SALE SUMMARY
Poll Dorsets 2016 2015
Offered 159 164
Sold 152 164
Top $2200 $3100
Av $1106 $1274
White Suffolks
Offered 150 155
Sold 150 155
Top $1450 $2200
Av $797 $934
THE pendulum swung in buyers’ favour at the annual Mulgundawa Poll Dorset and Richmond Park White Suffolk sale on Monday last week at Robe, with plenty of rams selling under the odds.
One of the state’s largest offering of terminal sires again attracted plenty of volume buyers, but they were able to buy large numbers at very affordable rates.
Both breeds’ averages were back more than $150.
It was still a impressive feat to clear more than 300 high-growth, well-muscled rams to buyers from the Vic Mallee to the Lower South East in the three-hour marathon sale.
In the breakdown, stud principals Michael Emery and Mary Burzacott sold 152 of 159 Poll Dorsets for a credible $1106 average and enjoyed a total clearance of their White Suffolks for a $797 average.
The stud’s first offering of White Suffolk-Poll Dorsets was well received, with the six topping at $1000 three times and averaging $883.
A $2200 top price was paid for Lot 4 – a June 2015-drop Poll Dorset by a Glen Devon ram.
The 124-kilogram ram had a Carcase Plus index of 189 and was bought by GC&RK Reichelt, Millicent.
The $1450 top price White Suffolk came well into the catalogue, with PD&VA Staude, Greenways, buying Lot 88 – a June 2015-drop twin by a Leahcim sire.
The Staudes bought eight rams at the sale.
Seven buyers had orders for 10 rams or more, helping underpin the great clearance.
JM&MC Williams, Kalangadoo, competed strongly throughout the catalogues, buying 34 rams.
Their tally comprised 21 Poll Dorsets averaging $905, one composite and 12 White Suffolks averaging $846.
Benara Pastoral, Mount Gambier, bought the same number, comprising 19 Poll Dorsets averaging $705 and 15 White Suffolks averaging $743.
Another long-time supporter Paul Parker, Mount Benson, was the biggest White Suffolk buyer, with 20 rams plus two composites averaging $645.
He often took all three rams in the pen. “They are all good quality rams,” he said.
Kentish & Sons, Mount Gambier, bought 12 White Suffolk rams averaging $867.
Fitzgerald & Co, Hatherleigh, also found good value with their 11 White Suffolks averaging $686, and BT&E Ling, Mount Benson, secured 10 Poll Dorsets to $1600.
Mr Emery said they were pleased to get a good clearance with so many rams on offer.
Two tremendous sales in a row may have resulted in some buyer resistance to prices, while some clients did not need rams this year.
This resulted in some excellent value for their customers.
He was pleased with how the rams presented after a non-existent spring last year, a cold wet winter and constant rain since shearing.
“We are happy with the direction both breeds are taking and are continuing to select and invest in sound, high performing replacements to increase the profitability of the terminal sires we can offer,” Mr Emery said.
Landmark stud stock manager Gordon Wood, who shared the auctioneering duties with Richard Miller, described it as “value buying” compared to previous years.
“There were a few less regular buyers and that reflected on the prices,” he said.
“They are one of the older Poll Dorset studs going around and no doubt again had a tremendous offering of both breeds – the growth for age and performance in the rams keeps people coming back.”