Poll Dorsets hit $2700 at Netley Park auction

Six of the first 10 Poll Dorset rams offered by Michael King made $2000 or more in a sign of the bidding strength of the South East, Mid North and western Vic lamb producers.

Momentum continued well into the catalogue ensuring a new stud Poll Dorset record average of $1342- up nearly $90 on a cracking 2017 sale.

But late in the sale those in the stands had filled their orders and the bids fell silent.

Spence Dix’s Bordertown based agent Kym Lovelock paid $2500 for Lot 4 for John Feder,Lillimur, Vic.

But it was his next buy at Lot 7 – a 106-kilogram ram with great length and an eye muscle area of 39 square centimetres which made the at $2700 sale high.

Spence Dix & Co director Rodney Dix had multiple orders including securing eight for Rockallen, Willalooka,to $1600 for a $1188 average.

Egel Partners, Keith, bought seven rams to $1200, averaging $1057.

Auctioneers Luke Schreiber and Daniel Griffiths raced through the Border Leicester offering too with most buyers electing to take both rams in the pick of the pair.

Four buyers took home 10 rams of more helping ensure a total clearance of the Border Leicester offering for a $1268 average – similar to 2017.

 Long-time supporters, Willswood Farms, Bordertown, outlaid the $1900 equal top price for Lot 1.

The 81kg ram was one of 10 they bought for a $1420 average.

The Williams family were recently named JBS Australia’s Great Southern lamb supplier of the year from more than 3500 producers,announced at a gala dinner at Melbourne’s Crown Casino.

The other $1900 Border ram, Lot 2, went to BH&L Loller, Brimbago.

KR&RA Sherriff & Sons, Keith, were successful on the largest number of Borders securing 13 rams to $1500 twice and averaging $1323.

Saltbush Ag, Booborowie, put together 11 rams for a $1109 average and WA,RG&NW Robinson, Ullswater, Vic, bought 10 for a $1280 average.

Mr Schreiber said Netley Park’s rams were breeding well which kept buyers coming back.

‘It is always disappointing to pass in a few rams but we lost a volume order with the dry seasonal conditions in the Mallee,” he said.

“It (High prices) has taken many guys from $800 to $1200 and they are happy to pay that as they are getting it back at the other end when they sell their lambs,” he said.

“The challenge for studs is to produce more of the better rams than they have before.”

Mr King thanked buyers for their fantastic support and noted the top end of the Poll Dorsets sold exceptionally well.

He was pleased with the evenness of the 2018 offering of both breeds, aiming to breed Poll Dorset rams with plenty of length and muscling and Border Leicester rams with “stretch and good wool types”.

Also on display at the sale was Netley Park’s new stud sire Abelene Park 102-17, the $13,000 top priced ram from the Australasian Dorset Championships, held in Bendigo, Vic.

It was the second year in a row Mr King has bought the top priced ram at the event, also paying $12,000 for another Abelene Park ram in 2017.