Illawong rams reach $1350 high

At the Parawa sale, 16 Texel rams sold from 27 offered.

Returning buyer Jill Shepherd, Brukunga, paid the top price for lot 42, admiring the ram for its form, conformation and standing.

“It will hopefully grow out to be a nice, hard-working ram,” she said.

The ram will be joined with older Merino ewes to breed prime lambs.

Ms Shephard has bought at Illawong before and says she has been happy with the results.

“There is lots of vigour – they’re not pampered so they get out there and do the job very well,” she said.

Ms Shephard bought another ram at $800.

The Texel offering also sold to $1300 twice.

DG&JS Robinson, Kingscote, paid that price for the fourth Texel ram offered – which had an eye muscle area of 13.8 square centimetres, width of 64cm and depth of 28cm.

The Robinsons bought three rams in total, averaging $1017.

Imperial Partners, Mount Pleasant, bought the second ram at $1300, lot 35, which had a12.94sqcmEMA, 60cm width and 28cm depth.

Holdfast Ag, Mayland Farms, Strathalbyn, bought three rams to $100, averaging $900.

In the Poll Dorset offering, three of the 20 offered sold, with regular buyer Andrew Vincent, Middleton, buying all three at $800.

He said the size of the rams appealed to him, with them to be joined with Border Leicester-Merino ewes for prime lamb production.

Of the eight Dohne rams, two sold for $800, bought by Bennett Earthworks, Strathalbyn.

Illawong principal Charlotte Morley said she was pleased with the competition in the Texel competition, throughout the catalogue.

She said the rams had been through a tough season but still presented well.

The sale was conducted by Elders with Tom Penna the auctioneer.