The Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association Export Sale, held at Ballymena Livestock Market on Saturday 19 September, saw a strong entry with 430 sheep sold.

In the pre-sale show, James McCaffrey from the Ominey flock judged the traditional types.

W Smyth from Foyle View flock stood as overall champion with a ram lamb, which later sold for 1,100gns.

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A Henry from the Caherty flock took reserve champion of the traditional types with a shearling ram, which then went on to realise 1,000gns.

Overall champion of the crossing types was the shearling ram from T Wray, Knockstacken flock, which later sold for 6,000gns, taking the top shearling ram price of the day. It sold to Tom Staunton from Co Mayo.

Crossing-type judge Peter Heard from Yelland then tapped A and D McKillops' ram lamb from the Giant’s Causeway flock for reserve overall champion. It went on to sell for 5,000gns to William Smyth.

Headlining the sale

Headlining the sale was A McKillop's crossing type ram lamb sired by Hewgill Titan. It reached 12,000gns and sold to L McAlistair.

Also enjoying a notable trade was A Butler from Rowan Tree flock, also with a crossing type ram lamb, which reached 9,000gns. The son of Glenrath Black Jack was knocked down to M Kelly.

Heading across the water to north Yorkshire, J & G Loughrey from the Temain flock reached 7,000gns with their crossing-type ram lamb, which was sired by Moneygran and sells to R Hallam. The Loughreys also sold the second-top-priced shearling on the day for 4,900gns to Nigel Walsh.

Shearling rams averaged £1,459.61 (€1,701.43) for 192 sold, while ram lambs averaged £1,431.44 (€1,668.59) over 162 sold.

From the 76 females on offer, S Wilson's Deerfin flock dispersal was well supported, topping the female trade at £3,000 with a ewe selling to Trevor Duncan.

Females averaged £945.00 (€1,101.56).