The 50th annual Retallack Border Leicester stud sale was celebrated in style, with a young up and coming talent in the breed, snapping up the top ram for $29,000 to mark the special occasion.
A gallery of stud buyers were on hand to secure the top Retallack genetics and it didn't take long for a few of them to lock horns across both the stud ewe and ram offering, with a few of the top young breeders setting the pace across the top end.
In the wrap up, all 29 stud rams sold to the sale top of $29,000 to average a respectable $6241, while a total clearance of 50 stud ewes sold to tops of $4750 to average $2680 and 77 of 98 flock rams topped at $4500 and averaged $2683.
The top ram, Retallack 336.20, sired by Exceed and Excell 2nd, sold for $29,000 to Will Schilling, Glenlee Park Border Leicester stud, Dimboola, Victoria, scanning 42.04 for eye muscle area and an index of 1574.
Mr Schilling said he just loved the ram and was willing to go all the way to get him.
"He is a sheep that stands up in a pen and says look at me," he said.
He said he had used the Exceed and Excell sire before and he was happy with the results.
"The Retallack sheep are very predictable sheep and when you buy, you know exactly what your going top get, which allows you to buy with confidence," he said
Darren Crain, Adelong, startyed the stud ram draft with a bang, paying $11,000 for another Exceed and Excell 2nd son in retallack 502.20, scanning 42.44 EMA and shopwing real stud sire appeal in the ring.
Ben Simmons, Talbragar Border Leicester stud, Leadville, has been a strong supporter of the Retallack program for many years and again paid $9000 for Retallack 242.20, a Four and Twenty Two son, with plenty of punch and hindquarter.
Mr Simmons also chased the stud ewe lines, securing five new matrons to joiin his stud ranks, averaging $2950.
Mr Simmons said he believed he had bought the most structurally correct ram in the draft, he had a good sirey head, heavy fleece, with good figures and he was backed by strong physical attributes.
Campbell Roweth, Basalt Border Leicester stud, Brown's Creek near Carcoar, bought the top stud ewe at $4750 in a draft of six that averaged out at $3417.
Mr Roweth said he was in the process of building his stud and his mentor had pushed him to secure the top genetics at Retallack to build a base.
"I was amazed at the body of the ewes and wanted to target the top end of the ewes to inject into my flock," he said.
Rounding out the stud rams JM Hiscock and Sons, Kilmore, Vic, loaded three stud rams to a top of $8000 to average $7333, while Tom Ferry, Gnarwarre, Vic, bought two rams at $7000 and $6500 repctively and a stud ewe at $1500.
The flock ram buyers settled in and were lead by Michael Coggan, Elders Yass, for EJ Merriman, Yass, securing 12 rams at a $2917 average to set a floor in the market early.
Following suit was Corringle Partners, Rugby, who snapped up eight at $2125, Veolia Environmental, Goulburn, bought eight at $3063, while Chastworth Pastoral, Binela, paid to $4000 for flock rams and averaged $3500 for five.
Rounding out the sale Hill Ag Farms, St Helens Plains, Vic, secured seven stud ewes at $2643 and Michelle Humphries, Brookvale Jerilderie, Jerilderie, loaded five rams at $2200 to join to surplus Merino ewes on the Riverina plains.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien with Steve Ridley, Rick Power and Tim Woodham as the auctioneers.
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Brett Tindal
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
