Leenala stud rewarded for high quality

They held the first stage dispersal of their long-established Leenala Poll Dorset stud at the Naracoorte Showground, selling 294 mixed-age ewes to a rewarding $2700 and averaging $708 in a 93 per cent clearance.

The 36 registered bidders attended from four states, but it was local breeders Phil and Aaron Clothier, Woolumbool stud, Lucindale, who went home with the sale’s top price ewe at $2700.

Sired by Hillcroft Farms 120028, Leenala 150289Tw had figures of +15.2 for post-weaning weight, -0.8 for fat, 2 for muscle and a Carcase Plus index of 203.6.

The Clothiers bought three ewes averaging $1867.

“We were looking for sheep with high and balanced performance figures right through, including good worm resistance and lamb eating quality,” Phil Clothier said. “The three ewes we bought were the three best in the catalogue for their LEQ EBV.”

Underbidder on the top ewe was Simon Beattie, Derrynock stud, Trentham, Vic, but he was successful earlier in purchasing L150139, with very similar figures and pedigree, for the sale’s second highest price of $2400.​

As good as the sale was overall, the result masked the fluctuations within it.

Making up 23pc of the ewes sold, 62 ewes cleared in excess of $1000 and up to $2700 with 15 bidders prepared to go to these levels.

But at the other end of the scale, 50pc sold for just $500 or less – outstanding value considering the quality throughout was very even.

In ram sales this year, it has been the middle ground strength that has pushed averages up, but in this sale only 27pc of the ewes sold from $550 to $950.

If the number of prospective buyers who indicated their intention to attend had carried through on their statements, it would have ensured a much stronger middle ground and overall result, more in line with the present buoyancy within the lamb industry.

“We presented the ewes in good condition, yet we were very conscious not to get them over-fat, thus ensuring they would go ahead and breed well for their purchasers, as they have done so for us,” Mr Schinckel said.

“We are very pleased with the overall outcome and were delighted to see the number of fellow stud breeders who showed their respects by attending and bidding on select ewes.”

Simon Doherty, Thunder Hill Estate, Macclesfield in the Yarra Valley, Vic, was a strong bidder at the top end, buying 16 ewes to $1900 and averaging $700. 

Mr Doherty’s buying best demonstrated the variation in the sale; four select young 2015-drop ewes averaging $1600, yet the other 12 from the 2014 and 2013-drops were secured at just $400 each.

“I was blown away by the calibre of the ewes available,” he said. “Their quality and structural integrity was superb – a real credit to the Schinckels.

“Ewes are 50pc of the DNA of any sheep you breed, so why skimp on anything?

“It is great to be able to deal with such good people, and the quality I was able to purchase will give us a real leg up for our future.”

Alastair Day, Allendale stud, Bordertown provided very strong bidding throughout on select ewes, buying 15 averaging $1077. They included six over $1000 and three at $2100 – the sale’s equal third highest price.

Ian and Pam Kyle, Ashley Park stud, Bairnsdale, Vic paid to $2000 in successfully bidding on six top ewes, averaging $925 to be another prominent top end buyer.

In all bigger sales, volume buyers are the key to its success.

There were 11 buyers who purchased 10 or more ewes, with three of these tallying more than 20 ewes.

Leading the way with 26 ewes was John Oswald, Wudinna, accompanied by his Landmark agent Bill Sargent.

They bid up to $1200 and averaged $800, targeting the younger ewe drops. Nineteen of their purchases came from the 2015 drops, and the balance, with one exception, came from the 2014 drops.

The one exception was L120442; purchased for an extreme value $900. She was the dam of $10,000 and $7000 twin rams sold in the Leenala ram sale just a few weeks before.

Joe Scott, Valley Vista stud, Coolac, NSW was the next biggest volume buyer with 24 ewes. His Landmark Echuca agent Lachie Collins bid on his behalf, paying to $1600 and averaging $792. He was after high indexing ewes on Lambplan to get a good benchmark for his own performance recording program.

The Tischler family, Tarraleah stud, Edenhope, Vic, was the other buyer of 20 or more ewes. Successful at purchasing one ewe for just $500 in the very first pen of young ewes offered, they saw little need to go much higher, eventually picking up 22 ewes to $600, and at an outstanding average of $489.

Haydn Lines was not a long way behind, picking up 18 quality ewes for his new Benealla Poll Dorset stud venture at Keith, paying to $950, but also getting great value at an average of just $511.

WA buying support was significant with three buyers picking up a combined 27 ewes.

Chris Squiers, Shirlee Downs stud, Quairading, WA, went to the highest price of the three, buying six select ewes to the equal third top price of $2100 and averaging $1425.

Simon and Simone Cotter, Beeac, Vic, were also prominent volume buyers at value, selecting 13 quality ewes to $600 and at an average of just $458, emphasising the value that existed in the sale.

The sale was conducted by Southern Australian Livestock, with guest auctioneer Miles Pfitzner and Matt McDonald.

At the sale’s conclusion Mr Schinckel thanked the buyers for their continued support. 

“This is stage one down, but we will have more young rams and ewes next year before we finally close the book on 58 years of breeding Poll Dorsets,” he said.

While Lyn Schinckel made mention of the many friendships they had made over their journey, with special mention of the assistance they had received over many years from Leigh Allan, Garry Rodda, the Davies family, their late SAL agent Darcy Nolan and his replacement Matt McDonald.