It was another year and another record at Newbold's 76th on-property auction at Gawler River on Thursday last week, with a supreme Poll Dorset ram knocked down at $20,000 - the most expensive sire ever sold by the stud.
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Overall, 12 of 12 Poll Dorset rams sold to $20,000, averaging $5367, while 85 of 88 flock rams sold to $2600 twice, averaging $1390. All 16 Poll Dorset ewes on offer found homes, topping at $800 twice and averaging $530.
In the White Suffolk lineup, all five stud rams offered were sold, topping at $2200 three times and averaging $1940. A total clearance was also achieved in the White Suffolk flock ram offering, with all 64 rams selling to a top of $2000 twice, averaging $1244.
After an early online battle for lot one, the winning bid ended up being made in the shed, from Mary Burzacott, Mulgundawa Poll Dorsets, Mt Benson, who secured the exceptional sire for $20,000.
Sired by Marocara 49.15, the May 2019-drop ram had an Australian Sheep Breeding Value weaning weight of 11.2, post-weaning weight of 16.9, Pfat of -0.2, eye muscle depth of 3.7, a Lamb Eating Quality Index of 149.2 and a Terminal Carcase Production index of 154.6 - with both ASBV index values in the top 5 per cent in Australia.
Ms Burzacott had first seen the ram at the 2019 Royal Adelaide Show, where it was part of Newbold's team which placed first in the Sire's Progeny Pair. The ram was also part of the team which won first prize in the Pair of Rams section of the 2020 Tanunda Show.
"I noticed the ram as an impressive ram lamb last year, and I've followed him through since then," she said.
"His traits are so-balanced, he has plenty of muscling and a fantastic eating quality figure as well, that's something we're chasing."
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Newbold principal Bill Close said the ram was the "best overall sheep" ever bred by the stud.
"I thought he was probably a $20,000 ram, I'm just so pleased he got to that price, his figures and ability to produce quick growing lambs with a reasonable terminal body size is outstanding," Mr Close said.
"Our sale was a reflection of the strength of the lamb industry over the last couple of years, and also a reflection of the depth and quality of our sheep, and a reflection of what we're doing for our clients."
"It's the best clearance we've ever had here."
The second top-price of the sale was made by lot 9, a Poll Dorset stud ram with figures including 9.2WWT, 14.5PWWT, -0.3Pfat, 3.3EMD a TCP of 150.8 and LEQ index index of 148.5. The sire was knocked down at $8500 to JM Ellis & Co, Hamilton, Vic, with bidding completed online via AuctionsPlus.
The sale was jointly conducted by Nutrien and Elders, with Leo Redden and Tony Wetherall sharing the auctioneering duties.
Volume buyers on the day included long-term supporters WB&SJ Hurn, Angaston, who bought at the top end of the Poll Dorset offering, securing 12 to a top of $2200 twice, and averaging $1900, while fellow repeat clients WA&WB Pearce, Yankalilla, bought 15 Poll Dorset rams to $1100, averaging $940.
Scottswell Partners, Keith, bought 11 Poll Dorset rams to $2000 twice, averaging $1673.
Volume buyers in the White Suffolk offering included CLRS Trading, Balaklava, who secured 10 rams for an average of $1570, topping at $2200, as well as RG&A Willmott, Manoora, who secured 10 to $1400 twice, averaging $1110.
Ten rams were knocked down to AuctionsPlus bidders, to three bidders in SA and one in Vic.
The stud competition, particularly on the Poll Dorsets, showed that the Newbold genetics are well sought after.
- TONY WETHERALL
Nutrien stud stock auctioneer Leo Redden, who has attended the Newbold sale for 32 years, said it was "by far" the best sale he had ever seen by the stud.
Elders auctioneer Tony Wetherall said it was an "outstanding" result for the stud, and commended the depth of quality right through the offering.
"It was an outstanding result both on the Poll Dorsets and White Suffolks, the stud competition, particularly on the Poll Dorsets, showed that the Newbold genetics are well sought after," he said.
"That competition flowed right through the flock rams as well, return buyers from right around the state bid strongly right through the sale."
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Claire Harris
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
