- Top price 15,000gns
- 97% clearance
- Bulls averaged £6,503 ( up £1,690 on 2025)
- 11 bulls sold over 6,000gns
There was a phenomenal trade for pedigree Limousin bulls at the society’s regional show and sale, held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Saturday the 21st February 2026.
Prices scaled to a height of 15,000gns, three lots secured five-figure price tags, and 30 bulls changed hands in a 97% clearance to average £6,503 each – an increase of £1,690 on last year’s sale.
Toast of the show and sale rings was the twenty-one-month-old Ballyrobin Volvo bred by Joan Gilliland, and niece Kim Montgomery, from The Grove, Antrim. This tremendous bull claimed the day’s intermediate, male and supreme overall championship awards from local judge, Derek Frew, Kells, County Antrim.
Mr Frew, owner of the 20-cow Frewstown prefix, has been breeding pedigree Limousin cattle for almost 40 years. He praised the quality of bulls on parade and said: “Congratulations to the exhibitors on a good show of well turned out bulls. There was a tremendous top end which left me with a fantastic championship line-up.
“The overall champion is a real breeders dream. He is stylish, very correct throughout and has great conformation and breed character. A very deserving champion.”
The supreme champion has F94L and Q204X myostatin genes, and sold to Eddie and Ben Lynch’s Ernevalley Herd in Loughduff, County Cavan. He is a son of the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin, and is bred from the Lowerffrydd Empire daughter, Ballyrobin Obsession – full sister to the 20,000gns Ballyrobin Joop, sale leader at Carlisle in February 2016 and sold to the Haltcliffe Herd.
Second highest price of the day, 12,000gns was paid to the father and son team of Derek and David Campbell, Magherafelt, for Mossbrook Vector. Also born in May 2024, this bull stood second in his class to the champion, and secured the reserve intermediate, reserve male and reserve supreme championship rosettes.
Sired by Carrowreagh Navigator, he is bred from the Sympa daughter, Mossbrook Rosie – one of 20 cows in the herd. The reserve champion carries a F94L and Q204X myostatin combination, and was snapped up by Cameron Williamson from Kilrea.
Judge Derek Frew added: “This is another lovely young bull. He is modern and very correct.”
Next best at 10,000gns was the second placed Eniver Vance bred by Michael McKeefry from Garvagh. Boasting two copies of the F94L profit gene, he was sired by the 35,000gns Carlisle (May 2018) champion, Ampertaine Majestic. His dam is the home-bred Eniver Orla by Ampertaine Bermuda. This twenty-month-old bull sold to B Blaney from Cushendall.
Four lots came under the hammer of auctioneer Graham Loughrey at 7,500gns each.
First to sell was the reserve senior male champion Clydevalley Victory from Robert Clyde’s herd at Templepatrick. Born in April 2024, he was sired by Claddagh McCabe, and is out of Clydevalley Sympas. This bull carries F94L and Q204X genes and sold to Eugene McEntee from Crossmaglen. He was the breed’s reserve overall male champion at last year’s Balmoral Show.
Brian Hunter, and son Neil, Ballyclare, paid out 7,500gns to secure Carmorn Vegas for their Hunterburn Herd. Bred by C and F McAuley, Toomebridge, this bull was born in June 2024 and is by the Westpit Omaha son, Carmorn Tigerroll – sold for 12,000gns at Carlisle two years ago. This first prize winner has double F94L myostatin genes.
Messrs McKenna, Bellaghy, realised 7,500gns for the third placed Archies Valhalla. Also boasting double F94L genes, he was sired by the 12,000gns Goldies Statesman, and bred from the Ampertaine Foreman daughter, Archies Lotus. Born in June 2024, this bull sold to Patrick McAnulty from Ballyward.
Also changing hands for 7,500gns was the third placed Newhillfarm Vidal from Messrs M and J McPolin, Newry. This eighteen-month-old bull was sired by Lynderg Rembrant, and is out of the home-bred Newhillfarm Randy – a daughter of the 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermont. He has an F94L and NT821 myostatin pairing, and sold to Glenn Whyte from Glenanne.
Joan Gilliland and Kim Montgomery sold the second placed Ballyrobin Vagabond for 7,000gns. Born in June 2024, he is by Whinfellpark Lomu and bred from Ballyrobin Pixielot. Three Ballyrobin bulls sold to average £9,800 each.
Also selling at 7,000gns was the junior champion Owenbeg Vinny bred by Ruairi McCloskey, Dungiven. This fifteen-month-old was the youngest bull in the catalogue. Sired by Loyal, he is out of the Ampertaine Gigolo daughter, Owenbeg Ruby.
A small entry of four heifers sold to average £3,163 each.
Leading heifer trade at 3,250gns was the second placed Bobbys Vixie bred by Kieran Magee, Hilltown. Born in August 2024, she is by Telfurs Munster, and bred from the Ampertaine Foreman daughter, Hollowdene Primrose. This heifer has double F94L genes.
The reserve female champion Ashview Abby realised 3,200gns for Victor and Stephen Keys, Dromore, County Tyrone. A Lodge Hamlet daughter, she is bred from Togherdoo Jessie.
Limousin genetics came to the fore at the Springtime Spectacular Show and Sale, which attracted more than 45 commercial beef calves. Judged by John Killen from Crossgar, the event run alongside the Limousin sale at Ballymena.
Topping trade at 9,000gns was the reserve Limousin and reserve supreme champion, a 405kgs black heifer exhibited by Fergal Gormley. She was sired by 6,500gns Ballyrobin Rockstar.
The overall championship went to a nicely marked 402kgs Trueman Idol heifer calf which sold for 8,500gns for the Magee family. Both commercial animals were bred by the Magee family.
ENDS
Report written by Julie Hazelton on behalf of the N.I Limousin Cattle Club
Auction – Ballymena Livestock Market
Photographer – Alfie Shaw
