9 Stud Rams sold to a top of $15,000 and averaged $8,250.
15 Stud Ewes sold to a top of $4,500 and averaged $1,960.
184 Commercial Flock Rams sold to a top of $4,800 and averaged $2,432.
Mundulla, South Australia
9 Stud Rams sold to a top of $15,000 and averaged $8,250.
15 Stud Ewes sold to a top of $4,500 and averaged $1,960.
184 Commercial Flock Rams sold to a top of $4,800 and averaged $2,432.
By Claire Harris, courtesy of The Stock Journal
Coolawang stud prinicpal Trevor James holding the $26,000 sale-topper, sold to Jeff Sutton, Wattle Farm Border Leicesters, Temora, NSW (not pictured), with Tom Dennis, Elders Naracoorte, who was phone bidding for Mr Sutton, and auctioneer Tony Wetherall.
Photo courtesy of The Stock Journal
The $25,000 second-top price ram was knocked down to Jim Mutton, Cloverlea Border Leicesters, Naracoorte. Pictured with the ram are Tom Dennis, Elders Naracoorte, and Trevor James, Coolawang.
Photo courtesy of The Stock Journal
Coolawang Border Leicester stud reached lofty heights multiple times at its sale at Mundulla on Thursday last week, reaching an impressive top price of $26,000, with the second top-price not far behind, at $25,000.
In a sale which had plenty of phone bidding, action online on AuctionsPlus, and a considerable buying gallery ringisde, 10 Border Leicester stud rams sold to $26,000, averaging $10,00 while all 182 flock rams also sold, peaking at $4600 and averaing $3192 - a sensational jump on last year's average of $2011.
For the first time this year, 20 stud ewes were also offered, which all sold to a top of $3000.
Bids flew from the start of the ram sale, with Lot 1 making the top price. It was knocked down to Jeff Sutton, Wattle Farm Border Leicesters, Temora, NSW, with phone bidding carried out by Tom Dennis, Elders Naracoorte.
Mr Sutton has bought about half a dozen rams from Coolawang since first investing in the stud's genetics in 2013, and said the top ram this year would be a "very worthwhile" addition to his enterprise.
"Very rarely can you find a sheep that has the structural confirmation, with a good quality head, fine wool, and is high indexing, but I looked at all those things and the ram ticked all the boxes," Mr Sutton said.
While Mr Sutton was not able to physical lay an eye on the ram, he had faith in investing in the genetics.
"I have been very happy with the Coolawang traits traits that I have seeing coming through to improve my own flock, and I knew the quality was there and I knew what the ram was going to do for me," he said.
"Cooalwang sires suit our animals and suit our country, we're very happy with our purchase."
The sale-topper, from the Victory family which has bred well for Coolawang, was a July 2020-drop twin, sporting figures of 11.3 weaning weight,-0.4 eye muscle depth, a yearling greasy fleece weight of 12.9 and a 32.2 micron, as well as a maternal $ index of 145.9.
The second top price came not long after, at lot 3, knocked down to Jim Mutton, Cloverlea Border Leicesters, Naracoorte at $25,000. Also a twin, the August 2020-drop sire had figures of 7.9PWWT, -0.5EMD, 9YGFW, 37.1M and a maternal $ index of 128.8.
Mr Mutton has been buying from Coolawang for roughly a decade, and were chasing a ram with "plenty of muscle" and good structure to suit their stud purpose.
Coolawang stud principal Trevor James said it was an outstanding sale result.
"It went very well not only for us, but for the breed in general, which has been selling really well this year. Our stud is just continuing the great results which other studs have achieved in the past few weeks," he said.
In addition to the two top-price sires, lot 5 made $16,000, knocked down to Nampara Pastoral, Lucindale, and Mr James said the hefty prices were "very pleasing."
"You never quite know what price stud rams will make, I knew we had some interest, but I didn't know what level. And with AuctionsPlus and phone bidding, I didn't quite know what heights we would reach."
Mr James was grateful to the support of many long-term clients, many who bought in bulk in the flock offering.
Leading the charge was Simon Pocock, Pocock Pastoral, who bought 36 rams to $4000, averaging $3456.
Mr Pocock runs about 12,500 Merino and first cross ewes, at properties at Lameroo, Western Flat and Kybybolite, and was chasing Border Leicesters which were early-maturing and were well-built, with positive fat.
