Richmond Park White Suffolks and Mulgundawa Poll Dorsets held their annual on-property sale on Monday at Robe, with an outstanding line up of Poll Dorset and White Suffolk rams presented for sale.
Being entirely paddock-reared and pasture-fed, the do-ability and constitution of the rams shone through, presenting buyers with an exceptional selection all the way through the catalogue.
In the Poll Dorset offering, 134 of 148 sires sold to a top of $4800, averaging $1894, while 132 White Suffolk sires sold from 152 offered, topping at $2200 and averaging $1221, .
The first of the two Poll Dorset stud rams generated the most interest and competition when opening bids were called, and after some lively competition, the ram was finally knocked down to a phone bid from Dugald and Bec McIndoe, Smithston Farms Poll Dorset and White Suffolk Studs, Glen Innes, NSW, at $4800.
The Lot 1 sire (#200717) was a May 2020-drop son of Ivadene 170140, and weighing 136 kilograms with a weaning weight of 10.6, and post weaning weight of 16.0, a PWfat of -0.3, eye muscle depth of 2.3, and a Terminal Carcase Production Index of 138.
The Lot 2 stud ram (#200836), weighed 128kg, and had figures including 10.3WWT, 16.2PWWT, -0.1PWfat and 2.1EMD, with a TCP index of 137. Also sired by Ivadene 170140, will be staying a bit closer to home, selling to local Kingston SE grazier BR Parker at $3800.
Benara Pastoral, Mount Gambier was the Poll Dorset volume buyer, paying to $2200 and average $1700 for 14 rams.
Kerr Family Pastoral Co, Allendale East bought 10 Poll Dorsets to $2600, for an average of $2220, while Griffin Pastoral bought nine Poll Dorsets to $1200 averaging $1111.
Four stud rams were offered in the 2021 Richmond Park White Suffolk sale catalogue. Repeat buyers, RA&JMJones, Lochaber bought three of the four studs on offer; one at $2200 and two others at $2000.
The top White Suffolk (#200454) was a June 2020-drop, sired by Aylesbury Farm 177375. A twin, the sire weighed 124kg, with figures including 11.6WWT, 18.2PWWT, -0.8PWfat, 1.2EMD and a TCP index of 143.
In addition to the stud rams, the Jones family bought another three flock rams, averaging $2133 across the lot.
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Mr Jones said of the Richmond Park White Suffolks "they're consistent year in, year out and with very good bone structure, frame and meat coverage. All in all, they're good, sound, strong boned sheep".
BR&C Agents, Ouyen, was the volume buyer in the White Suffolk offering, securing 22 rams to $1600, and averaging $986.
TW&DL Flint, Kingston SE bought 16 White Suffolks, to $1200 for an average price of $975, while Kentish &Sons, Mount Gambier bought 14 White Suffolks, to $1600 paying an average price of $1143.
Stud principal Michael Emery said the overall sale results were "very pleasing."
"The Poll Dorset average and clearance were better than expected and the average for White Suffolks was perfectly acceptable," he said.
"This year's Poll Dorset rams are closest to the best-shaped rams we've ever put up, especially through the lower part of the catalogue".
Nutrien conducted the sale, with Richard Miller and Gordon Wood as auctioneers.
Mr Wood said he was impressed by the enormous growth-for-age in the Mulgundawa and Richmond Park rams.
"There was an opportunity to buy in at any budget today - the Poll Dorset sale was very strong but we simply ran out of buyers on the White Suffolks," he said.
"We're seeing some great rams coming through the stud showing positive eye muscle and fat with a very good constitution which are matching up well to Lambplan performance data."
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