Pedigree Holstein bulls sold to over £2,800 in Kilrea Mart this week.

A total of 15 bulls were forwarded for sale with all, bar one animal, sold.

The general trade for in-demand lots was from £2,100 to £2,300.

There was also a good turnout of buyers to purchase freshly calved heifers which sold from £1,600 to £1,900.

Meanwhile, the weekly sale of dairy stock at Ballymena saw prices of £1,260 to £2,200, while in Markethill, dairy stock sold from £1,000 to £1,240 with maiden heifers making £800 to £960.

Elsewhere, breeding companies report an increase in sales of semen from high-index Holstein-Friesian bulls.

Higher milk prices are resulting in dairy farmers opting to use more dairy sires within their herd, partly to increase replacements and for herd expansion.

Orders for sexed semen have also risen according to a number of AI technicians.