SALE SUMMARY
2017 2016
Offered 222 219
Sold 222 219
Top $3700 $2800
Av $1670 $1449
SPIRITED bidding, within the shed and online, helped push the top price and average at the Inverbrackie Border Leicester on-property sale, Finniss.
With more than 400 rams on offer during the day, with the main and mini auction, Inverbrackie principal Lynton Arney said it was the biggest sale they had held.
It was a strong sale with nine rams from the full clearance of 222 rams offered in the main auction, sold for prices equal to or higher than last year’s top price of $2800, and the average of $1670 up $221 on last year.
The top price of $3700 was paid by CR Ciampra, Lucindale, for lot 28 a ram that ranks in the top 1 per cent for its postweaning weight of 12.1 and Maternal $ index of 136.7 on the Lambplan database.
It also ranked in the top 10pc for weaning weight at 7.2, yearling weight at 13.2, adult weight at 14.3, postweaning eye muscle depth at 1.2, post weaning egg count at -48pc and scrotal size of 3.7.
The Ciampras also bought another two rams for an average $2400.
Lot 1 also sold well at $3600, bought by NJ&SA Lubcke, Winchelsea, Vic.
The ram ranked in the top 1pc for a number of traits including an 8.1WWT, 12.1PWWT, 13.5YWT, 22pc number of lambs weaned and Maternal $ index figure of 139.5.
For the first time the Inverbrackie used Auctions Plus to allow interstate buyers access to their genetics, without the burden of the long trip.
This decision paid of with 37 lots sold through Auctions Plus.
During the sale 36 registered bidders logged with rams bought through the medium heading to Bordertown and Tintinara, as well to interstate to Morven and Frogmore in NSW and Shellbourne and Edenhope, Vic.
Landmark auctioneer Gordon Wood said the auction had “really solid” bidding throughout, from a number of “savvy” buyers.
“They are looking at the data and performance records and making sure the rams are going to do what they need and buyers are prepared to bid up,” he said.
“Inverbrackie has been top of the tree for the Border Leicester breed in Australia, if not the world, for performance data.”
Repeat buyers returned with large orders including regular bulk buyer the Farley family, Marmon Pastoral, Jabuk, who picked up 17 rams in the main auction to $1700, averaging $1506. The Farleys were also active in the mini auction, picking up a large order.
Interstate buyer Nick Gay, Heulen Pastoral, Hovells Creek, NSW, returned for the fourth year to buy 13 rams in the main auction to $2300, averaging $1854.
Delro, Kingston, bought 13 rams to $2000, averaging $1554, while HM&LJ Spinks, Murray Bridge, also bought 13 rams to $1600, averaging $1446.
Karatta Pastoral, Binnum, bought 12 rams to $1400, averaging $1300.
GT&DJ Crettenden, Cummins, bought 10 rams to $1700, averaging $1590, in the main auction and a further 10 rams to $1200 in the mini auction.
Elders auctioneer Tony Wetherall said it was an “outstanding” sale.
“The spread of buyers throughout SA and interstate shows that Inverbrackie genetics perform in a range of environments,” he said.
“It is notable the number of big number buyers and, particularly with the mini auction, there is the good opportunity to average out the buying orders.”
Mr Arney said the sale had a “tremendous” result.
“It’s the best lineup of rams we’ve bred,” he said.
This was the third year they had added the mini-auction, with about 180 rams on offer, selling to a top of $1400.
Mr Arney said by putting up more than 400 rams across the main and mini auction – at least 80 more than last year – they were pushing the limits of buyer orders.
“But I knew the data we have on these animals was exceptional for the Border Leicester breed within Australia,” he said.
He said the decision to use AuctionsPlus was in part to help existing clients from interstate as well as tap into new markets.
“It saved them a couple of days in driving, fuel and accommodation and still gave them access to our genetics,” he said.