Average up, clearance back in massive Bundara Downs offering

But the clearance rate was back on 2018's strong result.

In one of the state's largest British Breed offerings for the season, 269 of the 334 White Suffolk, Poll Dorset and Suffolk rams offered by Steve, Ros, Greg and Selena Funke sold to four states for a $1488 average.

The $6200 sale topper was the first of six Poll Dorset stud rams to go through the ring.

The Simons family, Pembroke Pastoral Company, Telangatuk East, Vic, were the successful buyer of lot 237, BD 181634, which was a member of the stud's interbreed Lambplan group at Hamilton Sheepvention, Vic, in August and also won its Lambplan Poll Dorset class at the recent Royal Adelaide Show.

The eye-appealing ram with plenty of power and capacity was a April 2018-drop son of Hillcroft Farm 130156- a trait leader for muscle and lean eating quality.

It had a terminal carcase production index of 152.96.

"We were chasing the TCP figure but the sheep itself was also a standout. It is a big,long ram with meat where we need it," Kathy Simons said.

In the Poll Dorset breakdown the six stud rams averaged $2900, while the 10 specially selected rams averaged $2020 and 49 flock rams averaged $1310.

The five White Suffolk stud rams averaged $2440 and the 10 specially selected rams averaged $2680.

Most of the three and a half hour sale was interfaced with Auctions Plus with 38 individuals logging on, including Robert Gray, Cowra, NSW, who bought the top price White Suffolk for $5700.

This came well into the flock ram offering at lot 89 for a June 2018-drop with a TCP figure in the top 10pc.

It was among the first progeny offered by Woolumbool 173980 - a ram which Bundara Downs bought a half share in as a four-month-old lamb in early 2018, and which is a trait leader for eating quality.

The Goerling family, Lukin Springs stud, Boyup Brook, WA, secured another one of these sons at lot 15 for $4000 and the following lot , also by 173980, was knocked down at $5600 to AuctionsPlus to Gary Hill, Hills stud, Stawell, Vic.

Bundara Downs again donated the proceeds in lot 19 to the Royal Flying Doctor Service with the White Suffolk ram making $2000 to Feder Farming, Lillimur, Vic.

Their total donations in the past 16 years have now surpassed a remarkable $27,000.

Several large orders helped underpin the flock ram bidding.

Leon and Tim Schwarz, Muston Pastoral Company, Carramut, Vic, were easily the sale's bulk buyer putting together 25 White Suffolks to $2300 averaging $1472 and 20 Poll Dorsets to a $2000 for a $1475 average.

Gumlee Park,Kaniva, secured nine White Suffolks averaging $1878 and Karwin Nominees, Field, took home 10 rams for a $1450 average.

Stark Grazing, Stewart Range, was a major Poll Dorset buyer with 15 rams to $2200, averaging $1513.

Five of 20 Suffolks sold to $1000 twice, both of these bought by Stopp Family Trust, Keith.

In his pre-sale amble Elders auctioneer Laryn Gogel commended Bundara Downs on its incredible success at Hamilton Sheepvention, Vic, taking out the top two placings in the interbreed Lambplan class and then followed this up at the Royal Adelaide Show where the stud had 10 of the 12 finalists in the interbreed trade lamb class and also won the interbreed group of three rams.

"You commercial guys may think the show ring is a different world but where they (the Funkes) have performed exceptionally well is their performance in the Lambplan classes which is what it is all about in the commercial world," he said.

After the sale he said the demand was very strong on the top end rams which had great growth and eye muscle but the sale simply ran out of buyers in the latter stages.

"The stud has continued to challenge the numbers it offers but our numbers of ewes, even in the south, are not growing, this was reflected in the numbers of rams sold today," Mr Gogel said.

"Last year we saw a very strong Poll Dorset sale so this may just be the hangover after the honeymoon year."

One of the sale highlights for the Funke family was the strong bidding on the top end of the White Suffolk flock ram offering with their previous best for a flock ram $2500.

But Steve Funke said the Poll Dorsets and Suffolks were a "work in progress" and the family would continue to offer large numbers to offer their clients plenty of choice and value for money.

Elders Bordertown conducted the sale with Ronnie Dix sharing the auctioneering duties.