Newbold Poll Dorsets reach $5000 high

During the auction 11 stud Poll Dorset rams sold to $5000, averaging $2700, while 74 of 79 flock rams reached $2400, twice, averaging $1297.

Overall, the 85 Poll Dorset rams averaged $1474.

The top price ram – lot 1 – is heading interstate to repeat buyer Westgarth Farming Trust, Yarramie stud, Strathdownie, Vic, with bidding carried out by Kevin Norman, Mount Gambier.

The ram, which was part of the Newbold winning lamb production pair – export at the Royal Adelaide Show and Champion Poll Dorset ram at Gawler Show, was a May 2017-drop twin.

It had a weaning weight figure of 10.5, post-weaning weight of 15.6, Pfat of -1.4, lamb eating quality of 123.5 and Carcase Plus index of 187.5

Mr Norman described it as a “long, growthy” ram with good muscle.

Volume buyer, and active in the top end, for the Poll Dorsets was WB&SJ Hurn, Angaston, with 15 rams to $2800, averaging $2067.

WA&WB Pearce, Strathalbyn, bought 11 rams to $1100, averaging $880.

Top price buyers for the White Suffolk ram selection, TR&OA Mudge, Port Wakefield, took advantage of good value buying, picking up a stud ram for commercial prices.

Trevor Mudge said the ram was “magnificent” and long.

“It was a top quality ram for a good price,” he said.

“We thought it was an outstanding ram with tremendous length and width.

“We were aiming at the top end – we like to buy better rams if we can.”

The ram May 2017-drop twin ram had a 11.8WWT, 18.9PWWT, -0.4pfat and Carcase Plus index of 211.1.

The Mudges bought three through the ring, averaging $1733.

Volume buyers for the White Suffolk catalogue were Pindarie Farms, Riverton, with four rams to $900, averaging $825, and TJ&DA Quinn, Mount Bryan, with four rams to $850, also averaing $825.

In all 25 of 49 White Suffolk rams averaged $972.

The sale also offered 12 stud Poll Dorset ewes, with 10 sold to $750 twice, with the top price ewes heading to Bendleby Angus, Strathalbyn.

Of the seven Texel and Texel-composite rams, one sold to $800.

Newbold’s Bill Close said the bidding for the Poll Dorset offering had been solid, particularly at the top end, while the second half of the catalogue allowed everyone the chance to buy at their price.

“The Poll Dorset results are indicative of the great potential in the lamb industry,” he said.

“The sheep industry so exciting to be in at the moment – we had clients sell 70 per cent of their sucker lambs and average $213.”

Mr Close said the White Suffolk offering had been impacted by the season, with three major clients not buying rams this year due to destocking ewes.

“I think the White Suffolk line-up was the best we’d had,” he said.

“Buyers got great value with their rams.”

The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark with Tom Penna and Gordon Wood sharing the auctioneering duties.