Saintfield Mart back in business again

Saintfield Livestock Mart was able to resume business on Tuesday, with a relatively small number of lambs presented for sale.

Operations at the mart had been suspended since the end of November as it fell within the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) established around the first case of bluetongue virus in NI, found on a farm outside Bangor.

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Last Friday, DAERA confirmed that the mart would be allowed to operate from Tuesday, but would only be able to accept livestock from outside the TCZ. Any livestock sold, could then move to farms either inside or outside the TCZ.

While the show of sheep on Tuesday was smaller than normal, the trade was strong with all the regular buyers present. The Mart will be closed for the next two weeks over Christmas, reopening on Tuesday 6 January.

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Meanwhile, in an answer to a written question from Strangford MLA Micelle McIlveen, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir confirmed there is “no financial assistance planned at this time” to help support Saintfield Mart after it was forced to close due to bluetongue.

Chestnutts to hold 15th working bull sale

Bushmills farmers Victor and David Chestnutt are holding their 15th annual bull sale at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Friday 9 January 2026.

There are nine Charolais and eight Aberdeen Angus bulls being offered up for sale at this year’s auction.

The Chestnutts describe their stock as “working bulls” because they were not creep fed, they were at grass during the summer and have been on a silage-based diet since housing.