Walcha British Breeds Sale boasts total average of $2731 and achieves 100 per cent clearance rate | Photos

Such was the interest in Wednesday's sale conducted by Elders, organisers ran out of sale catalogues 30 minutes before the event.

However, it did not stop the 66 registered bidders from snapping up all 158 head of Border Leicester, White Suffolk, Poll Dorset and Charollais rams on offer.

The 100 per cent clearance rate is a vast improvement on the drought-impacted 2019 sale, which had 85 rams sold out of 196, averaging $934.

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All four vendors involved in the sale were pleased with their results, with Chain-O-Ponds Border Leicesters and North-South Border Leicesters achieving a top price of $4000.

Combined, the 61 Border Leicester rams sold averaged $3463.

Meanwhile, Old Woombi Poll Dorsets sold 66 rams at an average of $2212.

The stud also recorded a sale-high top price of $4250 for two rams (tags Old Woombi 190148 and 200039) which boasted birth weight breeding values of 0.4 and 0.2, weaning weight breeding values of 11.9 and 10.8 and eye muscle depths of 2.7 and 3.6.

Maryland White Suffolks also enjoyed a successful auction with all 26 rams on offer sold for an average of $3500 and with a top price of $2375.

Buyers were also quick to snap up the four Charollais rams offered up by Old Woombi, with the top rams going for $2750, leaving the average at $2250.

Among the day's bulk buyers was Arcadia Partnership, which purchased 12 rams at an average of $1833, the Hunt family of Eulo, Niangala, which bought seven rams at an average of $2892 and the Yalgoo Partnership, Walcha, which took home six rams at an average of $2791.

Old Woombi director Sam Lisle said this year's sale was one of the better in the 45 years of the Walcha British Breeds.

"Every breed has had a really good sale across the board because there was a great line up of rams available and they all performed well.

"The rams went everywhere too because we had a lot of outside interest but in saying that, there was a lot of locals here as well and a lot of long-time supporters.

"I think the local support goes to show that they know they don't have to go outside of the district to get some of the best rams in Australia."

North-South Border Leicesters director Michael Makeham said he was interested by some of the emerging trends of the double-hammer system sale.

"It was our first time bringing younger rams into the sale and we averaged $3500 for the 10 we brought, which we were really pleased with," Mr Makeham said.

"To be honest, it's not something we have ever done before but we might have to look into selling the genetics off a year earlier because it really paid off for us this time.

"We just thought we'd give them a go and we are more than happy with the result."

Maryland White Suffolks' Angus Burnell said the top results reflected the effort put in by all of the vendors.

"I think the 100 per cent clearance is the most pleasing part," Mr Burnell said.

"It's nice to be having a good season so our rams can be in good order and have people wanting to buy them, like they did today.

"Everything sold well, although I think the Border Leicesters were a highlight, the Poll Dorests and the White Suffolks stood up well, which was pleasing."

Wednesday's sale marked a bittersweet milestone for Ring-O-Ponds principals Bruce and Margaret Davidson, as it was there last at the helm of their stud.

"I couldn't think of a better note to go out on," Mr Davidson said.

"Everybody did really well and was equally successful, which is always really pleasing.

"You have some good sales and some bad sales, but this was certainly one of the better ones.

"It's been a hell of a ride and I'm glad it came to an end in such a pleasing fashion."

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