THERE was an improved average and top price at the 26th annual Inverbrackie Border Leicester ram sale at Strathalbyn today.
An average of $1798 in the main auction was $128 up on last year.
In the main auction, there were 219 rams sold out of 222 offered.
The top price ram made $5000 and it went to Paxton Border Leicester stud principal Martin Harvey, Western Flat.
The triplet is the highest ranked Border Leicester 2017-drop ram in Australia on the Lambplan database.
It was in the top 1 per cent for its 12.6 post-weaning weight and Maternal $ index of 168.3.
The ram was also in the top 10pc for weaning weight at 7.1 and yearling weight at 12.3.
There were a lot of interstate interest at the sale with Jemalong Wool regional manager David Quirk buying 38 rams for an average of $1777.
Mr Quirk has bought at Inverbrackie on behalf of clients for the past two years.
“Our clients are looking for early growth, especially in their wether lambs,” he said.
“They’re also looking to sell ewe lambs into the restocker market.”
The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders jointly with Gordon Wood and Tony Wetherall auctioneering.
Mr Wood said it was an amazing sale.
“Bids were flying in from a lot of different states,” he said.
“There’s new buyers coming to Inverbrackie every year, and they’re coming because of the high performance data.”
Inverbrackie principal Lynton Arney was thrilled with the sale result.
“The support we’ve had, especially from people travelling from so far away, I take it as a hell of a compliment,” he said.
“In a tough year this like one, it’s extremely pleasing to be able to come up with a result like this.”
A mini auction was also held with 55 rams selling for an average of $1145.