Ballymena Ram & Females Sale

Once again Ballymena mart hosted the annual Bluefaced Leicester sheep sale, resulting in another successful event. Southern Irish buyers were again out in force due to the export sale. Shearling ram averages were slightly down, ram lambs up and due to the enthusiasm for the breed females were up 88 gns.

Topping the day’s sale was the presale champion awarded by Craig Thornborrow, Dawyck to J Adams & Sons, Holmview, with their 1st prize ram lamb, a full brother to last year’s 7K by J1 Carryhouse selling to Lee Beacom, Lakeview and Shaun Procter, Spurrigg. J Adams & Sons were awarded top pen of the sale, with further sales at 3200 gns for a L1 Firth son and two more at 2600 gns, for another L1 son & J1 Carryhouse son.

Declan McKillop, Giants Causeway had also a sale to remember with 2nd top price of the day receiving 5000 gns for a son of Farden Popeye selling to Jonathan Loughery, Limavady, Declan had further sales of 4000 gns for another Popeye son and 3800 gns for one by K1 Tievebuaile Farm. L1 Farden Popeye’s offspring were very popular on the day, with Steven Duncan, Hillvale selling one by Popeye late in the sale for 4000 gns to Michelle Wright, Mullaghwee and Kieran McGrath.

The final 4000 gns sale was received by Ian Montgomery, Misty Burn for his 1st prize ram lamb from Balmoral Show, another Popeye son, selling to Martyn Archer, Carryhouse and Neil Marston, Highberries. Ian Montgomery was also awarded Champion female for a very smart ewe lamb again by Popeye selling at 2200 gns to Paul Sammon, Tipperary. Craig Thornborrow awarded Graham and Julie Loughery Temain, 1st prize in the shearling rams and reserve over all bred by J7 Hamildean, selling for 3200gns to Seamus McLaughlin, Garvagh. Robert Gault, Carnlea 2900 gns for 2nd prize shearling to Michael Hunter, Ardmore.

Averages
145 shearling rams av 796 gns down 55 gns
141 Ram Lambs av 998 gns up 47 gns
41 females av 580 up 88 gns