A large crowd was drawn with only standing room left when the Harper family of Cadell Border Leicester stud, Ariah Park, celebrated their 75th year of breeding Border Leicesters in style.
The bidding was strong when the 298 rams were offered for the stud's 46th annual sale, held last Friday.
Stud records were broken when 100 per cent of the Border Leicesters offered were sold for an all time average high of $3445, and also reaching a whopping top price of $15,000.
In the breakdown, 21 specially selected stud rams sold to average $8295, 197 flock rams sold to average $3812 and to top at $5000, and a 80 stud ewes topped at $1800 to average $1268.
Chris and Greg Doherty, Tulagi Border Leicesters, Deniliquin, were celebrating almost 80 years in breeding Border Leicesters and bought the top-priced ram for $15,000 for its correct structure and length of body.
"We were chasing a new bloodline, being Cadell and Raywil, to introduce into our flock," he said.
"He was the youngest ram in the shed, yet stood out to be the biggest and we could not fault him.
"He was the youngest ram in the shed yet stood out to be the biggest and we could not fault him.
- Chris Doherty, Tulagi Border Leicesters, Deniliquin
"His great muscle, big brisket, outstanding wool and overall confirmation, he has lot going for him."
The Cadell 988-20 sale topper, sired by Raywil Supreme 5th from Cadell 685-14, had a Australian sheep breeding values (ASBVs) of 2.62 for weaning weight (WWT), a yearling weight (YWT) of 4.81, yearling eye muscle depth (YEMD) of -0.78 and a Border $Index of 110.97.
The Doherty family also purchased a line of 13 ewes. Chris Doherty said the line of ewes were all structurally correct with outstanding heads.
The second top price stud ram was the $13,000 Cadell 137-20, which sold to the Sweeney Family, Bindaree Nundoon Border Leicester stud, Merrygoen.
Sired by Cadell Price 23rd, the ram had breeding values of 3.64 for WWT, 7.35 for YWT, maternal weaning weight of 1.35 and Border $Index of 118.90.
Llanver Trust, Narromine, put together a draft of 29 Border Leicesters, which included one stud ram at $9000, eight ewes and 28 flock rams.
Third top price ram was purchased by Michael Job Pty Ltd, Warren, for $12,000.
Volume buyers included return buyer Bill Stanley, Killarney Border Leicester stud, Galong, who bought 28 ewes to a top of $1600.
Return buyer, Alan Gadsby, Euchareena, bought 20 flock rams to a top of $4600.
Nutrien, Wagga Wagga, conducted the sale with representatives Peter Cabot, Nutrien, and Matt O'Connor, Elders Echuca, sharing the rostrum as auctioneers.
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