Clover Ridge Pastoral, Marcollat, also bid strongly, securing 16 rams to a top of $3800, averaging $3225, while The Snuggery, Kingston SE, bought 10 sires to $2600 three times, averaging $2400.
BJ&HT Drabsch, Kingston SE, bought nine rams to $3800, averaging $3422, while A&S Jones, Sale, Vic, also bought nine, bidding through AuctionsPlus to a top of $4200, averaging $3622.
In the ewe offering, 11 rams were secured by Ian Kyle, Bairnsdale, Vic to a top of $3000 and averaging $2180, with bidding carried out by Anthony Hurst, Avenue Range.
The sale was conducted by Elders, with Tony Wetherall as auctioneer.
Mr Wetherall praised the stud for its stud and commercial focus.
"The rams here are so well-structured, they exhibit everything the breed has to offer, the consistency they offer to the table for commercial and stud breeders is the strength here at Coolawang, and the genetics are sort out from clients right around Australia," Mr Wetherall said.
"The Border Leicester job is so strong at the moment, and the sale was strong from start to finish.
"The were many repeat buyers here and some new ones as well - the Coolawang bloodline does give premium price in the marketplace."
Courtesy of Ian Turner
This year’s annual Coolawang Border Leicester sale at Mundulla on Thursday October 14th will again offer producers an outstanding draft of elite quality Border Leicester rams.
While Trevor, Judy, Lachie and Olivia James are tremendously proud of the numerous successes Coolawang has achieved over the last four decades, including two record breaking results last year, their focus is always on producing genetics that match the future requirements of their clients.
“Our objective has always been to breed commercially relevant sheep that can consistently produce top quality progeny for our clients,” Trevor James said.
Elders stud stock manager and auctioneer, Tony Wetherall best summarised Coolawang’s success after last year’s ram sale when he said, "Coolawang is renowned for breeding both stud and flock rams with the depth of quality as good as you will see anywhere.
"The growth, carcase qualities and outlook of their rams are most certainly sought after, and those genetics have been proven to receive a bonus in the saleyards; so that's why the buyers were here today."
While the headlines usually focus on their top end results, which included two new national records last year, the James family has always maintained a strong commercial focus in their breeding objectives. Besides their own significant commercial achievements, which includes one of those records, they believe the many successes of their clients is the greatest endorsement of Coolawang genetics.
“The success of all our commercial clients is the centre of focus in our breeding program and the true measure of our success as stud breeders,” Lachie James said.
“Naturally, we always welcome and value new clients as they come on board, but it is our many dedicated and long-term clients who have provided such wonderful support to our program and shaped our future direction; and for that, we value them deeply,” Lachie James added.
The James family’s more recent successes start with last year’s annual Naracoorte first cross young ewe sale in November. In clear evidence they are right on the mark with their breeding program, they achieved yet another fantastic record-breaking sale result. Their 591 first cross ewes topped at new national record of $472 for unmated 1.5 year old ewes and averaged an outstanding $457.
The purchaser of the top 253 of them was repeat buyer, Tim Widdison from Tarpeena.
He runs 1600 ewes and has purchased Coolawang ewes in previous years, saying he likes their size and subsequent lambing results. After the record purchase, he said he had just sold the first lot of lambs from the previous year’s purchase for $216/head.
With the mutton market being so strong, regularly paying $170 to $220 for good cast for age ewes, there is still plenty of margin and opportunity for producers to get a 100% return to capital in the first year, even at these prices.
Many of Coolawang’s ram buying clients offering ewes in the Naracoorte ewe and ewe lamb sales also had great success and this further backs up the Coolawang brand as one that can be thoroughly trusted.
Their second record of importance was the setting a new national record for a Border Leicester stud ram at last year’s ram sale. Coolawang 127/19 Triplet, a wonderfully well-balanced ram with tremendous presence and high quality wool sold for $27,000 to the Graham family, Glencorrie stud, Sandilands & KI.
Craig Graham said the 122 kg ram, was very well-balanced with beautiful wool and head, plus had great hindquarter conformation. It also had one of the highest Maternal $ Indices in the catalogue at 136.3.
That record was nearly surpassed when the Corkhill family, Normanhurst stud, Boorowa, NSW, put in the $26,500 winning bid on AuctionsPlus for lot 4. Rams with the qualities that attracted these top end stud buyers, were found right through to the sale catalogue.
