THE sterling reputation of the first-cross ewe and the downturn in the wool market are factors being credited for the amazing success of Border Leicester ram sales this season.
Clearance rates and sale averages have risen steeply in comparison to 2019 for the vast majority of stud breeders, with the jewel in the crown the blockbuster Inverbrackie auction at Finniss last week.
In the Arney family's main sale, 178 rams were offered and sold at an average of $3193 - the highest across all breeds in SA this season.
A further 51 rams averaged $2633 in their mini auction, with principal Lynton Arney putting the demand down to the reputation of the first-cross ewe, sheep producers coming out of drought and fires needing rams to start the restocking process, and their stud's elite performance data.
RELATED READING: Stars align as Inverbrackie offering averages $3193
Other studs to blow their 2019 results out of the water included Paxton, Western Flat, which enjoyed a $777 average increase - from $1865 to $2642 - and a full clearance of 150 rams.
Sandilands breeders Glencorrie had a $1003 rise in its average, from $1248 to $2251, on 98 rams, while the average of Morton Border Leicester and White Suffolk stud's Border offering rose from $1595 in 2019 to $2238 this year.
The breed's national record price also tumbled twice, with a $19,500 ram from Johnos stud, Eurack, Vic, quickly dethroned by a $27,000 ram sold by Coolawang, Mundulla West.
RELATED READING: Coolawang stud reclaims Border Leicester record with $27,000 high
Nutrien stud stock's Gordon Wood said there were multiple factors behind Border demand, including the wool job "coming off a bit".
"There's also some people stepping away from other enterprises, whether that be a composite type, but there just seems to be a higher demand for Borders to get that first-cross ewe and then the second-cross lamb from that," he said.
"Lamb returns for the commercial producer in Australia have been solid for a decade or more and it's just getting better, so there's rationale behind investing back in it."
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