In-calf heifers sold to a top of £7,500 at the latest on-farm sale for the Jalex herd owned by Nelson and James Alexander, Randalstown, on 24 April.

A total of 215 heifers were sold to an average £2,450 with the sale-topping female being a March 2019-born Belgian Blue heifer scanned in-calf to a Limousin sire and due in December.

Other leading prices saw an October 2018-born Limousin heifer due to calve in October making £6,400, and a January 2019-born Limousin heifer due to calve in October making £6,000.

Along with local buyers, 38 heifers were sold to herds in Britain, while 51 headed south of the Irish border.

Charolais

Meanwhile, pedigree Charolais bulls sold to an average of £3,241 at the first society sale to be held at Clogher Mart on Friday last.

Fifteen bulls sold with a 79% clearance rate. Topping the sale was Brownhill Paddyrabbit from the Devine Brothers, Strabane. This 20-month-old son of Mullagbane Topline sold for 4,500gns.

Behind that leading price, Magheragart Pinnacle realised 4,200gns for J Donnelly, Dromore, Co Tyrone.

Moorlough Picador from J McBride, Strabane, and Brogher printer from T Phair, Enniskillen both realised 3,800gns.

In pictures: Jalex sale tops £7,500 for in-calf heifer

Don't lose focus on later-calving cows as fieldwork increases

In-calf heifers sell to £7,500 for Jalex herd

An on-farm sale of 215 heifers from the Jalex herd saw prices peak at £7,500 for an in-calf Belgian Blue animal.