Preceding these successes, the James family also recorded one of highest lamb prices in the state in June last year at the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE), selling their first-cross wether lambs at $337/head.
This shows that Coolawang’s concentration on producing true dual-purpose Border Leicesters that offer both wool and carcase attributes, can result in top economic returns for commercial clients from progeny of both sexes.
“All our rams are eye-muscle and fat scanned in early August and we are very pleased with the results and progress; this carrying on through to our 1st cross flock, resulting in fantastic growth rates and muscling,” Lachie James said.
Two important extra bonuses for clients are Coolawang’s move to side sampling and micron testing all their rams 3 years ago, plus testing and selection for worm resistance. There is a real premium for sheep producers who can offer their first cross wool in the preferred under 30micron range and Coolawang is one of the few studs offering this information on all sale rams. The worm resistance selection will ensure that the Coolawang rams and their progeny will be able to withstand annual worm burdens better than most other options.
Coolawang’s Border Leicesters are produced with a balance of structural excellence, especially with strong bone and constitution, high fertility background and top Lambplan measured performance. While they seek elite performance levels, they do not focus on figures-based selection alone, but these are considered in conjunction with phenotype. Extended lifetime performance of rams is a point often overlooked when selecting on figures alone.
“With our clients in mind, we have striven to maintain affordability, while keeping quality at the highest level we can produce,” Trevor James said.
“We’ve consistently added rams in line with demand, hoping clients on all budgets can get quality rams at good value,” Trevor said.
While there were record breaking sales at the stud end of last years’ sale, to that end they were successful, with last year’s flock ram average being $110 lower than the previous year.
Trevor, Judy, Lachie & Olivia James welcome your enquiry, but all prospective purchasers can get updates on their website (www.coolawang.com.au), or through regular posts on Facebook.
Trevor James holds Coolawang 127/19, the new $27,000 Australian record priced ram sold at last year’s ram sale to the Graham family, Glencorrie stud, Sandilands & KI, represented by Craig & Deb Graham.
- Courtesy of The Stock Journal
Pictured with the James family’s $472 record priced first cross ewes at last year’s Naracoorte sale are the buyer, Tim Widdison, Tarpeena, his O&G agent, Ethan Bronca, and Lachie & Trevor James, Mundulla.
- Courtesy of The Stock Journal
Courtesy of Catherine Miller, The Stock Journal, October 15 2020
Coolawang stud, Mundulla, has reclaimed the Australian Border Leicester breed record for a ram just a few weeks after their previous seven-year record fell.
At last week's sale, Trevor, Judy, Lachie and Olivia James received a spectacular $27,000 for their lot 1 ram, Coolawang 190127, paid by Glencorrie stud, Sandilands.
This surpassed the $19,500 paid for a ram at the final sale of Johnos stud, Eurack, Vic, last month.
Trevor James said the ram, known as 'King Arthur', combined modern growth rates with impeccable structure and the wool characteristics and qualities he said the Border Leicester breed needed.
"King Arthur was a dominant figure and we hope this ram will be a dominant sire for Glencorrie," he said.
The ram was part of the Victory family that Coolawang established from the progeny of semen bought from The Oaks stud in Vic when it dispersed in the late 1990s.
This family line has consistently bred sheep with excellent structure and many broadribbon winners, including the supreme long wool ram from the 2019 Royal Adelaide Show.
Glencorrie stud's Craig Graham and Deb Stone got their first bid in when the price had already surpassed $20,000, but they were not deterred with their philosophy of "buying the best to breed the best".
"We were due to buy a couple of new sires and after being burnt out in the fires early this year it was even more important. They will be a solid foundation to begin rebuilding the flock," Mr Graham said.
In 2013, Glencorrie paid $18,200 for Coolawang's previous record ram, but Mr Graham described 'King Arthur' as a "game-changer".
"Being a triplet and weighing 122 kilograms on the 1st of September really shows its growth rate and it has magnificent wool and a beautiful back end, (it's) a ram that is hard to fault," he said.
"A post-weaning weight figure of 11.7 is up there for growth. We are all about producing lambs with early growth to get them off quickly."
Coolawang's Trevor James with top price ram buyers Craig Graham and Deb Stone, Glencorrie stud, Sandilands.
Phil and Yiotis Toumazos, Murrabinna Pastoral, Kingston SE, (pictured with Coolawang stud's Trevor James) were the sale's biggest buyer taking home 22 rams for a $1559 average.
