Strong competition from regular buyers and new bidders underpinned the success of the Jackson Farming stud's 22nd annual on-property ram sale last Thursday, with a top price of $12,000 achieved in the Border Leicester offering.

The Moyston stud recorded a total clearance, with 104 Border Leicester flock rams averaging $2613, six specially selected rams averaged $6750 and 12 Border Leicester stud ewes sold to $4400.

In the Poll Dorset line-up, all 50 rams were sold to a top of $3250, averaging $2250.
Jackson Farming stud principals David and Carol Jackson and Ross and Lydia Jackson said they were very pleased with the sale result for both breeds, particularly the complete clearance of rams and ewes.
The auction opened with 12 'top of the drop' 2020 Border Leicester ewes who received spirited bidding both on-property and through AuctionsPlus.

A top price of $4400 was paid by 18 year-old Caleb Morgan, Macarthur, who established his own Border Leicester stud, Evastrong, in 2020, and currently runs 45 stud ewes. Sired by Kegra 60/18, the young ewe had a Border Leicester Cross index of $124.1.

The top-priced $12,000 ram, Lot 17, was purchased by Stuart and Anja Croft, Dalarossie Pastoral, Drumborg, first-time buyers to the Jackson Farming stud. The Croft family also own and lease property at Nigretta, Pigeon Ponds and Ivanhoe in NSW.

Mr Croft said the ram, who is sired by Jackson Wild Oats 6/18, would be used in a special flock of 50 Border Leicester ewes to produce rams for their own breeding program.

"His progeny will go over about 4500 Corriedale and Corriedale/Merino-cross ewes with the ewe lamb portion sold into the replacement breeder market," Mr Croft said.

"He is a big, robust, very true to type Border Leicester ram, I thought he was the best-shaped ram in the sale."

The second top price of $7500 was paid by the Morton stud, Lucindale, SA, on AuctionsPlus, while Andrew McFarlane, Branxholme, paid $6500 for a stud ram.

Regular buyer, Luke Banks, Mt Mercer, bought a stud ram for $6000, Brimgower Farms, Brimpaen, paid $5500 for a young sire and Arakoola Border Leicesters, Cavendish, paid $5000 for a ram.

Solid bidding continued for the high-indexing Border Leicester flock rams, with Pepper Partnership, Tahara, securing two rams at $4750 each.

Also operating at the top end of the draft was Coryule Pastoral Co, Willowvale, taking home four rams to $4500, and the Burger family, Glenthompson, averaged $3187 for four rams.

Volume buyers on the day included Russell Phillips, Heathwood, Dunkeld, who bought 12 rams for an average of $2291, while Adam Stevens, Willaura, picked up 10 rams, paying to $2500 and KD&G Fagg, operating through Australian Wool Network, secured eight rams for an average of $2281.

The Poll Dorset portion of the sale also got off to a cracking start with a top of $3250 paid twice by Fleur Hillman, through Elders Ballarat. Ms Hillman purchased a further nine rams, averaging $2568.
Volume buyer in the Poll Dorsets was Pat and Sarah Millear, Willaura, taking 16 rams for an average of $2375, and Barton Station, Moyston, also bought 16 rams.

Elders and Nutrien Ag Solutions jointly conducted the sale.