Mulgundawa Poll Dorset average climbs to $1385

The Robe sale kicked off with 160 paddock-raised Poll Dorset rams offered and sold to 46 registered bidders from Millicent, Mt Gambier, Kingston, Lucindale and Penola.

The first ram under the hammer in the two and a half hour sale was the sale topper, knocked down to Hartley Hocking, Lucindale, at $2800. 

The 123 kilogram ram, sired by Derrynock 150051, boasted a Lambplan carcase index of +202.

Mr Hocking, a repeat client of the Mulgundawa and Richmond Park studs said he had enjoyed some “pretty good results” from the sires, putting the White Suffolks over his first cross ewe lambs and Poll Dorset rams over his older ewes. 

Mr Hocking bought five Poll Dorsets to $2800 to average $2100 and four White Suffolks for a $1300 average.

Although the White Suffolk top price didn’t reach last year’s high, the average was up by more than $160 to $1385.

JM&MC Williams, Kalangadoo, was the volume Poll Dorset buyer snapping up 32 rams for a $1215 average, as well as 12 White Suffolks averaging $1066.

KB&RM Skeer, Thornlea, bought 13 Poll Dorsets for a $1315 average and Waterloo Ag, Mt Gambier, took home 10 sires for a $1660 average.

Strong competition continued in the Richmond Park White Suffolk draft including the first ram in the run which made the top money of $2300, selling to KH&SJ Smith, Eight Mile Creek.

A recently retired dairy farmer, Mr Smith has taken a new direction producing Angus beef and starting a White Suffolk stud with 23 ewes.

Sired by Oakwood 140025, the 116kg ram had solid figures including a +197 carcase plus index.

Although the sale did not reach the heady heights of last year it still returned a very satisfying average of $1104.

For the second consecutive year Rising Sun Pastoral Company, Western Flat, was the volume buyer with 37 White Suffolks for a $1051 average, most times buying all rams in the pick of the pen of three.

Benara Pastoral, Mount Gambier, bought 14 rams for a $1135 average and return clients BR&C Agents, Ouyen, Vic, bought 13 rams averaging $1092.

Stud principals Mary Burzacott and Michael Emery were happy with the total clearance of both breeds and very pleased to see so many return clients at the sale. 

“We’ve had a great season and the rams are in great working condition,” Ms Burzacott said.

“The season has been so good it was a bit of a struggle to keep the weight off.”

Landmark studstock auctioneer Gordon Wood, who conducted the sale with Richard Miller, said it was an exceptionally strong sale, particularly on the Mulgundawa Poll Dorsets which had built a great following over many years with a reputation for good early growth and the figures to back them up.

Mr Wood said the White Suffolks showed tremendous growth for age and were exceptional value buying.