Courtesy of Catherine Miller, The Stock Journal
A WELL-BALANCED ram with tremendous presence and high quality wool has rewritten the Border Leicester breed's history books, making $27,000 at Coolawang stud's annual sale at Mundulla West on Thursday last week.
Less than a fortnight after Johnos stud, Eurack, Vic, snatched the breed's national record with a $19,500 ram, the James family - who had long held the accolade - reclaimed it with the first lot of their outstanding draft.
The July 2019-drop Coolawang 190127, which the stud has been named King Arthur, was born a triplet.
It was from the Victory family, which has bred so consistently for Coolawang, producing many show champions and stud rams sold to flocks across Australia.
Buyer Craig Graham, Glencorrie stud, Sandilands, said the ram, which weighed 122 kilograms in early September, was "hard to fault".
"(The ram was) very well-balanced with beautiful wool and head and a good hindquarter," he said.
It had one of the highest maternal $ indexes in the catalogue at 136.3.
Just a few lots later, the record was nearly surpassed again with brothers Ashley and Tom Corkhill, Normanhurst stud, Boorowa, NSW, putting in the $26,500 winning bid on AuctionsPlus for lot 4.
Ashley said they were keen to reinvest in some top genetics in the wake of the success of their 16th annual ram sale.
They have bred some great progeny out of a Coolawang ram they bought in 2015 and were taken with lot 4 for its moderate frame, finer wool, overall correctness and sire appeal.
"Our budget was $15,000 to $20,000 but once it hit that we thought we would see how far we could push it. We really wanted the ram and can see him adding a lot to our stud," Ashley said.
"A big thing for us was the (ram's) 35 micron wool but also a greasy fleece weight (figure) of 19.5, which is the highest in the catalogue."
Also bound for NSW was lot 2, Coolawang 19512, which sold for $18,000 to Bauer stud, Ariah Park.
Despite the dizzy heights reached in the stud ram offering, there was plenty of affordable buying in the flock rams.
In a total clearance these 204 rams averaged $2011.
This was actually less than 2019 when 189 of 207 flock rams averaged $2121.
In a change of format which was well-received, the 15 stud rams were the only lots to be put through the sale ring.
Flock ram buyers instead bid with confidence as the videos of each lot played on television screens in front of them.
Seven buyers took home 10 rams or more but the sale's biggest buyer was first-time clients Phil and Yiotis Toumazos, Murrabinna Pastoral, Kingston SE.
They found good value taking home 22 rams for a $1559 average.
Stark Grazing, Stewart Range, secured 14 rams, averaging $2600, and Fisher Clover Ridge Pastoral, Woolumbool, put together 13 rams for a $1870 average.
Elders stud stock manager and auctioneer Tony Wetherall heaped praise on the Coolawang offering.
"The depth of quality was as good as you will see anywhere," he said.
"That growth, carcase qualities and outlook of the rams are genetically certainly sought after, and those genetics have been proven to receive a bonus in the saleyards - so that's why the buyers were here today."
Article by Ian Turner
This year’s annual Coolawang Border Leicester ram sale at Mundulla on Thursday October 8th will have a different lead up, with no Adelaide Royal Show inspections or results, but the same elite quality genetics will be on offer.
While Trevor, Judy, Lachie and Olivia James are tremendously proud of the numerous showing successes Coolawang has achieved over the last four decades, including having the supreme champion ram of all breeds last year and being most successful Border Leicester exhibitor for the 8th time in the last 9 years, these are not where their main focus lies.
The family has always had a strong commercial focus in their breeding objectives. Besides their own significant commercial achievements, they believe the successes of their valuable long-term clients are a great endorsement of their genetics.
“Our many dedicated and long-term clients have provided wonderful support of our program and we value them deeply,” Lachie James said.
“Naturally, we also welcome and value any new clients as they come on board; but it is the success of all our commercial clients that is the centre of focus in our breeding program and the true measure of our success as stud breeders,” he said.
“Our objective has always been to breed commercially relevant sheep that can consistently produce top quality progeny for our clients,” Trevor James added.
“Also, with them in mind, we have striven to maintain affordability, while keeping quality at the highest level we can produce.”
“We’ve added rams in line with demand, hoping all clients on all budgets can get quality rams at good value,” Trevor said.
