*61 of 71 rams sold to $7000, av $1852
Leonella Border Leicester stud welcomed new and return clients to its first annual on-property sale on Friday.
The Inverleigh-based stud decided after many successful years of private treaty sales, to offer all of its 2020-drop rams at auction.
Lot 2 reached the top price of the day, selling to Gem Stud, Invergordon, for $7000, through Charles Stewart Dove director and agent Shelby Howard.
Gem Stud was established in June when Gemma Rovers, and her father Eddy, purchased an established Border Leicester stud.
"We thought there were six stud potential rams put forward for sale, but it was the depth and length of Lot 2 that really set him as the stud ram we wanted," Mr Rovers said.
"We were after rams that had that all over Border Leicester type.
"For our ewes moving forward, we want rams that have the growth rate, type and stance in the industry to do the job properly."
The Rovers also secured the second top-priced ram, Lot 4, for $6750, who was in the top 20 per cent for maternal weaning weight.
They also secured Lot 1, a Superborder, for $3500, with a Border Leicester cross index of 122.62.
Australian Wool Network Victorian manager Kelvin Shelley was the volume buyer of the day, securing five rams for a client, reaching a top of $1750 and average of $1420.
"I was looking for rams that had positive eye muscle and fat scores, combined with that overall shape and structure," Mr Shelley said.
"Another factor that was influencing purchasing was looking for rams that had a tighter skin, as a number of clients I was purchasing for retain and sell first-cross ewes.
"Whilst the clients have Merino flocks with an average of 19.5 micron, we are aiming to breed first-cross ewes that sit around 28-29 micron or finer.
"That's where we see the money in the market given the toughness of the crossbreed wool market.
"The genetics that are behind the sheep on offer really suit that first-cross operation."
Leonella stud principal Noel Lubcke was pleased with his decision to hold an on-property sale this year.
"It was a very good sale for our first sale, we have done very well," he said.
"To have three rams sell to a stud was unexpected, but a very good feeling.
"We decided to host the on-property sale to make it easier for our clients to secure rams.
"We found that some clients were missing the rams they wanted as they had already sold, so we decided to make it fair for all of them."