Stock Journal, October 11th, 2024 – link to article

The Paxton stud at Western Flat considered its Border Leicester ram lineup as amongst its best ever, but a lack of buying support that has been a common thread at Border sales resulted in an underwhelming result.
The Harvey family sold 61 of the 94 rams offered through the ring to a top of $4000 for a stud purchase and average of $1295.

Last year the stud averaged $1270, but sold 137 rams.

Paxton principal Martin Harvey holding the $4000 ram, with buyers Josh and Craig Graham, Glencorrie Border Leicester stud, Sandilands and Parndana, and PPHS’s Robin Steen. Picture by Quinton McCallum

 

Buying for the second time at Western Flat, Craig and Josh Graham, Glencorrie Border Leicester stud, Sandilands and Parndana, snapped up lot 1 for the sale’s peak of $4000.
The twin-born June 2023-drop ram was from an Inverbrackie sire and qualified as a superBorder with a Border Leicester Cross Index of 142.31.
Other figures to leap off the page included its post weaning weight at 12.44, positive fat and a post weaning eye muscle depth of 1.17.

The Grahams have their breeding program situated on Kangaroo Island, with ram lambs transported to the Yorke Peninsula at seven months of age.
We were happy with the first ram we bought here Josh said. This ram has good wool, good depth of body, good muscling, and good figures to go with it. We thought there were good rams right through.

Other rams offered singularly also sold well, with lots 2, 3 and 4 from Paxton and Glencorrie sires knocked down for $2800, $2400 and $3000 respectively.
They all went to the same buyer in GL, SL &GR Auricht, Pinnaroo.
The gallery and volume buyers consisted of regular clients from the South East and Mallee.
JE Pridham, Western Flat, bought ten rams to $1700, averaging $1133, while Farmers Leap, Padthaway, bought ten rams to $2000, averaging $1080.
Deepwater Trust, Lochaber, bought nine rams to $2100, averaging $1355, and LA&CJ Hayes, Eura-Carla, Padthaway, secured six all at $800.
Delro Pastoral Co, Woolumbool, finished with five rams to $1400, averaging $1040, while a host of bidders took home four rams apiece.

Paxton stud principal Martin Harvey said it was a disappointing result, but he anticipated a bounce back on Borders in coming years.
I think there some short-sightedness on the first-cross job, he said.
Last year the lamb job was difficult for everyone, and I think this time next year first-cross lambs will be in high demand.

I believe the first-cross is still the best maternal ewe and time will show that.
We are really grateful for the people that fronted up today and are still showing faith in what we are doing.