Inverbrackie presents a strong Border Leicester lineup and sells to $17,000

Buyers chasing outstanding figures and proven performance bid up at the 33^rd annual Inverbrackie Border Leicester sale at Finniss on Wednesday.

The Arney family was well-rewarded for their outstanding lineup of sires, which had figures ranking in the top percentile of the breed.

Their two top-priced rams both rated more than 180 on the maternal carcase production index.

The top price ram was knocked down for $17,000 to a syndicate of studs - Martin Harvey's Paxton stud at Western Flat, Ian Carr's Castle Camps at Keith and Malcolm Starritt's Womboota stud at Womboota, NSW.

A son of Edwin, the ram's MCP figure of 180.73 put it in the top 1 per cent of the index. A range of its figures ranked in the top 5pc including weaning weight, post-weaning weight and eye muscle depth.

James Starling, Telang Lamb and Beef, Kingston, bought the second-highest-priced ram at $13,000.

The ram, a son of Epic, is the number one top-indexed Border Leicester ram in all of Australia, coming in at 183.40 on the MCP. It also had outstanding measurements in the top 5pc of the breed for WWT, PWWT and PEMD.

Mr Starling, who was named the Prime Lamb Producer of the Year in the Lambition awards, said he was achieving fantastic results using Inverbrackie genetics.

"The feedback I get from customers at the Naracoorte saleyards has been phenomenal," he said.

Mr Starling said he rated the Inverbrackie stud as being number one in Australia for "explaining what they do, why they do it and how they go about it". He also bought another ram for $1600 at the sale.

As well as great top and second top prices, the sale average reached $1719, which was $450 up on last year's $1269.

The clearance was also up on last year and, overall, 197 rams sold out of 254 offered.

Buyers came far and wide to attend the auction, including long-time client Nicholas Gay, of Heulen Pastoral, Hovells Creek, near Boorowa, in NSW.

Mr Gay has been buying from Inverbrackie for a decade and this year he took 44 rams back home across the border. He paid to a top of $2000 and average of $1073.

He said the Inverbrackie rams would go over his home-bred Merino ewes to provide outstanding first-cross ewes.

Mr Gay said he kept returning to Inverbrackie for the "figures you're able to get", as well as the great shape and growth in the rams.

"I've got repeat clients chasing the product that I'm able to produce by using these rams," he said.

Mr Gay said he was feeling very positive about the lamb industry overall.

"I'm a little nervous about how the flock is going to rebuild and what that's going to look like over the next three to five years, but I think the future is looking bright," he said.

The major volume buyer from SA was long-time clients Schulz Livestock, Field, buying 11 rams averaging $1963.

Travelling over from Parndana on Kangaroo Island was Edward Pohlner, EC&MM Pohlner, taking home six rams averaging $1166.

Ellen Arney said with the rams born in the middle of last year, and then virtually no rain to speak of in spring 2024, it showed their ability to rebound from tough conditions.

"With this spring turning out the way it has (and much improved) they've really filled out and it shows the potential of what they can do, particularly from a tough start," she said.

Ms Arney said the top-priced ram had already been used by the Inverbrackie stud and produced outstanding progeny.

She said it was pleasing to see buyers return after sitting out the last couple of years due to tough seasonal conditions.

Lynton Arney said the stud was focused on producing the "modern Border Leicester" and that it was rewarding to see the great results Inverbrackie clients were getting. He said this year's lineup presented extremely well, particularly after the tough start.

"After coming through that tough time, it really shows the resilience of the sheep and their ability to rebound and that's because of the focus we put on having fat and muscle in the breeding program," he said.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien with Gordon Wood auctioneering.

Mr Wood said it was pleasing to see about 50 more rams sell than in last year's auction.

"It was always going to be a challenge with the number of Merino ewes that have gone out of the system, in South Australia in particular," he said.

"But the sale was really well-supported by the eastern states, with a lot of rams going into NSW and a lot going into Victoria.

"With the sheep, anyone in the business knows Inverbrackie is the top of the pack when it comes to performance data and productivity traits."