Also, the performance within their own commercial flock is another measuring stick that simply can’t be ignored. This strongly influences the stud breeding decisions they make; which is then a benefit to all the other clients who have come to appreciate the quality of Coolawang genetics over the years.
The James family’s many recent commercial successes start at the annual Naracoorte first cross young ewe sale. In clear evidence they are right on the mark, they achieved yet another fantastic sale result last November, with their 680 first cross ewes topping at $398 and averaging an outstanding $396, plus again winning the best presented pen award for the 11th time. That is exceptionally consistent high-quality production.
Many of their clients in the Naracoorte ewe and ewe lamb sales also had great success and this further backs up the Coolawang brand as one that can be thoroughly trusted.
Not only that, they also recorded the then highest lamb prices in the state at the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE) in June last year, selling their first-cross wether lambs at $337/head.
This shows that Coolawang’s concentration on producing true dual-purpose Border Leicesters that offer both wool and carcase attributes, can result in top economic returns for commercial clients from progeny of both sexes.
“All our rams are eye-muscle and fat scanned in early August and we are very pleased with the results and progress.
“This has carried through to our 1st cross flock and is resulting in fantastic growth rates and muscling.
“We had some more of our first cross wether lambs processed by Richards Butchers, with their average dressed weight being 45kg, plus they yielded extremely well at 49%,” Lachie James said.
Coolawang’s Border Leicesters are produced with a balance of structural excellence, especially with strong bone and constitution, high fertility background and top Lambplan measured performance. While they seek elite performance levels, they do not focus on figures-based selection alone, but these are considered in conjunction with phenotype. Extended lifetime performance of rams is a point often overlooked when selecting on figures alone.
Two important extra bonuses for clients are Coolawang’s move to side sampling and micron testing all their rams 2 years ago, plus testing and selection for worm resistance. There is a real premium for sheep producers who can offer their first cross wool in the preferred under 30micron range. Coolawang is one of the very few studs offering this information on all sale rams. The worm resistance selection will ensure that the Coolawang rams and their progeny will be able to withstand annual worm burdens better than most other options.
Trevor, Judy, Lachie & Olivia James welcome your enquiry, but all prospective purchasers can get updates on their website (www.coolawang.com.au), or through regular posts on Facebook.
Coolawang 180177, the 2019 Adelaide supreme all-breeds champion ram pictured when awarded the Border Leicester grand champion ram title with judge, Ian Gilmore, Oberon, NSW and Trevor and Lachie James. This was Coolawang’s 8th Border Leicester champion ram award in a row.
Article by Ian Turner
This year's annual Coolawang Border Leicester ram sale at Mundulla will hold special significance for the James family as they celebrate 40 years of successfully breeding Border Leicesters.
While Trevor, Judy, Lachie and Olivia James are tremendously proud of the numerous successes Coolawang has achieved, including more major awards at this year's Adelaide Royal Show, these are not where their main breeding focus lies.
"Our clients have provided wonderful support of our program over our forty-year journey, and we value them deeply," Lachie James said.
"It is their success that is the centre of focus in our breeding program and really is the true measure of our success as stud breeders," Lachie added.
Senior principal, Trevor James added, "Our objective has always been to breed commercially relevant sheep that can consistently produce top quality progeny for our clients."
"Also, with them in mind, we have striven to maintain affordability, while keeping quality at the highest level we can produce," he said.
In line with growing demand, Coolawang has offered a few more rams each year. However, with the exceptional demand last year, they are offering an extra 35 rams in this year's sale, hoping all clients can get quality rams at good value. There will be 10 specially selected stud rams and 210 flock rams offered this year.
A really successful year at the Royal Adelaide Show for Coolawang;
Interbreed 2nd Place Pen of Three Rams
Trevor and Lachie with judge, Ian Gilmore NSW with Coolawang 177/18 who was Interbreed Supreme Champion Ram
Another stella year at the Royal Adelaide Show for Coolawang;
Lachie and Trevor James pictured with the Junior and Reserve Junior Champion Border Leicester Ewes
Lachie James pictured with the Grand Champion Border Leicester Ram
Elders Supreme Interbreed Breeder's Group
We had another very successful year at the Royal Adelaide Show, winning Junior and Grand Champion Ram,
the Sires Progeny Group and the Breeders Group.
Coolawang Junior and Grand Champion
Border Leicester Ram
103/16
Coolawang winning Sires Progeny Group
Coolawang winning Breeders Group