Following on from its record-breaking sale in Carlisle last week, the British Limousin Cattle Society held its first sale of 2026 in Northern Ireland on Saturday at Ballymena Livestock Mart.
Demand picked up where it left off in Carlisle, with another blistering hot trade for quality bulls, as 30 Limousin bulls sold to an average of 6,503gns (€7,447).
Taking the centre of the ring in the pre-sale show was Derek Frew of the Frewstown herd in Co Antrim.
With almost 40 years experience breeding pedigree Limousin cattle, Frew made no mistake in awarding the supreme championship to his intermediate champion Ballyrobin Volvo, which would go on to top the trade at 15,000gns (€18,036).
Ampertaine Elgin
Bred and exhibited by Messrs Gilliland and Montgomery in Co Antrim, Volvo is a son of the phenomenal Ampertaine Elgin, producer of multiple champions and high-sellers, while his dam Ballyrobin Obsession is a full sister to the 20,000gns Ballyrobin Joop.
Although below average on a number of traits, the June 2024-born bull carries a copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes and will now join Eddie and Ben Lynch's Ernevalley pedigree enterprise in Co Cavan.
Mossbrook Vector, reserve champion, which sold for 12,000gns. \ Alfie Shaw
Pushing Volvo all the way to take the reserve intermediate championship, the reserve supreme championship and the second-highest price of the day was Mossbrook Vector.
Bred by David and Derek Campbell in Co Derry, this June 2024-born bull is a son of the Irish-bred sire Carrowreagh Navigator, while his mother is a homebred daughter of Sympa.
Boasting an impressive array of figures on a range of terminal and replacement traits, this single F94L and Q204X carrier went away at 12,000gns (€14,429), selling to Cameron Williamson in Coleraine.
Eniver Vance sold for 10,000gns. \ Alfie Shaw
A bid of 10,000gns (€12,024) secured the second-prizewinner Eniver Vance for a suckler enterprise in Co Antrim.
The property of the McKeefrys in Co Derry, Vance is a 21-month-old son of the 35,000gns Ampertaine Majestic, with more Ampertaine breeding in his mother's lineage, out of the Ampertaine Bermuda-bred dam Eniver Orla.
As well as displaying a solid set of figures and positive calving numbers, he also brought two copies of the profit gene to the equation.
Balmoral champion
Romping his way to 7,500gns (€9,018) was the reserve overall male champion from the 2025 Balmoral Show, the 22-month-old Clydevalley Victory from RS Clyde in Co Antrim.
Having picked up the reserve senior championship earlier in the day, the Claddagh McCabe son went to auction with copies of the F94L and Q204X genes.
Although negative on calving and below average for a number of traits, he was the choice lot of Eugene McEntee in Co Down.
Clydevalley Victory, reserve senior champion, which sold for 7,500gns. \ Alfie Shaw
Also retailing at 7,500gns was the double F94L carrier Carmorn Vegas from the McAuley family in Toomebridge, Co Antrim.
One of the first sons of the 12,000gns Carmorn Tigerroll and out of the Gunnerfleet Lion daughter Carmorn Scarlet, he garnished a red ticket and was picked up by a suckler farmer in Ballyclare.
Exhibited by the McKenna brothers in Co Derry, Archies Valhalla also changed hands at 7,500gns, selling to Patrick McAnulty in Co Down.
Born in June 2024, Valhalla is a son of the 12,000gns Goldies Statesman and the Ampertaine Foreman daughter Archies Lotus.
He offered buyers some impressive 200-, 400- and 600-day weight figure,s as well as two copies of the F94L gene.
The last bull to receive a call of 7,500gns was Newhillfarm Vidal, brought out by M and J McPolin in Co Down.
A son of Lynderg Rembrant and out of the Haltcliffe Vermount daughter Newhillfarm Randy, this August 2024-born bull possesses copies of the NT821 and F94L genes and will now reside on Glenn Whyte's suckler holding in Co Armagh.
Heifers
Prices for heifers peaked at 3,250gns (€3,907) for the Telfers Munster daughter Bobbys Vixie, exhibited by Kieran Magee in Co Down.
Turning two years old in August, this double F94L carrier is plus on calving traits and was knocked down to Ryan O'Dornan in Co Antrim.
She pipped Ashview Abby, the reserve female champion which traded at 3,200gns (€3,848) for Victor and Stephen Keys.
A daughter of the great Lodge Hamlet out of an Ampertaine Elgin-bred cow, she found a new abode with the McKinstrys in Co Antrim.
Spring Time Spectacular
Taking place in conjunction with the Limousin sale was the Spring Time Spectacular show and sale, consisting of over 45 super commercial show calves.
When the dust had settled on Saturday evening, 23 heifer calves had sold to an average of 3,695gns (€4,439), with 23 bull calves averaging 2,388gns (€2,869).
Prices peaked at 9,000gns (€10,815) for the reserve supreme champion from Fergal Gormley in Co Derry.
A striking black Limousin heifer calf sired by Ballyrobin Rockstar, this 405kg calf first picked up the reserve Limousin championship before claiming the reserve overall title. Securing her in the sale ring was Will Lungate from England.
Reserve overall champion which sold for the highest price of 9,000gns in the Spring Time Spectacular, shown by Fergal Gormley, with Conor McVeigh of MCV competitions, and judge John Killen. \ Bo Davidson
Judge John Killen tapped out Conor and Gerald Magee's flashy Limousin heifer calf as Limousin and overall champion of the show.
Weighing in at 402kg, this nicely marked Trueman Idol daughter went on to sell for 8,500gns (€10,214) to Terence McGarrigle in Co Fermanagh.
This cemented a truly magnificent day for the Magees, who bred both the champion and reserve, having sold the top-priced heifer to Fergal Gormley in 2025.
