SALE SUMMARY
2017 2016
Offered 72 64
Sold 64 58
Top $5400 $6000
Av $2159 $1681
A WIDE geographical spread of largely repeat buyers ensured Flairdale Poll Merino stud’s annual on-property sale at Cookes Plains on Monday was one to remember.
Wayne, Lindy and Matt Lehmann lifted their sale average nearly $500 and sold six more rams, with 64 of 72 averaging $2159.
Buyers from the Upper North to central Vic went hard on the first half of the catalogue.
But in the second half there were plenty for those with more meagre budgets, with 17 rams making $800 to $1200.
The first ram to hit the $5400 top price was Lot 3 – a large framed 17.8 micron ram which had placed seventh among 41 entries in the Fibre Meat Plus class at the recent Royal Adelaide Show.
It sold to one of the stud’s oldest clients, Trevor and Fred Laskey,Laskey Farming Trust, Orroroo.
The Laskeys secured eight rams for a $3850 average.
Fraser Loechel, Lucindale, also outlaid $5400 for Lot 7 – an 18.7M with a MP+ index of 150.37.
Both sale toppers were by homebred sires.
Another long-time supporter Dale Paxton, Vivonne Bay, bought seven rams for a $3571 average.
Among his buys was Lot 1 – ‘Big Ted’ for $4800.
The 2015-drop which weighed 145 kilograms was used in the stud as a ram lamb and the following year joined to another 93 ewes, producing 95 lambs.
Ben Nevis Farms, Ararat, Vic, was the sale’s volume buyer with 10 rams for a $1280 average.
Landmark stud stock auctioneer Richard Miller said it was one of the best line-ups Flairdale had offered.
“With the good season they have presented a line of rams which were 10 kilograms heavier than last year and their carcase and wool cutting ability was consistent all the way through,” he said.
“The ASBV’s which the stud has embraced are starting to be in the high percentages for the breed.”
Mr Miller said the sale’s success was testament to the results Flairdale’s clients have been getting.
Elders stud stock auctioneer Tom Penna said a decision to sell a few more rams on-farm rather than being a vendor at the Hamilton Sheepvention sale had added depth to the catalogue.
“Flairdales wools suit a wide range of districts with the white wools handling the high rainfall and rich Mallee and Mid North wool types,” he said.
“They are good commercial types with long stapled wools.”
