LAST year Ulandi Park bucked the industry trend with its improved sale result, and repeated the feat at the Rowett family's 16th annual Poll Dorset ram sale at Marrabel on Friday.
Principals Clayton and Andrea Rowett responded to last year's $1280 average for 88 rams, by penning an extra 11. The quality of the rams was highlighted by their recent Royal Adelaide success, where they won the supreme shampion all-breeds ram sash.
Locals Neil and Greg Hampel, who bought the top-price flock ram for the past two years, repeated that again this year. They purchased five and these were arguably the five highest-performers in a catalogue of excellence.
The Hampels paid an average of $1820 including the $2100 top for UP459, a wonderfully balanced ram with a double-cross of Hillcroft Farms 1082. This was supported by top Lambplan figures - a post-weaning weight EBV of 13.2, Pfat of -0.2, Pemd of 3.0 and culminating in a Carcase Plus index of 200.8. They also paid equal second-top of $1800 twice, along with McInerney Bros, Kadina, and Stone & Emery, Minlaton.
Nanni DiGiorgio, Lucindale, through Landmark Naracoorte purchased 19 rams to $1500 averaging $80 below the overall sale average.
Shona Conroy, Pewsey Vale, through Landmark Mount Pleasant's Colin Fawcett opened the sale, paying $1400, then took a further 11 from $800 to $1500.
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 3 issue, 2013.
