BARK Hut White Suffolk and composite stud on Kangaroo Island had one their best ram sales to-date, a nice reward for Andrew and Bec Bennett after being devastated by the summer bushfires, which destroyed pastures and fences.
"We're very pleased with the sale results and really appreciated the support from everyone," Mr Bennett said.
"It was also great to see repeat buyers along with new clients.
"It was fantastic sale, it would be up there as one of our best sales yet."
Overall, the Bennetts sold 119 rams from 124 offered.
All 44 White Suffolk rams sold to $2100, averaging $1366.
The top ram went to GA&A Buick and NRG Campbell, American River.
While 75 rams of the 80 composites offered, sold to $3000, averaging $1397.
The top composite sold to S&T Clark, Penneshaw.
Last year, 74 composites averaged $1099 and 44 White Suffolks averaged $949.
Stephen Clark said he was taking his composite rams back to his leased land at Antechamber Bay on the Dudley Peninsula, where he plans to use them over Suffolk ewes.
The biggest volume buyer on the day was Bott Farming, with eight composites.
The Bennett property was impacted on by the bushfires in January, but fortunately they were able to save their sheep, house and sheds.
The flock's fertility has been increasing through the years, but this year's scanning has been exceptional, given the difficult start to the year, in which fire affected 90 per cent of the property, burning all shelter belts and 26 kilometres of fencing.
"This year we had averaged 149pc at marking, a month after lambing, which was great, because we were worried, coming out of the fires, what the result would be," Mr Bennett said.
White Suffolk and composite rams are used as terminal sires in their commercial operation, joined to more than 3000 crossbred SAMM/Multimeat ewes.
The cross is allowing the Bennetts to sell lambs off grass, with minimal inputs.
The Bennetts aim for a carcase weight of 24 kilograms to 28kg.
"We lamb down in mid-June and they're gone by the third week in November," he said.
Stan Gorton
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
