SALE SUMMARY
2017
Offered 185
Sold 180
Top $7000
Av $1522
FRIDAY the 13th proved lucky for Paxton Border Leicester stud at Western Flat which burst onto the on-property ram sale calendar.
In a remarkable effort, stud principals Martin and Kirsty Harvey, sold 180 of 185 July and August 2016 drop rams for a $1522 average, at their first annual sale.
The main sale featured 144 lots and another 33 were catalogued for the mini auction but with the sustained strength of the sale there was a last minute decision to run the whole catalogue through the ring.
The Harveys bought the Wongary stud in 2009 from Robert and Diana Hooper at Wrattonbully and have built a strong, loyal clientele for their paddock reared ,maternal sires.
After selling privately for years they decided to hold an auction to give each of these buyers an equal chance to secure the rams of their choice.
Lot 1- a twin born, July 2016 drop – ram sired by Glencorrie 140457 achieved a new $7000 stud record, knocked down to the Simons family, Pembroke stud, Telangatuk East, Vic.
Buyer Ashley Simons, was impressed with the ‘well shaped” ram with excellent hindquarters and balance of Lambplan figures, including a positive fat figure of 0.4 and positive eye muscle of 0.1.
The opening high price set the scene for the stellar sale, which saw a packed gallery from the Mid North, the Mallee and throughout the South East.
Many specialist first cross ewe producers who are vendors at the Naracoorte blue ribbon sales were among those with volume orders.
They went head to head, regularly surpassing $2000 for their pick rams.
McPiggery, Lameroo, bought the $2700 second highest priced ram, at Lot 5 – one of seven rams they bought for a $2300 average.
It was also sired by a Glencorrie ram with a yearling weight of 8.4.
Susie Pocock, Pocock Pastoral, Lameroo and Pocock Pastoral’s Western Flat property manager Angus Munro dominated the top end buying with 13 rams in the first 50 lots for a $2069 average.
Pocock Pastoral will offer 2800 ewes and ewe lambs at the Naracoorte first cross sales in November.
“We were looking for the biggest rams for the money with long bodies and plenty of depth,” Mrs Pocock said.
ME&JE Pridham, Western Flat, bought 12 rams for a $1750 average and Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen’s Jason Mahney bought 14 rams for Locmaria Farms, Western Flat, for a $1214 average.
Treetop Estate, Meningie, bought eight rams for a $1600 average and Moyhall Pastoral, Naracoorte bought 10 rams for a $1030 average.
Mr Harvey was “over the moon” with the result but also pleased there were rams available late in the sale for $800 to $1000 for those with lesser budgets.
“It is better than we could have ever hoped,” he said.
“Last year we were offering the pick of our rams for $1200 so to average more than that this year is unbelievable.”
“The lamb job is booming so we are hoping our long time loyal clients have a great sale with their first crosses,” he said.
Mr Harvey said they had continued to focus on the Hooper’s breeding philosophy.
“We want thick, well-muscled, easy care, well structured, fertile rams,” he said.
Paxton is also considering holding a second sale in future years to offer their White Suffolk and Poll Dorset rams after already selling out of 210 terminal sires in paddock sales.
“After the success of today it will be a definite consideration,” he said.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen conducted the sale with Josh Manser and Jono Spence the auctioneers.