Paramount rams make $1000

A total of 52 from 71 rams sold, averaging $674 for Robert MacDonald and family.

In the breakdown, 44 of 49 White Suffolks averaged $690, while eight of 22 Poll Dorsets averaged $588.

Stud principal Robert MacDonald said he was happy with the sale.

"There are quite a few which have gone for higher money than last year, and I think the average is up a bit," he said.

There was more demand for White Suffolk sires than Poll Dorsets, he said, with buyers chasing early maturity, big sheep with good growth figures.

"There seems to be a trend for better growth rather than a really good eye muscle," Mr MacDonald said.

"People want that too, but the growth is higher priority.

"Most people producing lambs want to get them away quickly."

R Kroehn & F Brodie, Sunnyvale Props, Eden Valley, purchased two of the top $1000 rams.

Richard Kroehn said he had been buying rams from Paramount for about seven years, since before the stud began holding an on-property sale.

"They're (really) good rams," he said.

"They have a lot of size, good figures and are good doers."

Mr Kroehn said he ran about 260 White Suffolk ewes and 400 Dohnes on his Eden Valley property.

The wether lambs are sold direct over-the-hooks, while ewe lambs were retained for his self-replacing flock.

* Full report in Stock Journal, October 16, 2014 issue.