Jay-Dee maternal composites average $1044

At the final SA on-property ram sale for the season, the Dowdy family sold 104 of 152 growthy rams for a $1044 average – up nearly $150 on 2015.

Four of the 14 SA and Vic registered bidders had volume orders for 10 rams or more to enhance their self-replacing flocks, but the sale needed a few more buyers to sustain demand near the end.

It was still the largest number of composite rams Jay-Dee has sold at auction in its eight year history.

ECH Schinckel & Son, Kybybolite, bought six rams including two top priced rams at $1800 each. 

Both sale toppers – Lots 21 and 30 – were born in early August 2015 and had high growth rates, including post weaning weights of 10.8 and 11.3. They had maternal $ indexes of 129.6 and 128.7 – in the top few per cent of Lambplan performance recorded rams from the 2015 drop.

The Schinckels have been using Jay-Dee’s maternal composites for a decade and have been pleased with the results.

The two biggest buyers were from western Vic with Yat Nat, Balmoral, securing 25 rams to $1100 twice for a $868 average. Koolomurt Pastoral, Chetwynd, Vic, bought 15 rams to $1700, averaging $1140.

Landmark Hamilton had multiple orders, including 12 rams to $1500 twice, for a $1050 average for buyers I, H & C Mason.

CC Seymour, South Killanoola, Bool Lagoon, were also in the thick of the action with seven rams to $1400 twice.

Stud co-principal Josh Dowdy said Jay-Dee Maternals aimed to produce an early-maturing lamb of medium weight which could also be carried on to heavier weights without turning to excess fat.

“Our genetics enable our clients to use the paddock feed grown to turn off more kilograms of lamb and get more profit,” he said.

He said it was pleasing to have long-term clients who were getting high lambing percentages and weight gains in their lambs.

Jay-Dee’s composites comprise four main breeds – Border Leicesters, East Friesian, Texel and Finn – but have infusions of several other terminal breeds for hybrid vigour and carcase. 

The breed has evolved from John Dowdy’s interest in improving fertility and carcase traits in maternal sheep during the 1990s. He began introducing Finn sheep to their Border Leicester stud ewes. During the years they have selected for a barer crutch area with clean points for ease of management.

Southern Australian Livestock auctioneer Mat MacDonald said the rams presented well and he was pleased to see many regular buyers, including some who had not bought for a few years.

 “They are a good even type for the short of sheep they are with plenty of muscle,” he said.

Landmark stud stock manager Gordon Wood said it was encouraging to see the clearance and average price lift on last year with buyers from a wide geographical spread from Parawa to Ballarat, Vic. 

“Lamb production was the key focus of buyers at the Jay-Dee maternal ram sale. Rams with high performance data were highly sort after, particularly those with above average number of lambs weaned and scrotal circumference,” he said.

Joint selling agents were Southern Australian Livestock and Landmark with Mat MacDonald, Gordon Wood and Richard Miller the auctioneers.