SALE SUMMARY
Poll Dorsets
2018 2017
Offered 203 176
Sold 196 176
Top $2400 $2100
Av $1366 $1417
White Suffolks
Offered 100 84
Sold 82 71
Top $2000 $1800
Av $932 $989
Suffolks
Offered 30 36
Sold 25 31
Top $1500 $1700
Av $800 $887
BUYERS of all budgets were well catered for at Mullinger Park’s 15th annual ram sale on Thursday last week in one of the state’s largest offerings of prime lamb sires.
In a huge result Brett and Amanda Shepherd, Kybybolite, added an extra 35 rams to their offering at the Naracoorte Showgrounds but still came close to maintaining their average.
In just over two hours, 303 of 330 Poll Dorset, White Suffolk and Suffolk rams sold for a $1202 average.
In comparison in 2017 278 of 296 sold for a $1248 average.
Several of the 59 bidders in the packed stands were willing to spend $2000 for their pick rams in a sign of the strength of the prime lamb market.
However there were still plenty of lots knocked down at $600 and $700 in the massive catalogue.
Long-time sale supporters Phil and Jackie Muecke, Penola, paid the $2400 top price for Lot 3, a May 2017-drop Poll Dorset born a twin.
The sale topper had a carcase plus index of 184, including an eye muscle depth of +1.5.
It had been part of the stud’s show team and was a son of Bruan 15-119 which also sired Mullinger Park’s second placed sire’s progeny group at the 2018 Royal Adelaide Show.
“We mainly look at structure before the figures and we liked the type of sheep it was,” Mr Muecke said.
The Mueckes bought five Poll Dorsets for a $2240 average.
JJ Munro, Naracoorte, secured rams from all three breeds, including the $2000 top price White Suffolk.
The Lot 7 ram, a May-2017-drop was sired by Wheetlande 15-8552.
Munros also bought 11 Poll Dorsets to $2100 for a $1918 average plus Lot 10, a specially selected Suffolk ram at Lot 10 for $700.
Several other big orders from Horsham, Vic, to Millicent ensured spirited bidding in many pens of three.
Locmaria Farms, Hynam, led the way with 29 Poll Dorsets to $2000 twice for a $1448 average and added eight Suffolks to their order for a $720 average.
Stark Grazing, Stewart Range, bought 16 Poll Dorsets to $2200 averaging $1800.
Glendoon Pastoral, Binnum, bought 10 Poll Dorsets for a $1460 average and six White Suffolks averaging $1150.
Mr Shepherd said he was “very happy” considering how dry the season was across much of the state.
“Everyone got the number of rams they wanted- our objective was to have enough rams and at the price they were happy to pay,” he said.
He was pleased with the presentation of the rams too and the studs’ continual improvement in Lambplan figures.
“We are not feeding 100 sheep we have 400 to 500 rams so to be able to get them to where they are is always good,” he said.
Elders Naracoorte branch manager Tom Dennis said it was a great result after the stud stepped up its numbers to accommodate new clients from Leenala stud which dispersed last year.
“The top end was really strong and there was excellent quality through to the last stages,” he said.
Southern Australian Livestock, Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen and Elders were joint selling agents with Josh Manser and Mat MacDonald sharing the rostrum with Mr Dennis.
