Poll Dorset stalwarts, Alan and Lyn Schinckel, closed the book on 59 years of successful stud breeding on Monday at the Naracoorte Showgrounds.
But they had one last chapter to write, selling a young ewe from their Leenala stud for $6000.
This is believed to be a national Poll Dorset ewe record at auction.
Steve, Kathy and Samantha Kelly, Zacman stud, Binnum, won a long bidding duel with Duncan Young, Oakwood stud, Poolaijelo, Vic, to secure Leenala 160102 for the top money.
The 2016 drop daughter of Bruan 140081 was the highest performance in the catalogue with a Carcase Plus index of 215.6, including a post weaning weight of 17.9.
Samantha said they planned to AI the ewe for the 2018 lambing and then use it as an embryo transfer donor.
“It is so structurally correct and balanced, with great depth and muscling, plus it has the figures to match,’ she said.
“It took my eye in Hamilton and I have been watching it ever since.”
The Kellys, who started their Zacman stud a decade ago, with a Leenala sire bought three top ewes for a $3267 average.
Ewes sold to four states at Leenala’s final stage ewe dispersal with a total clearance of 146 2016 and 2017 drops for a $886 average.
The 134 2016 drops averaged $928 and 12 2017 drops averaged $417.
The James family, Iona stud, Casterton, Vic, bought 22 ewes for a $750 average.
Oakwood stud secured 20 ewes to $3200 to average $1185.
