Strong competition from repeat buyers and new bidders underpinned the success of Jackson Farming’s 20th annual Border Leicester and Poll Dorset ram sale at Moyston last Thursday.

A total of 98 Border Leicester stud and flock rams were sold to a top of $5750 and averaged $1787 for a 98 per cent clearance rate. In the Poll Dorset line-up, all 40 rams on offer were sold to a top of $2500, averaging $1335.

Stud principals David and Carol Jackson and Ross and Lydia Jackson were very pleased with the sale result, particularly the clearance rate and support from both new buyers and repeat clients.

The auction opened with the offering of five specially selected Border Leicester rams, suitable for stud use.

The top price of $5750 was paid by brothers Barry and Doug Hobson, Hobson Farming, Waubra, for Lot 4 in the catalogue, Jackson 139/2018.

Sired by Retallack Jackhammer, the twin-born ram featured a Border Leicester index of $111.80 and maternal index of $121.9.

The Hobsons have been long-time supporters at the Jackson Farming sale and Barry Hobson said the top-priced ram would be put to use in their own stud, Banjanda, which currently comprises 400 ewes.

Mr Hobson said the ram’s length of body and good quality, medium wool type caught his eye.

They also purchased Lot 2 in the sale, Jackson 189/2018, who was sired by Two-Dot Hurricane, for $3000.

In a first for the Jackson Farming stud, the second top-priced ram is headed to Western Australia. Operating through TB White & Sons, J McLean, Minnikin, East Munglinup, purchased Lot 1 in the catalogue, Jackson 166/2018, for $5500.

Sired by Jackson Carbine, who has been a very successful Jackson stud sire, the young ram boasted a Border Leicester index figure of $120.1 and a maternal index of $135.4.

He was also part of the winning Supreme Longwool Group and Supreme All Breeds Group at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show and the Supreme Longwool Group at Hamilton Sheepvention.

Also securing a specially selected ram was Jarrard Scott, who travelled from Pipers Brook in Tasmania for the sale. Mr Scott purchased Lot 3, a twin-born ram sired by Retallack Jackhammer, for $3000.

Solid bidding from local purchasers continued for the line-up of high indexing Border Leicester flock rams. Buying at the top end of the sale draft was regular client Todd Burger, Glenthompson, who took home six rams, paying to a top of $3000, while Stephen Millard, Millard Farms, Byaduk, paid to $3500 for three rams.

Other repeat buyers included Coryule Pastoral Co, Willowvale, who purchased three rams for an average of $2000 and I & L Jubb, Hexham, who bought four rams, paying to $2750, while GI Sharrock, Vite Vite, bought five rams, averaging $1690.

Volume buyers on the day included the Crawford family, Sierra Park, Victoria Valley, who secured eight rams for an average of $1062, Robert and Jill Marshall, Moyston, took home seven rams, averaging $1335 and F & E Hillman, Buangor, purchased six rams for an average of $1375.

New bidders included DC & G Spring, Macarthur, who took home five rams at $1250, Stacey Partners, Wickliffe, purchased four rams paying to $2250 and N & E Fitzgerald, Tarrenlea, who bought three rams, averaging $1750.

In the Poll Dorsets, AJ Stevens, Willaura, bid to a top of $2500 to purchase a May-born ram featuring a carcase plus index of 199.5 and a terminal carcase production index of 136.3.

Return buyer, John Evans, Willaura, secured four rams, paying to $2000, while Fleur Hillman and the Marshall family also operated in the Poll Dorset draft, picking up four rams each.

Volume Poll Dorset buyer was Pat and Sarah Millear, Willaura, who took home 10 rams, paying to $1400 and averaging $1360, while SA Dridan, Lake Goldsmith, paid an average of $1260 for five rams.

Elders auctioneer and stud stock manager Ross Milne was impressed with the depth and quality of the Jackson family’s rams and said it was a strong sale, well-supported by repeat buyers and new clients.

“Buyers were also chasing performance figures, with the higher-indexing rams consistently making more than the sale average,” he said.

Elders and Landmark jointly conducted the sale.