URBA Blackface in-lamb and dry ewe lamb sale

THE Ulster Ram Breeders’ Association held its 7th Blackface in-lamb and dry ewe lamb sale on Monday, February 13, in Ballymena Livestock Mart. Forty-five in-lamb ewes sold out of 51 forward on the night, averaging £1,041, and three dry ewe lambs sold out of eight forward, averaging £383, proving to be as popular a sale as ever.

John and Patrick Harkin, Loughash, received the top price of 3600gns on the night for a two-crop sire: 24K Elmscleugh, dam: 24K Elmscleugh, full sister to 60K Loughash scanned twins to 30K Midlock.

Gordon Crawford, Aghanlane, sold his one-crop ewe for 2800gns, sire: 3K Aghanlane, sire of dam: 27K Auldhouseburn scanned single to 5.2K Auldhouseburn.

Alex and Johnny Knox, Standalone, received 2200gns for their gimmer, scanned twins to 950gns Sam and Stuart Adams.

Two other breeders went on to sell their ewes for 2000gns each, Paul McEvoy, Kilcoo, had forward a gimmer, sire: 250gns Cloughfin, scanned single to 10K Woolfords and J & P Harkin sold his other two-crop ewe, sire: 24K Elmscleugh, dam: 45K Loughash scanned twins to 30K Midlock.

“The Rock” Loughash, Grant Bro-thers, Craigdoo, and James Carson, Ballybogie Hill, each received 1400gns for their ewes, followed by Michael McDermott receiving 1300gns, Tom Adams, J & P Harkin and Karl O Mullan sold for 1200gns, Mark & Russell Smyth and Karl O Mullan sold their ewes for 1100gns with Charlie and Christine Phillips, Darryl Branagan and Graham Wallace receiving 1000gns each.

This was the second year that dry ewe lambs were up for sale with 500gns taking the highest price for a ewe lamb sire: 30K AHB sire of dam: Dalblair from Daniel Harrison, Sabbath Hill followed by M & R Smyth receiving 400gns sire: 3.2K Breslin sire of dam: Dollar Bill.

Brothers James and Daniel O Mullan, Glenbuck Road, Rasharkin, put forward an ewe for the Marie Curie charity, selling for 800gns. James said: “We picked Marie Curie because of the nurses in Laurel House and the carers who looked after our father Tony, whose anniversary is at the end of the month, and we said we would do something. Our sister Maura is doing the London Marathon so we took the easy way out.”