Indicative of the rising prices for first-cross ewes, there was a complete clearance of the 182 stud and flock Border Leicester rams offered on account of the Cadell stud bred by Barry Harper and his family at their 40th annual on-property sale last Friday.
With a top price of $5200 for the 21 stud rams offered and sold with an average price of $2609.52, and 161 flock rams selling to top $2200 and average price of $1693.17, studmaster Barry Harper said it was "one of the best flock ram sales we have had in 40 years."
"It shows the confidence in the first-cross industry," Mr Harper said.
"And I was very pleased to see lots of returning clients."
Among those returning clients, Scott and Murray Brown, Glamis Border Leicester stud, Bedgerabong paid top price at $5200 for a ram they considered the pick of the Cadell draft for his length and depth of body, but especially because he was the last of the particular 'Coolawang' bloodline.
The Brown family have been buying rams from Cadell soon after the first on-property sale, and sell rams privately to a loyal clientele in the district.
"Our clients like the scale of the Cadell sheep," Scott Brown said.
"And they breed 'true-to-type'."
Second top price for a stud ram at $4500 was paid by Gavin Fischer,"Glenmore" Howlong who will join him to a select number of his stud ewes.
Other stud purchases included Delaware Pastoral, Albury who paid $4200 for their choice of stud sire, MG and JA Farley, "Towarri" Kerang, Victoria who paid $3725 for their pick of the Cadell draft, BI and ME Davidson, "Chain-o-Ponds" Woolbrook who paid $3500 for their selection and Ayr Partnership, Nyngan who took home a ram for $3250.
Volume buyers of flock rams included AM and CG Gadsby, "Bimowee", Molong who purchased 20 rams for average price $1875, Carson Family Trust, "Ooraine" Dirranbandi, QLD, who paid average price $1510 for their 19 rams, and Sally Davies, "Lake Midgeon" Narrandera whose draft of 16 young sires averaged $1925.
A selection of maiden stud ewes where offered with eight being sold of the 21 penned.
They each sold for $400 with Cody Perrett, Glen Innes buying three ewes and Jeff Sutton, Wattle Farm Border Leicester stud, Temora also adding three ewes to his stud numbers.
The sale was conducted by Landmark, Wagga Wagga with Peter Cabot sharing the auctioneering with Joe Wilks, Elders, Wagga Wagga.