SALE SUMMARY
Border Leicesters
2019 2018
Offered 134 141
Sold 103 115
Top $2700 $3600
Av $1595 $1729
Poll Dorsets
Offered 130 132
Sold 112 96
Top $2400 $2000(7)
Av $1267 $1279
MORTON stud at Lucindale celebrated 60 years of breeding Border Leicesters at its sale last Thursday, but it was buyers that reaped the rewards with affordable buying.
In one of the last sales for the selling season the five Border Leicester stud rams offered by Emily and Scott Davidson averaged $2560, while 98 of 129 flock rams topped at $2400 and averaged $1546.
In the Poll Dorsets the five stud rams averaged $1920, while the 107 flock rams averaged $1236.
A sale high of $2700 was achieved twice although just one - lot 2- is headed for stud duties.
The woolly ram, sired by Geraldine 64-15 and born a triplet, was bought by Ashley Simons, Pembroke stud, Telangutuk East,Vic,
The other $2700 ram, a son of Paxton 656-16 was secured by JB Gilbertson, Millicent- one of five the they bought for a $2420 average.
Karatta Pastoral, Binnum, bought 16 Borders to $2000 multiple times for a $1606 average, while Bimbimbie Props, Wattle Range, also secured 16 rams for a $2038 average.
This tally included three of the five stud rams.
A few new buyers helped the Davidsons sell an additional 16 Poll Dorset rams compared to 2018.
Kennion Pastoral, Lucindale, took home the $2400 top price ram, Morton 213/18, which was sired by Leenala 151-16.
Two local buyers made the most of the opportunities with Old Fairview securing 19 rams to $1200 for a $968 average and AJ&PA McBride's Brooklyn Station, putting together 15 rams to $1200, averaging $967.
Morton co-principal Scott Davidson said the drier year had worked in their favour preparing the rams for sale.
"In wet years we can lose up to 60 per cent of our country but we had good opening rains and the sheep have had green grass in front of them since," he said.
"We were very happy with the way they have come up and a lot of current clients noted the depth all the way through to the end."
Mr Davidson said it has been satisfying to see the local community support they had received in the past few years.
"We were pretty happy with the sale- it wasn't a ball tearer but it was a good consistent sale," he said.
He hoped their recent purchases, all high-indexing rams from Glencorrie and Inverbrackie Border Leicester studs, as well as a Poll Dorset from Woolumbool stud ,would help elevate their Australian Sheep Breeding Values but he said they would not compromise on traits worked hard on.
"The younger generation in particular are really looking at the figures but we won't be solely going figures alone, Emily and I are sheep people not figures people," he said.
Elders Lucindale branch manager Ronnie Dix said the Border Leicesters were the best presented he had seen in his time at Morton with good style and wool types and praised the muscle content and fat cover of the Poll Dorsets.
"Buyers are committed if they come here being the last sale of the season so it is either going to be really dear or it may be good buying which it seems to fluctuate between from year to year" he said.
Elders and PPH&S conducted the sale with Mr Dix and Josh Manser the auctioneers.
Morton also had five rams on display which will be offered at the Horsham Border Leicester Show & Sale next Monday.
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Click here to sign up to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
