SALE SUMMARY
2017 2016
Offered 82 81
Sold 81 81
Top $1700 $1500
Av $815 $813
CONTINUED support from local graziers helped the Walker family’s Kenlorne Poll Dorset stud achieve a strong clearance rate at its 27th annual on-property auction at Beachport on Tuesday last week.
With the gallery including clients from Millicent, Tantanoola, Penola, Furner, Thornlea and Bray, as well as a first-time buyer from Keith, 81 of 82 rams sold to $1700, averaging $815.
Lot 1 – with figures of 13.3 for post-weaning weight, -0.07 PW fat, 1.8 PW eye muscle depth and a Carcase Plus Index of 192.1 – was knocked down to Chris Bowman, Kennion Pastoral, Furner, for the sale’s $1700 top price.
Mr Bowman, who has been on the search for new bloodlines to infuse into his flock, said the top ram had clean points and stood well on its feet.
First-time buyer Bettess Ag, Keith, bought the second stud ram in the lineup, paying $1400. Bettess Ag bought a further four flock rams at the top of the catalogue, and averaged $1220, Trent Bettess was impressed with the lineup of rams, saying they were “ready to go straight out to work”.
Kenlorne sale regular Peter Altschwager, MD Altschwager & Sons, Tantanoola, was the volume buyer on the day, taking home 20 rams to $1100, averaging $823.
Return clients Bimbimbi Proprietors, Wattle Range, bought 17 rams to $1100, averaging $844, while DL Chilton & Co, Rendelsham, bought 10 rams to $700, averaging $690.
Kenlorne principal Ken Walker was happy with the offering and sale results. He said repeat buyers knew the quality of the sires and were consistently turning off high quality lambs.
Landmark auctioneer Richard Miller believed the lineup was best draft of rams Kenlorne had put together, and were among the best value Poll Dorset rams offered in SA.
“These big, powerful, large-framed sheep with heavy bone, plenty of carcase and natural doing-ability would be making $1200 to $1500 elsewhere,” Mr Miller said.
“Local producers who know quality, are getting extremely good rams, which are ready to go on to produce for both export and trade markets.
“Ken lets his sheep do the talking and is constantly looking around the country for stud sires to take the Kenlorne genetics to the next level to produce long, powerful rams with all the traits buyers are looking for.”
