna, Larne Char 390kg £835 (214), Char 380kg £800 (210), Ben McCullough, Feeny Lim 410kg £855 (208), J Mulvenna Lim 360kg £750 (208), Char 380kg £780 (205), Char 360kg £730 (202), Ben McCullough Char 440kg £875 (198), local farmer Char 400kg £790 (197), John E O’Kane, Cushendall Lim 380kg £740 (194), JM Mullan, Knockloughrim Lim 420kg £810 (192), J Mulvenna Char 420kg £775 (184), Char 440kg £805 (183).

A small entry of sheep on Monday evening resulted in a steady trade. Ewes and lambs sold to £192, springers to £125 and store lambs to £62.

Ruling prices for store lambs: E Ferguson, Magherafelt 12 Char £62, Millar McClelland, Doagh 6 Tex £60, J Wylie, Ahoghill 1 Tex £60, J Bonnar, Broughshane 5 Tex £55.50, Millar McClelland 4 Tees £55.50, John Bright, Templepatrick 18 Char £55, J Scullion, Ahoghill 17 Tex £53.50, T McKillop, Glenarm 4 BF £53, D Blair, Antrim 7 Tex £53.

Ewes and lambs sold to: Paul Crawford, Islandmagee 2 Dor ewes and 2 lambs £192, Liam Campbell, Carnlough 1 Swal ewe and 2 lambs £180, John McKibbin, Castlewellan 9 Dor ewes and 15 lambs £167.50, Liam Campbell 1 Swal ewe and 2 lambs £152, H Henry, Macosquin 4 CB ewes in lamb £125, 1 CB ewe in lamb £125,11 CB ewes in lamb £120, 1 CB ewe in lamb £120, 9 CB ewes in lamb £120, 3 CB ewes in lamb £120, 4 CB ewes in lamb £118, 3 CB ewes in lamb £118, 1 CB ewe £118, 9 CB ewes £117, 11 CB ewes in lamb £116.

A seasonal entry of 80 cattle in Ballymena on Tuesday resulted in a sharper trade. Bullocks sold to £550 over for an AA 530kg at £1080 offered by G Connon, Aldergrove. Heifers sold to £420 over for a 500kg AA at £920 presented by C McCroary, Broughshane.

Bullocks sold to: WH Harkness, Crumlin Lim 470kg £980 (208), Lim 550kg £1130 (205), G Connon, Aldergrove AA 530kg £1080 (203), M McNeill, Cushendun Char 470kg £935 (198), WH Harkness BB 580kg £1115 (192), Lim 510kg £980 (192), G Connon BB 560kg £1075 (192), K Wilkinson, Ballycastle Sal 420kg £805 (191), M McNeill, Cushendun Char 580kg £1100 (189), WH Harkness Lim 370kg £695 (187), R Millar, Gleno Sal 420kg £780 (185), WH Harkness (2) Lim 530kg £980 (184), G Connon Sim 510kg £940 (184), Lim 530kg £970 (183), Lim 550kg £995 (180).

Heifers sold to: R Gibson Char 400kg £775 (193), Jean Craig, Larne Char 410kg £780 (190), Char 450kg £840 (186), Char 420kg £780 (185), C McCroary, Broughshane AA 500kg £920 (184), Jean Craig Char 400kg £730 (182), Patrick McKay, Martinstown BB 480kg £840 (175), Jean Craig Char 480kg £840 (175), Patrick McKay BB 490kg £840 (171), BB 500kg £850 (170), BB 510kg £855 (167), J G Gibson, Cullybackey Here 480kg £780 (162).

Much improved trade for 1954 head on Wednesday. Prime hoggets sold to 372p per kg for a pair of Texels 23kg at £85.50 each from J Thompson, Kells. Heavy lots to £88.50 for a pen of 21, 29.5kg from WJ and FC Patterson, Broughshane. Cull ewes to £106 for Texels, £92 for Char, £80 for CB and £69 for BF.

Hoggets (1714): J Thompson, Kells 2 Tex 23kg £85.50 (371), D McCaughey, Broughshane 5 Tex 24kg £87 (362), Ian Kernohan, Broughshane 13 Tex 24kg £86.50 (360), T and J Mackey, Ballynure 2 Tex 23kg £82.50 (358), D Cowan, Ballycarry 58 Suff 23.5kg £83.80 (356), Graeme Martin, Broughshane 8 Tex 24.5kg £87 (355), J McElheron, Stranocum 30 Tex 24kg £84 (350), 1 Tex 24kg £84 (350), R Boyle, Larne 11 Tex 24.5kg £85 (346), T Rea, Larne 23 Suff 24.5kg £85 (346), J Martin, Broughshane 2 Suff 24.5kg £85 (346), James Newell, Ballymoney 35 Suff 24kg £83 (345), B and A McCammon, Magheramourne 4 Tex 23kg £79.50 (345), A Fleming, Ballymoney 1 Dor 20kg £69 (345), Samuel Moore, Burnside 15 Tex 23.5kg £81 (344), D Waide, Cloughmills 23 Tex 22.5kg £77.50 (344), Miss J Gilliland, Muckamore 19 Tex 25kg £86 (344), Wm Smyth, Moorfields 11 Tex 18.5kg £63.50 (343), J and S Kane, Doagh 17 Suff 24kg £82.20 (342), Samuel Craig, Ballycastle 20 Tex 24kg £82 (341), A Rainey, Portglenone 18 Tex 22.5kg £76.80 (341), Wm Adams, Ballymena 3 Blu 23kg £78.50 (341), Tom Gibson, Stewartstown 40 Tex 24.5kg £83.50 (340), George Stirling, Parkgate 35 Suff 24kg £81 (340).

Hoggets over 25kg: WJ and FC Patterson, Broughshane 21 Tex 29.5kg £88.50, Danny Duffin, Toomebridge 19 Char 27kg £88, S McGowan, Ballymoney 4 Suff 27kg £87, RC Reid, Glarryford 8 Tex 26kg £87, 1 Tex 26kg £87, J McCamley, Carrick 1 Tex 31kg £87, H Curry, Coleraine 9 Tex 27kg £87, G and B Taylor, Ballymoney 40 Suff 26kg £86.50, J McCamley 10 Tex 26kg £86.50, Miss J Gilliland, Muckamore 19 Tex 25kg £86, C Gribben, Dunloy 22 Tex 25.5kg £86, JK Currie, Ballymena 1 Tex 33kg £85, L and I Hall, Glenarm 3 Tex 27kg £85, Miss J Gilliland 22 Suff 25.5kg £85, H Carson, Dundrod 30 Tex 26kg £85, A Davidson, Gleno 1 Bor 26kg £85, J Allen 25 Suff 27kg £84.