Big frames interest Koonawarra buyers

It was halfway through the offering that the $3000 top price Border Leicester ram was knocked down to Graham Ahrens, Lyndoch.

Sired by Coolawang C-180226, a long, well-boned ram carrying a dense fleece, with figures of a weaning weight of 5.8 with 1.4 for post-weaning fat, 1.1 post-weaning eye muscle depth and ranked 131.5 on the Border Leicester index.

Mr Ahren runs about 3000 first-cross and Poll Merino ewes on a Bangham property in the South East, managed by Alison and Gaven Thorne.

The $3000 top price ram will be joined to Poll Merino ewes to produce progeny for the Naracoorte first-cross ewe sales in November.

It is the third year Kooawarra genetics have been used in the flock and Mr Thorne said he wanted to improve lamb size.

"We want a bigger frame to help produce bigger lambs," he said.

The Thornes also began sourcing the stud's genetics to help increase wether weights.

"We want to to hit the market quicker and faster growing sheep with good frames do that," Mr Thorne said.

The main auction of 84 White Suffolk rams sold to $1400 four times, averaging $1512. The first ram under the hammer at $1400 was Lot 1, sold to Regari Pty Ltd, Mount Pleasant.

The twin ram was sired by Bundara Downs 181653, a ram that was noted for its high performance in the stud and winner of the trade performance class at the 2019 Royal Adelaide Show.

Its figures read well, recording 11.6WWT, 18.8PWWT, -0.4Pfat and 1.2PEMD and ranking 143.98 on the Terminal Carcase Production index.

Lots 3 and 4 also made $1400 and were also secured by Regari. Lot 3 was another twin with 11.7WWT, 18.8 PWWT, 0.1 Pfat and 2.3PEMD and 148 on the TCP index.

Lot 4 was also a twin, sired by BD-181653 that had 11.9WWT, 18.9PWWT, 0Pfat and 2.2PEMD and ranked 148.48 on the TCP index.

Bailey Agri Pty Ltd, Peterborough, bought seven rams, including the final $1400 top price ram, averaging $928.

Stud principal Mark Grossman said it was a mixed sale but Border Leicesters sold well.

"The sale lacked some of the volume buyers from last year but buyers had the opportunity to secure quality rams at good value," he said.

The Poll Dorset lineup had 24 offered and three sold to $1000, averaging $1000 with the top price ram for the breed sired by Newbold 170100 and sold to RG&TA Hentschke, Mount Pleasant.

It carried figures of 10.6WWT, 16.2PWWT, -0.7Pfat and 2.4PEMD, and ranking 139.86 on the TCP index.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions Gawler and Elders Roseworthy.