Big orders for Nonning's clean shedders

Three large pastoral orders from the Port Augusta and Broken Hill areas, as well as three inside country buyers made it a strong sale last Friday at Angus McTaggart's Kilmory property, from start to finish.

In the main auction, 110 rams averaged an impressive $810- up more than $80 on 2018, while in the mini auction 229 rams averaged $610.

The $1200 sale topper, Nonning 18-0528, was knocked down to EP buyer, Garryowen Pastoral, with FP Ag's Nigel "Scrub" O'Brien doing the bidding.

The 73.5 kilogram ram, which was 15 months old was born a twin and had an eye muscle depth of 34mm.

It was sired by homebred sire, Nonning 150410.

Two rams made the $1000 second highest price, including lot 39 which was one of the progeny of an embryo transfer program which the stud undertook using Saltbush 5070.

The 73.5kg ram sold to Australis White Dorper stud, Nairne.

Also at $1000 GJ Baker bought lot 52.

Long-time supporters the Nutt family, Pandurra Pastoral Company, via Port Augusta, underpinned the sale's success with 49 rams in the main auction and 182 rams in total.

In previous years any passed in rams have sold to the McTaggart family's Nonning Station via Port Augusta but this year the station was also an active bidder taking home 121 lots across the main auction and mini auction.

"We felt this was a better balance rather than picking out the best before the sale or being left with whatever was there," Mr McTaggart said.

Elders auctioneer Tom Dennis was impressed with the line-up and said the sheep "exhibited excellent shedding lines and muscle, with structural soundness" and presented in forward paddock reared condition.

Mr McTaggart said he was committed to presenting unshorn, untrimmed rams which were not supplementary fed.

"People know that what they see is what they get here,"he said.

"We have had them on the station for the past 20 years and they did well in the good seasons and breed really well in the drier years and still produce carcase in tough conditions."