A large crowd gathered at Ballymena mart on Saturday for the production sale from the herds of Old Glenort Angus and Uppermill Shorthorns, owned by James Porter of Gill Hall Estate.

There was a strong demand from buyers for quality lots of cows with calves at foot, and maiden heifers, from both performance-recorded pedigree herds. Buyers on the day came from across the UK and Ireland. One buyer bought lots destined for Italy.

Uppermill Shorthorns is the oldest Shorthorn herd in Europe, having been established in 1882 and acquired by James Porter in 2006 from Scotland. Old Glenort Angus was established by the Porter family in 1997.

In the Angus sale, 31 lots of cows, scanned in calf and with calves at foot, averaged 2,340gns.

The top price was 4,400gns for Old Glenort Melanie, a five-year-old cow, and her March-born calf, Old Glenort Matchmaker. The cow was sired by The Moss Mr Eshton, who was purchased for 36,000gns.

Seven-year-old Glenort Edwina and her twin bull calves, sired by The Moss Quebec, made 3,700gns. Two dry cows that were 10 weeks in calf both made 2,300gns.

In total, 17 maiden heifers averaged 2,120gns, with a top price of 3,400gns paid for Old Glenort Victoria; a March 2014-born heifer.

In the Uppermill Shorthorn sale, 24 lots of cows with calves at foot averaged 2,217gns. The top price was 3,800gns for a five-year-old cow, Uppermill Lillian Juicy, and her March-born heifer calf Uppermill Lillian Juilet.

Shorthorn maiden heifers averaged 2,741gns for 17 lots and topping the market on the day was a March 2014-born heifer, Uppermill Rothes Jet, making 4,600gns.