Prices continue to strengthen at pedigree beef and dairy cattle sales
Recent months have seen average sale prices for pedigree beef and dairy cattle continue to strengthen in the UK.
This is according to Grant Anderson, head of livestock sales with Carlisle-based auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington.
He explained: “This has been especially the case where beef sales are concerned.
"Both commercial and pedigree herdowners are increasingly committed to paying that little bit more for the breeding stock that they really want.
“This trend reflects the general strengthening of livestock prices witnessed over the past couple of years.”
Anderson went on to point out that increasing numbers of people are buying livestock online.
He said: “This trend has really gathered momentum since Covid, particularly where commercial sales are concerned.
“Buyers are now much more comfortable with the technology and how it works.”
Anderson made these comments prior to stepping into the rostrum at Ballymena Mart, where he was the auctioneer in charge of the 2026 Ladies in Red Limousin Export Sale.
Ladies in Red Limousin Export Sale
The event saw a very choice heifer, Glenmarshal Armani, topping the sale with the auctioneer’s hammer falling at 16,000gns.
The animal was purchased by Mollie and Matthew Cochrane, from Portadown, new pedigree Limousin breeders
Armani is an August-2025-born heifer. She was sired by Sunnyside Torpedo, the junior stock sire in the Glenmarshal herd.
Adding to the success of that animal in the sale ring was the equally impressive price of 15,000gns paid for the January-2025-born Glenmarshal Allstar.
Again the heifer was purchased by Mollie and Matthew Cochrane.
Allstar was sired by the Glenmarshal stock bull Carrickmore Schumacher and is the first of his progeny to be sold at public auction in Northern Ireland.
Other top prices paid at the sale included 11,000gn for Derriaghy Vogue, an August-2024-born heifer sired by Gunnerfleet Lion and submitted for sale by the Green family from Lisburn.
She was purchased by Lorraine Simmons from Antrim.
Also catching the eye of buyers was the heifer, Pointhouse Abby, from the Garvagh herd of Michael and Kile Diamond.
She went on to make 10,000gns in the ring, purchased by Seamus Kesady from Spiddal in Co. Galway.
Two very choice heifers attracted bids of 9,000gns at the event.
Charlottes Melodie, a February-2025-heifer from Dromara breeder, Charlotte Martin, sold to Desmond Graham from The Mullans in Co. Donegal.
Meanwhile, Slieve Abigail from the Fivemiletown herd of John and Shane McGeehan sold to Kieran Duffy from Athlone in Co. Westmeath for 9,000gns.
Doogary Anna, a very eye-catching January-2025-born heifer from the Middletown herd of Oliver McDonald, sold for 8,500gns to an undisclosed buyer.
Making 8,000gns in the ring was Drumhilla Adele, a January-2025 heifer from the Newtownards herd of Gareth Corrie. She was sold to R. Patton from Newry in Co Down.
Also selling for 8,000gn was the September-2025-born Glenmarshal Amazing, another exciting heifer from the herd of Trevor Shields.
She was sold to Simon Moore from Crumlin in Co. Antrim.
Bernish Anya, a July-2025-born heifer from the Co. Tyrone herd of Kieran McCrory, sold for 7,500gns to Padraig Gormley from Co. Leitrim.
A total of 35 breeding females were sold at the 2026 Ladies in Red sale, representing a 92% clearance on the day. The average sale price came in at 6,190.5gns.
