Johno’s rams sell to $4200 peak

That competition continued throughout the first half of the catalogue with 51 of 67 rams averaging $1271.

Long-time buyers McPiggery, Lameroo, paid the top price for the second year in a row, buying lot 4, which won the broadribbon for Border Leicesters at the Ballarat Show, Vic, as well as performing well at the feature Royal Adelaide Show.

The twin 117 kilogram ram’s figures included a 0.4 birthweight, 6.1 weaning weight, 10.8 post-weaning wt, -0.1 Pfat and 117.1 on the Border Leicester-cross index.

McPiggery manager Duane Simon said he admired the ram’s “make and shape”.

“It had the figures that backed it up,” he said.

He said he also admired that it was a twin, preferring to buy rams from multiple births “when everything is else is also right”.

Johno’s principal Jeff Johnson, Eurack, Vic, said the ram had a eye muscle depth of 44 millimetres and fat depth of 7.

“It’s a pretty handy ram, all-round,” he said.

McPiggery bought three rams in all, including a ram at $3000, averaging $2933.

The top end of the catalogue performed well with four rams exceeding the 2017 top price of $2900.

Lot 5, which was in the second-place pairs at Adelaide, sold for $3800 to Clayton Horsepole, Colac, Vic, while lot 3 – a place winner at Adelaide – sold for $3600 to P&D Ross, through Thomas, DeGaris, Clarkson.

Volume buyer was Saltbush Ag, Booborowie, with 12 rams to $1400, averaging $958.

JD&S Kidman, through TDC, bought eight rams to $1200, averaging $988, and Hayward Props, Bordertown, bought eight rams at $800.

Mr Johnson said the top end at the sale was strong but they ran out of buyers by the end.

“I’m happy the rams are out and in people’s paddocks, with the opportunity to breed first-cross ewes and make money,” he said.

“First-cross ewes are selling well.”

The sale was conducted by Southern Australian Livestock with Luke Crossling the auctioneer.