THE decision to continue the Aroona Park annual White Suffolk flock ram sale on Eyre Peninsula has been justified, with faithful long-time clients driving a $95 jump in average at auction on Monday last week at Grantley and Trish Siviour's Glenowen property, Cleve.
The Yorke Peninsula producers Peter and Julie Button, Minlaton, bought the entire Aroona Park British breed stud from Isaac and Lisa Gill, Mangalo in 2011 and, four years on, repeat buyers continue to support the Aroona brand.
Minnipa-based Terry Dodgson has been sourcing Aroona genetics since the stud's inaugural ram sale in 2007 and he continued that tradition as the top-price buyer with two rams to $1000.
Mr Dodgson secured the rams at lots 1 and 2 - the second was home-grown Ramsay Park bloodline.
The June 2013-drop, sired by Ramsay Park 71, had solid Lambplan figures with a Carcase Plus Index of 180, including 12.8 for post-weaning weight, -0.6 post-weaning fat depth and 1.3 post-weaning eye muscle depth.
Mr Dodgson only covers his Merino ewes with Aroona rams.
"The ram's structure, that long length and depth through the loins, plus their strong eye muscle provides his ideal crossbred lamb," he said.
Fifty-one rams went under the hammer, with 46 sold, for an average of $720.
The first five lots were out of the stud's show team and had benefited from extra feed and had "a bit more size and bloom".
Of the 21 registered bidders, LB&LF Gerloff, Kielpa, were volume buyers, taking five to $800, followed by RM&J Starr, Cowell, with four to $850.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 4, 2014 issue.
