A NEW Australian White stud breeder paid $20,000 for the "best ram ever bred" at Ardene's ninth annual on-property sale, at Mount Torrens on Thursday.
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LOCAL, national and even international interest resulted in strong competition on top-end sheep, which led to high averages, but clearance rates dipped on an increased ram and ewe offering.
In the sale breakdown, ten of 15 stud-calibre rams sold to a high of $20,000, averaging $10,700, while 65 of 110 flock rams sold to $5000, averaging $3669.
Ardene's Bruce and Jannie Hodgson offered a lot more ewes than in previous years, with 50 of 76 scanned-in-lamb stud ewes sold to $8000, averaging $5380, 21 of 49 ewe lambs sold to $4000, averaging $3142, and 15 of 44 unjoined ewes sold to $2000, averaging $1716.
The second of the rams offered, a 122-kilogram May 2020-drop twin, was bought by Jacquie and Kevin McCarthy of Eden Valley, who plan to start a stud, with the base formed by the 20 scanned in lamb ewes and the showpiece ram they bought on the day.
The ram has a strong pedigree with its sire a stud-retained ram that has had semen exported internationally.
Ardene principal Jannie Hodgson considered it the best ram they'd ever bred.
"We couldn't fault him," she said.
"He's good on his feet, has a massive amount of meat and a superb temperament - the attributed we've been aiming for for the past ten years."
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While the top-priced ram is only making a short trip to its new home, Ardene rams and ewes are destined for Qld, WA, Vic, NSW, all corners of SA and even New Zealand.
Roger Ramsey made the trip over from Te Awamutu in the central region of the North Island and will have 15 2021 and 2020-drop stud Ardene ewes join him back home following a seven-week quarantine process in Melbourne.
Mr Remsey said there was only a handful of Australian White sheep in NZ, with half a dozen members registered in the country's breed society.
He runs the Majestic Aussie Whites NZ stud and is also a Valais Blacknose breeder, flushing embryos from them to send to the USA for the lifestyle market.
He said the reasons he liked Australian Whites was for their all-year mating potential and the low melting point of their meat.
"There's definitely a lot of interest in NZ," Mr Remsey said.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't have people contacting me wanting to buy what I've already got.
"I've got some Aussie Whites at home from a Tattykeel background, but came over to source some new genetics.
"Bruce is going to join them here before they are sent over. Once we get them home we'll lamb those down, before flushing embryos for our own stud."
Leading the way in the volume buying stakes on the rams was G Winks, through AuctionsPlus, who bought ten to $4500 four times, averaging $3750.
Livestock Marketing Pty Ltd, also through AuctionsPlus, bought six rams all at $3000, while CG, CL & DJ Groth, Keith, bought six to $4000 twice, averaging $3500.
D Batt, through FP Ag Victor Harbor, bought five rams to $4500 twice, averaging $3800, while all taking four were BC&DK Richardson, Tintinara, averaging $3125, Lake Yaninee Pastoral, Wudinna, averaging $4375, and K Schirmer, averaging $3750.
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Prominent SIL ewe buyers included the McCarthys with 20 to $7500 twice, averaging $5275, and CE Flanagan & PF Ebert, Warrenbayne, Vic, buying ten to $8000, averaging $6400.
EK&L Kennedy, Williams, WA, bought seven ewe lambs and an un-joined ewe, averaging $3250.
Ardene principal Bruce Hodgson said he was pleased with the sale result, particularly with many ewes and rams being dealt on after the fall of the final hammer.
"We were happy with how the stud rams sold and the competition on the flock rams," he said.
"Overall we were happy with the sale.
"More and more sheep are going further afield which is a good sign.
"It has been great to see the breed has been gaining a lot of traction and people seeing the virtues of the breed. The uptake by breeders and the wider industry is exciting."
Elders and Nutrien conducted the sale, with Ben Finch and Gordon Wood sharing auctioneering duties.