MULGUNDAWA Poll Dorset and Richmond Park White Suffolk studs achieved a near full clearance of more than 300 rams at their successful 26th annual on-property ram sale at Robe on Monday.
Although the top prices in both breeds were back slightly on last year, the averages were up, evidence of the confidence in the prime lamb industry and that buyers are happy to invest in good genetics on the promise of good returns.
Stud principals Mary Burzacott and Mike Emery sold 157 of 162 Poll Dorsets to $2400, averaging $1445 - a $60 increase on last year's average.
A full clearance was achieved on their White Suffolk rams to an average of $1108, which was a few dollars higher than the 2018 average.
The rams were sold to a full gallery of 50 return and new buyers from around the South East, including Millicent, Kingston, Naracoorte, Willalooka, Kalangadoo, Penola and Mount Gambier, and further afield from Loxton, Ouyen, Vic and Casterton, Vic.
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Guy Kentish, Waterloo Ag, Casterton, Vic, paid the top price of $2400 in the Poll Dorset draft for lot 2, sired by Woolumbool 162529.
The sale-topper, which weighed 117 kilograms, had a Carcase Plus index of 200 and and an eye muscle figure of 2.2.
Along with the top price ram, Mr Kentish bought another three Poll Dorset sires securing the four for a $2345 average.
The Poll Dorset volume buyer was Hatherleigh producers, Fitzgerald & Co, securing 13 rams to $1500 for a $1161 average.
A close second in the numbers stakes was WP&MA Andrews, Kingston, who bought 12 Poll Dorsets, paying from $1000 to $1800 and averaging $1450; and Brad Creek, Mt Gambier, who bought 12 rams from $1200 to $1800, for an average of $1463.
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In the Richmond Park White Suffolk offering the two specially-selected rams sold for $1600 to Craig Jones, Naracoorte and DL&SJ Flint, Kingston at $1500.
The first pen of three flock White Suffolks was bought by Mr Jones who chose to take all three rams, at the sale high of $1700.
The rams, sired by Ramsay Park 166127 or Omad 150129, weighed 125kg, 121kg and 121kg respectively.
Volume buyers JA&CK Clarke, Kingston, bought 16 rams for a $1094 average.
MP&EK Goode, also took 16 rams back to their Willalooka property for a $1119 average.
Taking home 11 rams each were Kentish & Sons, Mount Gambier, which averaged $1318 for its buys and Dolling Partners, Kingston, which averaged $991.
Landmark conducted the sale with Gordon Wood and Richard Miller the auctioneers.
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