Border Leicester rams top $3000 at Ariah Park for a $1966 Bauer Retallack average
Summary
Traditional first-cross ewe breeders invested heavily in new genetics at the Bauer Retallack Border Leicesters sale at Ariah Park on Friday, October 9, chasing length and depth in their rams to produce progeny suited to the evolving Merino ewe.
The stud sold 68 of the 79 rams offered, topping at $3000 on four occasions for an average of $1966. That was a $569 lift on the 2025 sale. Four of the five stud rams sold, going to three different breeders, while the flock rams topped at $2800, showing the consistency between the stud offering and the flock ram draft.
Jerradale Border Leicesters, Crookwell, a buyer at the sale for the past eight years, took two of the top rams at $3000. Among them was the reserve junior champion ram from Sydney Royal in 2026, which carried an eye muscle area of 35.42 square centimetres. The stud secured Bauer 1229, by Retallack Presence 3rd and going back to 1258.22 on the dam side by the Geraldine Eagles Blood sire, along with lot 5 by the Bauer The Showman sire.
A Goulburn buyer paid $3000 for Bauer 1188, by the Bauer Supreme 6th sire, a ram with a strong showing record this season across the NSW State Sheep Show, the Australian Sheep and Wool Show and the Bendigo Elite Show and Sale.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Rams offered, sold | 79 offered, 68 sold |
| Top price | $3000, four times |
| Sale average | $1966 |
| Year-on-year average lift | Up $569 |
| Flock ram top price | $2800 |
| Stud rams sold | 4 of 5 |
| Volume buyer purchase, average | 29 rams at $1807 |
| Sydney Royal ram eye muscle area | 35.42 square centimetres |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Bauer Retallack sale top at?
The sale topped at $3000, a price reached four times. The stud sold 68 of the 79 rams offered for an average of $1966. The flock rams topped separately at $2800.
How much did the average rise?
The $1966 average was a $569 lift on the 2025 sale. Four of the five stud rams sold, going to three different breeders.
Who bought the top-priced rams?
Jerradale Border Leicesters, Crookwell, took two rams at $3000, including the reserve junior champion from Sydney Royal in 2026 with an eye muscle area of 35.42 square centimetres. The buyers chased Bauer 1229 for its pedigree going back to the Geraldine Eagles Blood cross. A Goulburn buyer paid $3000 for Bauer 1188.
Who was the volume buyer?
North South Grazing Partnership, Narrandera, secured 29 rams, reaching $2800 for lot 1 and averaging $1807 across the draft. The operation joins 3500 Merino ewes to Bauer rams and targets the first-cross ewe sale at Narrandera each year.
What are first-cross ewe breeders chasing?
Buyers reported targeting length, depth and carcase traits to suit the evolving Merino ewe. One repeat buyer said the rams had the length they wanted, showed longevity as sires and joined up well. Another cited consistency in lamb type, with length and body to produce first-cross ewes for the market.
What are the rams being used for?
Buyers are producing first-cross ewe lambs for breeder sales at Narrandera, Corowa and West Wyalong, with some retaining half their draft to breed second-cross lambs. One Barooga buyer runs 1000 ewes producing first-cross ewe lambs for the Corowa October sales, reporting the wethers hang up and yield well on the rail.
What did other repeat buyers pay?
Avondowns, Barooga, a repeat buyer for the past 10 years, loaded six rams to a top of $2600 for a $2100 average. Jerradale Border Leicesters has bought at the sale for eight years and breeds about 60 rams a year alongside a 2000-head Merino and first-cross ewe commercial operation.
What did the stud say about the result?
The stud principal said it was pleasing to see so many existing clients return for rams tailored to their operations. He was also pleased three stud operators bought to put Bauer genetics into their flocks. The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions Wagga Wagga.
