SALE SUMMARY
Stud rams
2019 2018
Offered 7 7
Sold 7 7
Top $3800 $5600
Av $2886 $3557
Flock rams
Offered 119 117
Sold 119 117
Top $3000 $2300
Av $1766 $1880
BUYERS showed plenty of confidence in the impressive line-up of Poll Dorset sires at Wrattenbullie stud's annual ram sale at the Naracoorte Showgrounds on Monday, paying up to $3000 for flock rams.
Stud principals Rod, Gayle, Brad and Alana Davies notched up a total clearance of both their stud and flock rams, although the averages of both categories were back.
Seven stud rams topped at $3800 and averaged $2886, while 119 flock rams averaged a very credible $1766.
The sale set a cracking pace early with just two of the first 35 flock rams sold below $2000 but by sale's end 13 rams had been knocked down for $1000 or less.
This gave buyers of all budgets a chance, in contrast to 2018's sensational sale when no rams made less than $1000.
Tim and Debra Downing, Morooroo, Mundulla, secured the $3800 sale topper, Wrattenbullie 108-18 - an AI bred son of Aberdeen 527-16.
The lot 3 ram was one of the highest indexing rams in the catalogue with a Carcase Plus index of 207.8 and 142.8 on the new Total Carcase Production index, which includes eating quality traits.
"It is a large, well muscled ram with good figures for eye muscle and fat," Mr Downing said.
The Downings breed their own rams to put over their Multimeat ewe flock and also sell a few Poll Dorset rams to local clients.
Jelbart secured lot 1, a son of Leenala 150/16 for $3000.
Duxton Broadacre Farms, Frances, opened its account with lot 24, a ram which was elevated to lot 7, the start of the flock rams.
It was the $3000 top price flock ram.
Duxton was also the sale's volume buyer with 10 rams for a $1920 average by the final fall of the hammer.
Seven other buyers took home five or six rams each.
Dycinta Schultz, Kenlen Seeds, Koppamurra, bought in the top end with six rams to $2700 twice, averaging $2500.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen's Richard Harvie bought one of the stud rams for $2600 and then added another four flock rams, including two at $2700, for Glendon Vineyard, Padthaway.
JE Shepherd & Co, Kybybolite, went home with five rams, all at $2200 and LS Johnson & Son, Naracoorte, put together six rams to $1900, averaging $1650.
Five rams headed to Balmoral, Vic, to GE Russell Pastoral to $2500 twice, averaging $2160.
Southern Australian Livestock auctioneer Mat Macdonald said it was a "very good" result with a wide geographical spread of buyers from across the South East and into western Vic, comprising 41 registered bidders.
"They (the rams) sold well but the stud rams were good value buying with opportunities to buy good genetics which buyers should remember for next year," he said.
"The rams presented very well with a bit more meat and muscle and their figures are coming up every year too."
Rod Davies said it was humbling to see their clients willing to spend money $2000 or more on their genetics and to see repeat buyers making up more than 90 per cent of the gallery.
Brad Davies was also rapt with the sale describing it as a "huge result".
"The lamb job is as good as it is ever going to be and we are one of the only places that has got green feed," he said.
SAL Naracoorte and Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen conducted the sale with Mr Macdonald and Josh Manser the auctioneers.
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