Strong competition for the top Border Leicester and Poll Dorset at Glencorrie
Glencorrie Border Leicester and Poll Dorset stud, Sandilands, Yorke Peninsula, enjoyed a total clearance of both ram offerings on Friday.
The Graham family offered and sold 101 Border Leicester rams to $6400, averaging $2460, and 49 Poll Dorset rams to $3400, averaging $2532. Overall, the sale averaged $2484.
The Border Leicester average was up $450 on 2025, with the Poll Dorset average climbing $546.
Bids came thick and fast and setting the tone of the day, Lot 1 in the Border Leicesters sold for $4000 to Pembroke Pastoral Company, Telangatuk East, Vic.
It wasn't long before there was a bidding frenzy for the eventual top of $6400, Lot 7, also bought by Pembroke Pastoral Co.
Sired by Paxton-230269, the ram had a 141.47 rating on the Maternal Carcase Production Plus Index.
It had breeding values of 9.14 for weaning weight, 1.16 for maternal weaning weight and 14.06 for post-weaning weight.
The Glencorrie rams are raised at the Graham family's Kangaroo Island farm before coming over to the Yorke Peninsula in readiness for the sale.
Mr Graham said he doesn't see them toward the end of their sale preparation, however his father, who keeps the sale rams at home, was well aware of the top ram's potential.
"Dad said he had the presence about him and he stood up and had the figures. I'm sure he will make a good sire," Mr Graham said.
A full clearance, with strong bidding throughout the entire sale - including the small offering of Poll Dorsets - had the family impressed with the day.
"I'm just just ecstatic, we had good support and the confidence in the sheep job is amazing, it's great to see everyone having a good year," Mr Graham said.
Mr Graham said he was happy with the sale's clearance and average.
"I didn't think they were going to go like that," Mr Graham said.
"Obviously we are using them ourselves, so we can see what the progeny are doing, and a lot of people are seeing that as well.
"The next drop are better again and I'm excited to see what they do."
Topping the Poll Dorsets at $3400 was Lot 105, purchased by long-time clients S&D Short & Sons, who also took the highest priced ram in 2025.
Mr Graham hopes to offer more Poll Dorsets at next year's sale - possibly 80 or 90 in total - to get additional orders filled for clients.
Volume buyers included Clover Downs, Corny Point, who bought 15 rams averaging $2505; Sparks farming, Jamestown, who bought 13 rams averaging $2446; and Jemclo, through Platinum Clare, who bought 31 rams averaging $2038.
Nutrien and Elders conducted the sale, with Elders state livestock manager Damien Webb auctioneering.
Mr Webb said the Border Leicester rams showed strong evenness of type the entire way through the lineup. He said he's seen these rams for many years and they "keep getting better".
"The Poll Dorset rams are exceptional, there wasn't a pen without a 100 kilogram ram in it, you could see the structures were right, they stood well and they had width and depth."