Following on from its record-breaking sale in Carlisle last week, the British Limousin Cattle Society held its first sale of 2026 in Northern Ireland on Saturday at Ballymena Livestock Mart.
Demand picked up where it left off in Carlisle, with another blistering hot trade for quality bulls, as 30 Limousin bulls sold to an average of 6,503gns (€7,447).
Taking the centre of the ring in the pre-sale show was Derek Frew of the Frewstown herd in Co Antrim.
With almost 40 years experience breeding pedigree Limousin cattle, Frew made no mistake in awarding the supreme championship to his intermediate champion Ballyrobin Volvo, which would go on to top the trade at 15,000gns (€18,036).
Ampertaine Elgin
Bred and exhibited by Messrs Gilliland and Montgomery in Co Antrim, Volvo is a son of the phenomenal Ampertaine Elgin, producer of multiple champions and high-sellers, while his dam Ballyrobin Obsession is a full sister to the 20,000gns Ballyrobin Joop.
Although below average on a number of traits, the June 2024-born bull carries a copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes and will now join Eddie and Ben Lynch's Ernevalley pedigree enterprise in Co Cavan.
Mossbrook Vector, reserve champion, which sold for 12,000gns. \ Alfie Shaw
Pushing Volvo all the way to take the reserve intermediate championship, the reserve supreme championship and the second-highest price of the day was Mossbrook Vector.
Bred by David and Derek Campbell in Co Derry, this June 2024-born bull is a son of the Irish-bred sire Carrowreagh Navigator, while his mother is a homebred daughter of Sympa.
Boasting an impressive array of figures on a range of terminal and replacement traits, this single F94L and Q204X carrier went away at 12,000gns (€14,429), selling to Cameron Williamson in Coleraine.
Eniver Vance sold for 10,000gns. \ Alfie Shaw
A bid of 10,000gns (€12,024) secured the second-prizewinner Eniver Vance for a suckler enterprise in Co Antrim.
The property of the McKeefrys in Co Derry, Vance is a 21-month-old son of the 35,000gns Ampertaine Majestic, with more Ampertaine breeding in his mother's lineage, out of the Ampertaine Bermuda-bred dam Eniver Orla.
As well as displaying a solid set of figures and positive calving numbers, he also brought two copies of the profit gene to the equation.
Balmoral champion
Romping his way to 7,500gns (€9,018) was the reserve overall male champion from the 2025 Balmoral Show, the 22-month-old Clydevalley Victory from RS Clyde in Co Antrim.
Having picked up the reserve senior championship earlier in the day, the Claddagh McCabe son went to auction with copies of the F94L and Q204X genes.
Although negative on calving and below average for a number of traits, he was the choice lot of Eugene McEntee in Co Down.
Clydevalley Victory, reserve senior champion, which sold for 7,500gns. \ Alfie Shaw
Also retailing at 7,500gns was the double F94L carrier Carmorn Vegas from the McAuley family in Toomebridge, Co Antrim.
One of the first sons of the 12,000gns Carmorn Tigerroll and out of the Gunnerfleet Lion daughter Carmorn Scarlet, he garnished a red ticket and was picked up by a suckler farmer in Ballyclare.
Exhibited by the McKenna brothers in Co Derry, Archies Valhalla also changed hands at 7,500gns, selling to Patrick McAnulty in Co Down.
Born in June 2024, Valhalla is a son of the 12,000gns Goldies Statesman and the Ampertaine Foreman daughter Archies Lotus.
He offered buyers some impressive 200-, 400- and 600-day weight figure,s as well as two copies of the F94L gene.
The last bull to receive a call of 7,500gns was Newhillfarm Vidal, brought out by M and J McPolin in Co Down.
A son of Lynderg Rembrant and out of the Haltcliffe Vermount daughter Newhillfarm Randy, this August 2024-born bull possesses copies of the NT821 and F94L genes and will now reside on Glenn Whyte's suckler holding in Co Armagh.
Heifers
Prices for heifers peaked at 3,250gns (€3,907) for the Telfers Munster daughter Bobbys Vixie, exhibited by Kieran Magee in Co Down.
Turning two years old in August, this double F94L carrier is plus on calving traits and was knocked down to Ryan O'Dornan in Co Antrim.
She pipped Ashview Abby, the reserve female champion which traded at 3,200gns (€3,848) for Victor and Stephen Keys.
A daughter of the great Lodge Hamlet out of an Ampertaine Elgin-bred cow, she found a new abode with the McKinstrys in Co Antrim.
Spring Time Spectacular
Taking place in conjunction with the Limousin sale was the Spring Time Spectacular show and sale, consisting of over 45 super commercial show calves.
When the dust had settled on Saturday evening, 23 heifer calves had sold to an average of 3,695gns (€4,439), with 23 bull calves averaging 2,388gns (€2,869).
Prices peaked at 9,000gns (€10,815) for the reserve supreme champion from Fergal Gormley in Co Derry.
A striking black Limousin heifer calf sired by Ballyrobin Rockstar, this 405kg calf first picked up the reserve Limousin championship before claiming the reserve overall title. Securing her in the sale ring was Will Lungate from England.
Reserve overall champion which sold for the highest price of 9,000gns in the Spring Time Spectacular, shown by Fergal Gormley, with Conor McVeigh of MCV competitions, and judge John Killen. \ Bo Davidson
Judge John Killen tapped out Conor and Gerald Magee's flashy Limousin heifer calf as Limousin and overall champion of the show.
Weighing in at 402kg, this nicely marked Trueman Idol daughter went on to sell for 8,500gns (€10,214) to Terence McGarrigle in Co Fermanagh.
This cemented a truly magnificent day for the Magees, who bred both the champion and reserve, having sold the top-priced heifer to Fergal Gormley in 2025.
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