CLOVERLEA Border Leicester stud held a successful on-property auction at Naracoorte on Friday improving on its clearance, average and top price in only its second year back offering rams under the gavel.
The Mutton family offered 84 Border Leicester rams, selling 83 for a $1189 average, an increase of more than $300 on the previous year.
The top price also jumped, reaching $2400 twice, and principal Jim Mutton said they were happy with the outcome.
"It was definitely good to get a full clearance, and the rams were value for money for the clients - the average was up on last year and for only the second annual sale we are pleased to have them out in people's paddock," he said.
Mirroring their top price bidding action from last year, Kym Sambell and Travis Langford, trading as GK&LE Sambell, Benayeo, Vic, again purchased both the $2400 rams at this year's auction.
These came at lot 3 and lot 4 in the offering.
The Sambells have been buying rams from Cloverlea - the state's oldest Border Leicester stud - for more than 30 years, and took home five rams for a $1900 average.
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DA&JC Murdoch, Apsley, Vic, were again volume buyers, adding 10 rams to their operation to a top of $1900 three times, and averaging $1410.
Also buying in bulk and selecting a number of rams from the top end was KR Francis, Western Flat, paying to $2000 for his 14 rams, averaging $1507.
Putting a solid floor in the sale was Dolling Produce, Keppoch, which selected 30 lots for an average of $813, while Konpara Vale, Burra, took home nine to a $1200 high and $1033 average.
Elders Naracoorte's Alan Thomson said the good clearance, with all but one sold, was the really pleasing result.
"The rams were reasonably priced, the vendors were happy and the buyers were happy - everyone was happy," he said.
Elders conducted the sale, with Josh Reeves the auctioneer.
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