Inverleigh Border Leicester sale hits $2700 for well structured ram

An Inverleigh Border Leicester stud has benefited from continuing strong meat prices, with a total clearance at its sixth annual on-property ram sale.

Leonella Border Leicester stud cleared all the 41 rams offered to a top of $2700 and an average of $2080.

Nearby property Carnoah Pastoral, Inverleigh, added Leonella bloodlines to its sire battery after purchasing rams at Englewood Park and Shellal this ram-selling season.

Leonella Border Leicester stud principal Noel Lubcke said he was pleased with the full clearance, with the sale attracting a significant number of repeat buyers.

A Tasmanian commercial wool and meat producer, who did not wish to be named, was among the volume buyers.

The producer bought seven rams.

Mr Lubcke said the structure of the top-priced ram stood out in what was a very even line-up.

The top-priced August 2025-drop ram, Lot 1, was sired by Leonella 200067 out of Leonella 210011

The ram had a birthweight of 0.71 kilograms, weaning weight of 7.56kg, post-weaning weight of 10.95kg, a yearling weight of 10.88kg and adult weight of 11.71kg.

His post-weaning eye muscle depth was measured at -0.62 millimetres and he had a post-weaning fat measurement of -1.12mm.

Carnoah Pastoral director Michael Holmes said he had bought Leonella rams for about 20 years.

"I liked the body length and density and the carcase traits of the ram," he said.

"I don't really chase the wool side of it, I am more chasing the muscle and the meat industry side."

He said his 800-hectare property was close to Leonella and he was running about 1500 breeding ewes.

The top-priced ram was one of four he bought at the sale.

"We breed first-cross ewes from the Leonella rams on a Merino base," Mr Holmes said.

"I've always had good results, they grow out really good first cross ewes and they are local."

The first-cross ewes were then joined to Poll Dorset rams, with the offspring turned off as early suckers or run through to export weights.

"The last couple of years have been pretty solid, but how long it hangs in, I'm not sure," he said.

"I think it will have a price correction at some stage, but I hope it's not too dramatic."

TB White & Sons livestock agent Marty Gleeson, Ballarat, said besides buyer support from Tasmania, rams went to the local area, around Ballarat and into the Mallee.

He said this year's Leonella drop contained fewer ram lambs, restricting the offering.

"There were not a lot to choose from, which made a bit of a difference too," he said.

"If you wanted them, you had to buy them."