SALE SUMMARY
Poll Dorsets
2017 2016
Offered 176 147
Sold 176 147
Top $2100 $1700
Av $1417 $1258
White Suffolks
2017 2016
Offered 84 78
Sold 71 78
Top $1800 $1600
Av $989 $931
Suffolks
2017 2016
Offered 36 29
Sold 31 29
Top $1700 $2000
Av $887 $976
SOUTH EAST prime lamb producers were spoilt for choice at Mullinger Park’s 14th annual ram sale on Thursday last week at the Naracoorte Showgrounds Pavilion, with impressive sires from three breeds on offer.
The 54 registered bidders bid with confidence ensuring a lift in average of more than $120 on 2016.
In their largest ever offering stud principals Brett and Amanda Shepherd, Kybybolite, cleared 278 of 296 Poll Dorset, White Suffolk and Suffolk rams for a $1248 average.
The stud has continued to grow its client base and numbers and this year took another step up.
Late last year it bought the Russell Poll Dorset stud from Donald, Vic, including ram lambs which enabled them to offer an extra 30 rams.
The sale’s first 10 lots which included the stud’s Hamilton Sheepvention and Royal Adelaide Show team were sold individually.
Lot 2 – a well balanced Poll Dorset with great hindquarters– topped the sale at $2100.
The May 2016 drop son of homebred sire Mullinger Park 315, was knocked down to LJ&JK Jacob, Naracoorte.
The ram which had a post weaning weight of 15.7 and a carcase plus index of 189 was one of their four buys.
The remainder of the catalogue were sold pick of pens of three.
The Poll Dorsets were the star performers recording the biggest lift in average – $159 up on 2016.
PS&JA Muecke, Penola, put together six rams at the top end for a $1833 average.
LS Johnson & Son, Naracoorte, bought 17 Poll Dorsets to $1900 for a $1712 average and CP&LM Iredell, Pigeon Ponds, Vic, secured 20 Poll Dorsets to $1200 for a $1095 average.
White Suffolks topped at $1800 for Lot 7 – a son of Duenclin 3414 – which was bought by ML Limbert & Co, Bool Lagoon.
Locmaria Farms, Hynam, was the sale’s dominant bidder with 38 Poll Dorset and Suffolk rams for a $1053 average.
Glendoon Pastoral, Binnum, bought nine Poll Dorsets for a $1456 average and 10 White Suffolks for a $840 average.
Mr Shepherd said he was “very happy” with the result which reflected the continued strength of the prime lamb market.
“We hope to have another 50 or so more Poll Dorsets next year as we see an opportunity and some of our clients unfortunately missed out,” he said.
Elders Naracoorte branch manager and auctioneer Tom Dennis commended the stud for putting up such an even line-up.
“To put up such a large volume of rams and present them in the way they have is outstanding,” he said.
He said the sale’s highlight was the strong competition on the Poll Dorset offering.
There was also growing interest in Mullinger Park’s Suffolks which had come ahead in leaps and bounds since the stud was established about five years ago.
“The Mullinger Park sheep are very correct and with Brett and Amanda focussed on muscle and length in their sheep the rams are standing up and performing,” Mr Dennis said.
Elders, Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen and Southern Australian Livestock were joint selling agents.