It has been an interesting year for selling sheep seed stock.
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Uncertainty about the sheep market brought some volatility to the 2023 ram sale season.
For the most part, averages trended down on recent years, with clearances taking a hit - although less than expected.
But there were still some bright points.
After covering more than 130 ram sales during a tightly packed 2023 selling season, Stock Journal has established the high performers for the season.
The list of the top 10 Merino and Poll Merino sales can be found here.
Here are the best of the terminal breeds - the Poll Dorsets, White Suffolks and shedding options.
This list has been determined by sale average, with the proviso that the sale must have a minimum offering of 50 rams and clearance of 80 per cent.
10 - Wrattenbullie Poll Dorsets, Naracoorte - $1404
After winning the supreme Poll Dorset title during the Royal Adelaide Show judging, the Davies family of Wrattenbullie stud backed it up with their ram sale.
There was 100 per cent clearance of 132 Poll Dorset rams to a top of $6700 and average $1484.
Read more here.
9 - Ashmore White Suffolks, Wasleys - $1447
Overall 193 of 203 rams offered by stud principals Troy and Nette Fischer and family sold for a $1447 average.
This includes 10 stud rams topping at $9600 and averaging $4992 while 183 of 203 flock rams topped at $2600 and averaged $1226.
Read more here.
8 - Morton Poll Dorsets, Lucindale - $1448
Poll Dorsets were the standout at this year's on-property sale for the Morton stud.
The sale had full clearance of 115 Poll Dorset rams to a top of $2800 - twice - and average $1448.
The stud also offered Border Leicesters.
Read more here.
7 - She-Oak Lodge White Suffolks and Suffolks, Mount Hope - $1480
This Eyre Peninsula stud went against the trend, increasing its average for 2023.
The stud sold 140 of 148 rams offered - a 95 per cent clearance - with an overall average of $1480 and a top of $2800.
This breaks down to 72 of 76 White Suffolks selling to $2800, averaging $1632, and full clearance of 70 Suffolk rams to $2600, averaging $1360.
Read more here.
6 - Ulandi Park Poll Dorsets, Marrabel - $1488
There was stud interest in the Ulandi Parks genetics at this year's sale, with the top price ram nabbed by another stud in this list.
There was 128 rams sold from 149 offered, for an 86pc clearance, topping at $6750 and averaging $1488.
Read more here.
5 - Elton Downs White Suffolks, Karoonda - $1504
For a consecutive year, Elton Downs achieved full clearance with all 202 White Suffolk rams sold.
They reached a top of $2800, averaging $1504.
Read more here.
4 - Mount Pleasant Suffolk sale, Mount Pleasant - $1557
Results were strong across both vendors in the Mount Pleasant Suffolk sale.
Together, Belmont, Springton, and Curlew Valley, Manoora, sold 81 of 89 rams for a 91 per cent clearance, topping at $10,000 and averaging $1557.
Belmont sold 46 of 54 Suffolk rams to the $10,000 top and $1524 average, while Curlew Valley offered and sold 35 Suffolk rams to a top of $4600 and $1649 average.
Read more here.
3 - Days Whiteface/Allendale, Bordertown - $1662
It was a big day of selling at the Allendale and Days Whiteface stud's 51st annual ram sale.
Overall, 426 rams were offered with 355 sold - an 83pc clearance - to a top of $22,000, averaging $1662.
The rams were split across Poll Dorsets, White Suffolks, Suffolks and maternal composites.
Read more here.
2 - Red Rock Dorpers and White Dorpers, Keith - $1692
Overall, the Red Rock sale sold 110 of 122 rams, clearing 90pc, to a top of $5000, averaging $1692.
This breaks down to 65 White Dorpers sold from 75 offered, to an average of $1688, topping at $5000.
In the Dorper sale breakdown, 47 were offered with 45 selling to a top of $3800, averaging $1698.
Read more here.
1 - Melashdan Dorpers and White Dorpers, Tumby Bay
These quiet achievers on Eyre Peninsula have been building their stud and developing a solid buyers list, predominantly filled with station buyers.
There was full clearance of 108 rams to a $4000 top, averaging $2203.
A total of 35 Dorpers sold to the $4000 top of $4000, averaging $2760, while White Dorpers made a top of $3400, with a total of 73 sold to an average of $1937.
Read more here.
Honourable mention - Orrie Cowie SheepMasters, Warooka, $3043
This stud, well known for its Merino and Poll Merino offering, made a very strong start at its inaugural SheepMaster sale.
The stud had 49 rams offered with 44 sold for a top of $16,000 and average $3043.
Read more here.
