An entry of 2220 sheep in Ballymena on Wednesday resulted in another steady trade. The annual Spring Lamb competition was held and big thanks to respective bread societies, sponsors and local butchers for their continued support. Danny McKay judged 2 sections of Suffolk class awarding 1st pure bred to A McNeilly, Randalstown. Danny purchased these for his Rowendale farm & Butchers Shop, Martinstown for £150, Danny also purchased 1st prize commercial Suff class exhibited by Rodney Blair, Ballymoney for £148. Stephen Glen, Carryduff judged the Texels, Char and Dorsets awarding 1 prize Texel to J Mcilrath, Glarryford weighting 23kg at £146. 1st prize Charolais Trevor McConnell, Doagh 23.5kg at £154 selling to Stephen Glenn, 1st prize Dorset awarded to Andrew Kennedy, Ballymena 24kg at £142 also to Stephen Glenn. Fat hoggets sold to 572p for a pen of 29 21.5kg at £123 and to a 60p per head of £137.50 for a pen of Texels at 35kg.
Spring lambs 302
Top per kg
J McIlrath, Glarryford 3 Tex 20kg £142 (710) T McConnell, Parkgate 3 Cha 21.5kg £149 (693) J Lowe, Cookstown 3 Cha 20.5kg £138 (673) J McIlrath, 3 Tex 21kg £140 (666) T McConnell, 3 Cha 23kg £154 (655) M Henderson, Mosside 3 Tex 21.5kg £138 (641) W Carson, Ballymena 3 Dor 19kg £119 (626) U Torrens, Garvagh 3 Cha 22kg £137 (622) J McIlrath, 3Tex 23.5kg £146 (621) A Dodd, Saintfield 1 Tex 19kg £118 (621) A Dale, Ballymena 3 Tex 21kg £130 (619) B McAllister, Ballymena 3 Cha £142 (617) B McAllister, 1 Cha 23kg £142 (617) A Ferguson, Killysally 3 Cha 23.5kg £145 (617) A McConnell, Templepatrick 3 Dor 19.5kg £120 (615) J Duncan, Saintfield 2 Tex 20.5kg £126 (614).
Top per head
T McConnell, Parkgate 3 Cha 23.5kg £154, A McNeilly, Randalstown 2 Suf 28kg £150, T McConnell 3 Cha 21.5kg £149, B McAllister, Kells 3 Cha 26kg £146, J McIlrath, Glarryford 3 Tex 23.5kg £146, D Hill, Ballyclare 3 Dor 26.5kg £145, A Ferguson 3 Cha 23.5kg £145, P Gurney, 2Suf 23.5kg £144, A Kennedy, Ballymena 3 Dor 24.5kg £142, B McAllister, 3 Cha 23kg £142, B McAllister 1 Cha 23kg £142, J McIlrath, Glarryford 3Tex 20kg £142, RC&JC Watson 1 Suff 30.5kg £141, R Blair, Ballymena 2Suf 30kg £140, RAS Barkley, Ballymena 2 Suf 24.5kg £140, N Cole, Killyleagh 3 Dor 29kg £140.
£137.50 for a pen of 4 Texels 35kg. Fat ewes sold to £240
Fat Hoggets (1417)
Top per kg
Local farmer 29 Cro 21.5kg £123 (572), J Mackey, Ballynure 3 Dor 22.5kg £128 (568), T & J Mackey, Ballyclare 3 Dor 22kg £123 (559), H McGookin, Carrickfergus 4 Tex 23kg £128 (556), P Higgins, Martinstown 11 Dor 22.5kg £125 (555), D Gaston, Carnlough 10 Tex 22.5 £124 (551), N Higgins, Toomebridge 1 Tex 21kg £115 (547), I Montgomery, Glenwherry 14 Char 20.5kg £112 (546), A McGookin, Carrickfergus 2 Tex 23.5kg £128 (544), C Hamilton, Carnlough 170 Suff 23.5kg £128 (544), H & B Doherty, Randalstown 15 Tex 24kg £130 (541), A Saunderson, Glenwherry 8 Cro 23kg £124 (539), R T Buchanan, Doagh 12 Tex 19.5kg £105 (538), M Moffet, Broughshane 9 Tex 19.5kg £105, M Johnston, Kells 3 Dor 23.5kg £126 (536), R N Weatherup, Larne 1 Tex 25kg £134 (536).
Top per head
B Gardiner, Ballymena 4 Tex 35kg £137.50, Ballylurgan Farm, Randalstown 5 Char 30kg £136, N Collins, Aghadowey 20Tex 31.5kg £136, P Anderson, Portstewart 3 Spo 26kg £135.50, P Anderson 1 Char 32kg £135, B O’Neill, Bellaghy 24 Mul 29.5kg £134.50, A Gordon, Newtownards 15 Char 29kg £134, R N Weatherup, Larne 1 Tex 25kg £134, R & S Graham, Dundrod 4 Mul 31.5kg £134, A , M & V Armstrong, Straid 11 Tex 32kg £134, N Collins 32 Tex 26.5kg £133.50, Ballylurgan Farm 4 Char 26.5kg £133, B Stirling, Ballymena 1 Bel 27kg £133, A,M & V Armstrong 16 Suff 32kg £133, R Brown, Ballymena 19 Suff 28kg £133, M Gardiner, Ballymena 8 Tex 29kg £133.
Fat Ewes (501)
1st Quality
Suff - £170-£208
Tex - £170-£240
CB - £130-£250
BF - £78-100
