At the 12th NSW Border Leicester Show and Sale held at Dubbo recently, stud rams sold to a record high of $9600 while six flock rams all sold for $1000 each.
In the breakdown, all 11 stud rams offered sold to an average of $4191, while the flock rams, sold in lots of three, cleared two of the eight lots offered.
The $9600 top-price stud ram, sashed champion ram of the show, was sold by Reg, Robyn and Rowena Sweeney, Bindaree Border Leicester stud, Merrygoen, purchased by KJC Border Leicester stud, Wellington, owned and operated by Ben and Kellee O’Brien, "Glencardie". Bindaree broke their own NSW sale record, previously set by the stud in 2012 when they sold a stud ram for $6750 again purchased by Ben and Kellee O’Brien
The top-price ram, a twin sired by Bindaree 123/12, placed third at Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo this year in the junior wooly ram class.
Judge Barry Harper, Cadell Border Leicester stud, Ariah Park, said the champion was a big bodied ram with great bone and length with a top sires head and heavy cutting fleece. “He was a clear-cut winner on the day and a wonderful example of the breed,” Mr Harper said. Bindaree stud offered and sold two rams to average $6900 after their second ram sold for $4200.
The second highest price paid for a stud ram was $5200, sold by Ian and Kerry Cameron, Nundoone Border Leicesters, Narromine, purchased by John and Janet de Bonford's Glen Alvie stud, also of Narromine. Nundoone Border Leicester stud sold three stud rams to average $4600 including their second place ram in the show which sold for $4800.
Robert Anderson, Talkook Border Leicesters, Crookwell, offered just the one stud ram, which placed third in the show, selling for $4200 to Andrew and Gina Parkes, Lynwood Border Leicesters, Wellington. Mr Anderson also sold a pen of three flock rams for $1000 each.
Smithston Border Leicesters, Glencoe, offered and sold two stud rams for $2000, as well as one pen of three flock rams selling for $1000 each. Ben, Matthew and Daniel Simmons, Talbragar Border Leicester stud, Leadville, sold one stud ram for $3300.
Mr Sweeney, committee member of the NSW Border Leicester Show and Sale, said it was a strong stud ram sale and great representation of the Border Leicester industry.
Des Campbell, president of the NSW Border Leicester Association said the rams were of a high standard. “We may have been a bit shorter in numbers, but the quality was there which led to the record $9600 top-price,” Mr Campbell said. “To have a total clearance of stud rams was excellent and flock rams sold soundly.”
