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The Christmas show and sale of dairy cattle at Ballymena Livestock Mart saw a roaring trade, with 56 animals selling to a top price of £2,420 for the champion heifer bred by Sam Wallace, Broughshane, Co Antrim.
Several lots sold above the £2,000 mark for freshly calved heifers in milk, with standout prices of £2,080, £2,200 and £2,270 being paid for top-quality prizewinning animals.
The general run of trade saw dairy cattle making £1,500 up to £1,880 depending on quality and the age of the animal being sold.
Sucklers
Suckler cows sold to a peak of £1,470 for a Limousin heifer with a heifer calf at foot, followed by £1,290 for another Limousin heifer with heifer calf. In-calf heifers sold to £1,100 for Belgian Blue animals.
Calves sold to £480 for a Charolais bull, followed by £410 for a Belgian Blue bull calf. Angus bull calves sold to £365, with Fleckvieh bull calves making £395. Friesian calves sold to £175.
Bullocks
Store bullocks sold to £1,140 for a 590kg Charolais, with other lots making £960 to £1,080 for cattle weighing 400kg and over. Cattle below 350kg sold from £680 to £875 depending on animal quality and weight.
Heifers
Store heifers sold from £750 to £970 for cattle weighing 390kg to 450kg. Lighter animals sold from £770 back to back to £430, again depending on the weight and quality of animal.
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