There was no sign of the January blues kicking in at this week’s show and sale of Fleckvieh-sired bull calves in Markethill Livestock Mart.

Organised by the Northern Ireland Fleckvieh Club, there was plenty of appetite for good-quality calves.

The trade peaked at £400 on two separate occasions for calves bred by Fred Duncan of Crumlin. Fred previously acted as show judge and therefore did not compete in the pre-sale showing of animals.

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It was an excellent day’s trading for Samuel and Richard Pinkerton of Nutt’s Corner. They secured first, second and third place for Fleckvieh-bred calves under one month of age. Their three calves sold for £200, £235 and £195 per head.

For calves over one month of age, the Pinkerton family again took first place with their prizewinning calf selling to £290.

The second prizewinning calf, bred by Drew Cowan, Banbridge, sold to £320, with the third prizewinning calf bred by Billy Morton, Armagh, selling to £220.