Stud interest underpins the top end of Glencorrie's Border Leicester sale

Demand for Border Leicester rams was through the roof at the 16^th annual Glencorrie on-property sale at Sandilands on the Yorke Peninsula on Friday.

The Graham family's outstanding line-up of 80 Border Leicester rams attracted strong stud and commercial interest, leading to full clearance and an average that was a whopping $673 up on last year at $2010.

There was also a much-improved average on the Poll Dorsets, at $1986, up $483 on last year, with 46 sold out of 49 offered, to a top of $2700.

Across both breeds, an average of $2001 was achieved.

The sale started off at a cracking pace, with lot one knocked down for $5000 to Martin Harvey's Paxton stud at Western Flat.

Sired by Glencorrie 220305, the big carcase ram measured 124.19 on the Border Leicester Cross Index and 127.98 on the Maternal Carcase Production Plus Index.

It had breeding values of 8.11 for weaning weight, 1.17 for maternal weaning weight and 12.36 for post-weaning weight.

Emily and Scott Davidson, from Morton, Lucindale, also offered stud bidding support, buying lot 16 for $3000.

Also sired by Glencorrie 220305, it measured 129.45 on the BLX and 131.04 on MCP+.

The volume buyer on the Border Leicesters was return bidders and Mid North producers Sparks Farming, with 19 to $2900, averaging $2078.

Another return Mid North buyer on the Border Leicesters was CS&AM Simpson, Belalie North, taking five rams to $2100, averaging $1980.

Volume and repeat Border Leicester bidders were EH Pitt & JA Weaver, Lucindale, taking seven rams to $2300, averaging $1928.

The top price buyer on the Poll Dorsets at $2700 was returning bidders S&D Short & Sons.

The June 2024-drop ram weighed 112.5 kilograms, with eye muscle depth of 50 millimetres and fat depth of 9.5mm.

The same buyer was also the volume purchaser on the Poll Dorsets, taking 11 and averaging $1890.

Return Victorian client Shallum Holdings bought near the top of the catalogue on Poll Dorsets, taking eight to $2500, averaging $2362.

Josh Graham said he was very pleased with the sale result and the line-up offered.

"It was very hard to catalogue because it was so even right throughout," he said.

"We're really working on our early growth rates and muscling, which is really starting to show through in our sale rams."

Josh said it was also great to see repeat stud buyers in Paxton and Morton.

"It was great to see the buyer's confidence," he said.

"I'm extremely pleased with the result, especially with ewe numbers being down."

The sale was run by Elders, with Tom Penna auctioneering.

Elders Minlaton agent Adam Pitt said an outstanding lineup was offered, with great length of body, skin type and back ends.

"Bidding attendance was excellent, and represented the quality of the sale," he said.