The annual show and sale of Mule and Greyface hoggets at Ballymena Mart on Saturday saw the average price paid for hoggets unchanged from the same sale in 2017.

A total of 2,262 breeding hoggets sold for an average price of £151, with the sale recording a 98% clearance rate.

A strong show of Mule hoggets met a steady trade, with the best-quality lots selling for £180 and over. There was a demand for plainer types too, with most lots making over the £130 mark.

“Averages have held up well across breeding sheep sales so far this season. The good demand for hoggets should be reflected in the ewe lamb trade when sales begin this weekend,” said auctioneer Graham Loughery.

Topping the sale at £205 was a pen of suckled Mules from the flock of William Crawford, Newtonstewart. The sale-topping pen was placed second in the Mule show beforehand by judge Alwyn McFarland.

First prize in the Mule show went to Patrick Donnelly from Rathkenny for a pen of hoggets that later sold for £190.

Victor Anderson from Cloughmills received £200 for his third-prizewinning pen of Mules. The same price was paid to Diane Gibson from Newtownabbey for her best-selling pen of Mules.

Gibson’s 16-pen lineup included some of the top prices on the day, such as £198 and £190.

Steven Wilson from Ballymena also received £190 for his first pen of Mule hoggets.

There was a small show of Greyface hoggets on Saturday, with Desi Gray from Limavady receiving first prize and £152 for his top pen of Greyface.

Ian McCluggage from Glarryford was paid £150 for two pens of Greyface hoggets.

In the far ring, Suffolk Cheviot ewe lambs averaged £104, representing a £10 drop on last year’s average. Top-quality ewe lambs met a strong trade from buyers, but plainer types were harder to clear on the day.

Topping the ewe lamb sale was Robert Workman from Kilwaughter with a pen of Suffolk Cheviots that sold for £155.

This pen was placed second in the pre-sale show, with Sandra Hunter from Bushmills receiving first prize and £152 for her top pen of ewe lambs.

Third prize in the Suffolk Cheviot ewe lamb show went to R Thompson from Glenarm for a pen that made £144 in the sales ring.