There was a large entry of sheep at Ballymena Livestock Mart this week, with 2,190 animals of all classes of sheep from fat lambs to cull ewes. Trade was good and is holding steady on previous weeks. A total of 1,688 fat lambs were offered for sale. The top price was £88/head for Texel-cross lambs weighing 28kg half-weight, followed by £83/head for a pen of 44 Suffolk-cross lambs weighing 23.5kg half-weight. Well-fleshed, tight skinned continental lambs weighing 23kg to 24kg half-weight sold at a general price range of £78 to £83/head (£3.39/kg to £3.53/kg). There was a sizeable entry of heavy lambs weighing over 25kg, but they were generally held at £84 to £85/head. Lambs weighing 22kg sold from £76 to £78/head (£3.45/kg to £3.55/kg). Cull ewes were a good trade for Texel and Suffolk-cross animals selling from £70 to £90 in general. A few exceptional lots of fleshed Texel ewes made up to £98/head. Mule ewes and Blackface ewes sold from £50 to £70/head.