In-calf heifers shown by Gareth Corrie from Newtownards met a strong trade in Ballymena mart last Wednesday evening, averaging £1,550 across the 90 lots sold.

All heifers were mated to a Limousin bull and are due to calve down from the beginning of February in a ten-week block. The vast majority of the heifers were Limousin bred and were close to three years old. A few Charolais and Belgian Blue heifers were also shown.

The heifers were all generally very big in size, carried a lot of condition and were well conformed. The heaviest heifer shown was over 900kg, with most heifers averaging around 750kg on the bridge.

Top price paid was £2,500 for a March 2013-born black Limousin heifer with speckles of white across her belly and tail.

Another heifer, also a March 2013-born Limousin, made £2,350 and a Charolais heifer bought in from the Republic of Ireland made £2,050.

Around a third of the 93 heifers on show were home-bred on Corrie’s Drumhilla farm, with another 20 bought in from the South, with the rest acquired from farms across NI.

Draperstown

Meanwhile, at Draperstown mart on Friday, a batch of 32 springing heifers met a sound trade from bidders, averaging £1,100. These heifers were mostly Limousin breeding, around two-and-a-half years old and due to calve from next week.

Compared to the Corrie sale, these heifers were more maternal in appearance, were mostly an R grade and generally weighed 600 to 650kg.

Although prices were very steady, buyers paid slightly more for heifers that had a bit more conformation with the top price of £1,380 paid for an October 2013 born heifer.