IT was the end of an era at Morton Border Leicester and Poll Dorset stud's 38th annual on-property sale at Lucindale, with principal John Corbin announcing on the rostrum it would be his final sale.
The long-running stud is expected to be carried on by daughter and son-in-law Emily and Scott Davidson, who are in negotiations to buy the enterprise.
The top end of the Border Leicester rams and Poll Dorset rams at Thursday's sale produced keen bidding with the six stud rams averaging $1766 and five Poll Dorset rams averaged $1820 - up significantly on the 2014 sale.
Overall, 60 Border Leicester stud and flock rams averaged $1040, and 65 Poll Dorsets averaged $1008.
The sale's top price came in the Poll Dorset stud offering with $2000 paid twice.
These high performance rams with width of loin, which had been third in the pairs at the 2015 Royal Adelaide Show, were bought by Leigh Allan, Naracoorte, for WA stud breeder Max Whyte.
The six Border Leicester stud rams topped at $1900 twice.
The short wool ram - a son of Jackson 287-12 - sold to Elders Millicent's Gary Glasson for JL&KM Sutherland.
The other ram - a long wool by homebred sire Morton 298-12 - sold to Chris Ciampa, Lucindale.
Brian Johnson, buying for Johnson Livestock, was easily the sale's volume buyer, securing 25 Poll Dorset rams throughout the catalogue.
AJ&PA McBride put together 10 rams between $700 and $800 for their nearby Brooklyn property.
The volume Border Leicester buyers included JB Gilbertson, Millicent, who bought seven rams for a $1386 average, and John Lambert, Bimbimbie Props, Penola, put together 11 rams between $700 and $800.
Mr Corbin said one of the sale highlights was the Johnsons' buying right through the Poll Dorset catalogue including lot 93, showing the depth of the offering.
He said he had enjoyed his more than 50 years breeding sheep but it was time to "have other experiences".
The stud has had many show ring highlights including Adelaide supreme all breeds champion with a Border Leicester ram and supreme Poll Dorset exhibit with a ewe.
Landmark SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood praised the tremendous growth for age, large frames, and well presented sheep.
Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall said the rams were "very commercially focused" with good visual appeal with figures.
Another highlight of the day was the sale of one of their three rams reserved for the Horsham Border Leicester Show & Sale for $3000. The other two will be offered next month at the multi-vendor sale.
Elders and Landmark conducted the sale with Tony Wetherall, Gordon Wood and Richard Miller rotating the auctioneering.
