ON the back of a very average season in the Western Flat area this year, there were no expectations of buoyancy in the 19th annual Bundara Downs White Suffolk and Poll Dorset sale on Friday.
In fact a light sprinkling of rain during the sale was jokingly referred to as a major rain event.
However, the rainbow that came with it must have had the mythical pot of gold at the end of it, because there was a considerably improved sale result with a 25 per cent lift in sale gross from last year to $245,350 for the 246 sold out of 280 offered.
Clearance was up 15pc with 20 more rams finding new homes and the overall average up 15pc to $997.36.
The only downturn was in the top price, but that was marginal, down $200 to $2000.
The compensatory element was that high of $2000 was achieved three times, twice for White Suffolk stud rams and once for a Poll Dorset specially selected ram.
All three went to WA buyers.
The two White Suffolks were bought by Alan and Kelly Manton, Manton Farming, Yealering, WA, buying through Landmark Pingelly, WA. The Poll Dorset went to Tipperary Farming Enterprises through Elders Geraldton, WA.
Allan Piggott, Illoura stud, Moorlands, bought two elite performance rams, one from each breed. The balance of buying support came from commercial producers from the South East and the Western Districts of Vic.
Sale agents were Elders AND SAL and auctioneers SAL's Laryn Gogel and Elders' Tom Penna and Dean Coddington.
