SALE SUMMARY
2017 2016
Offered 83 84
Sold 83 80
Top $5000 $7500
Av $1636 $1692
LAWRAL Park achieved full clearance of 83 quality SAMM sires at its 14th annual on-property sale at Ungarra on Monday.
Bidders came from right across SA, including the Yorke Peninsula, Upper and Mid North, South East and pastoral areas, as well as plenty of local Eyre Peninsula interest and interstate bids.
The stud’s average price was similar to last year at $1636.
Buying the highest price ram at $5000 were husband and wife Jason and Laura Bates, JM&LJ Bates, Butler Tanks.
The 15-month-old ram weighed a massive 130.5 kilograms, with an equally impressive eye muscle depth of 52.0 millimetres, and 22.0 micron wool.
The Bates also bought the joint second highest price ram at $4000, which was 15mo, 130.5kg, with 50.5mm EMD and 22.9M wool.
All up, the couple bought three rams for an average of $3666.
The Bates have been buying Lawral Park rams for the past five years and have been achieving great results, with lambing percentages nearing 130 per cent last season.
“I really like the rams for their eye muscle depth and the growth rate to weaning,” Mr Bates said.
Mr Bates said the top price ram stood out for its exceptional growth rate and outstanding structure, particularly through the shoulders and hind quarters.
“It was almost splitting hairs to choose though, because I thought it was a very even line-up, with the great structure of the rams evident right through the sale,” he said.
There were plenty of return bidders including siblings Ron and Sandra Shephard, Hurtlegrove Pastoral Company, Orroroo, who have been buying from Lawral Park for more than a decade.
This year they bought six rams to $2300 and an average of $1700.
Mr Shephard said Lawral Park sires stood out for their ability to produce lambs that made saleable weights at an early age.
“They also grow good quality wool and we get a good price for our SAMM-cross ewes,” he said.
Another regular buyer Josh Sheridan, bidding on behalf of AJ&PA McBride’s Braemar Station, via Burra, purchased near the top of the catalogue, taking three rams to $3600 and an average of $3333.
YP bidders and return clients KJ Bittner & Sons, Curramulka, bought three rams to $2300 and an average of $1766.
Stud principal Campbell Lawrie said he was happy with the sale result.
“It’s fantastic to see the commercial guys mixing it with the stud buyers and wanting to get those good genetics,” he said.
“It’s been a tough season here at Ungarra, so for the rams to present as well as they have, it proves our breeding program is on track.”
The sale was conducted by Elders with SA stud stock manager Tony Wetherall auctioneering.
“(Principal) Campbell Lawrie said it was the best line-up he’s had and I have to agree,” Mr Wetherall said.
“To achieve a 107kg average weight, and an average EMD of 48.1, on such good structured rams is outstanding.
“It’s a credit to Campbell, he’s a great promoter of the SAMM breed and he breeds productive sheep that will earn commercial producers great returns a hectare.”
There was plenty of interstate interest at the sale.
The joint second highest price ram at $4000 went to a WA stud – Glenelg Prime SAMM.
It weighed 122 kilograms, with eye muscle depth of 49 millimetres and 21.4 micron wool.
The Glenelg Prime SAMM stud is located at Borden, 100 kilometres north of Albany.
Principal Graham Moir has been buying from Lawral Park for the past three years.
He said Lawral Park rams offered a great balance of quality wool, along with great carcase attributes.
“The (second highest price) $4000 ram stood out to me because of its white wool and its structure,” he said.
Another interstate stud principal was a first-time buyer at Lawral Park.
Warwick Kopp, Towalba SAMM, Peak Hill, NSW, said he made the trip across the border because he wanted to inject some new bloodlines into his operation.
An interstate commercial client was one of the volume byers.
IW&AP Marshall, Ouyen, Vic, bought eight rams to $2100 and an average of $1537.
Long-time buyers Trevor and Liz Penfold, Temora, NSW, took four rams to $1800 and an average of $1500.
Evan and Tracy Fealy, Urana, NSW, also bought four rams, averaging $1900 and to a top of $2100.
Likewise, HB Vaneren & Sons, St Arnaud, Vic, also bought four rams, to $1500 and an average of $1225.
A volume buyer was Gerard Heffernan, Wagga Wagga, NSW, with eight rams to $1800 and an average of $1450.
There was no shortage of Eyre Peninsula bidders, with Claughton Family Trust, Yallunda Flat, buying four rams to $2400 and an average of $1700.
Fellow Yallunda Flat farmer AV&MJ Briese bought two rams to $1200 and an average of $1150.
RD&GM Miller, Ceduna, were volume bidders, taking seven rams to $1000 and an average of $971, while AC&JA Bates, Butler Tanks, bought two rams to $1400 and an average of $1350.