VORTEX
*55 of 61 sold, top price $1050, ave. $735.
SPRING ram sales in the North East have started at a cracking pace, with Goorambat's Vortex stud achieving an 80 per cent clearance of its White Suffolks last week.
The sale of 10 Charollais-White Suffolk rams helped build interest in the sale, stud principal Robert Hooper said.
Rodwells Benalla auctioneer John Gregory said the rams on sale were "a magnificent line-up."
"This is a cracking pen of meat machines," he told buyers.
"Look at those lamb producers - they will serve on those maiden ewes exceptionally well."
The stud put up 61 rams, including the 10 Charollais-cross animals, for a total sale price of $41,200.
The rams averaged $735, with a top price of $1050 paid for lot 17.
It was bought by Scott Meehan, Newmarket Stock Services, Euroa, buying on behalf of Allenvale Estates, Avenel, and several other graziers.
The highest-priced ram had a Carcase Plus Index of 155.61, a fat score of -0.4 and an eye muscle score of -0.1.
Mr Meehan said he had been attending the sale for about eight years.
"The rams are doing the right thing for us so it is just repeat buyers coming back to by them," Mr Meehan said.
"Price is not a factor - if the ram stands up and we are happy with him, we will just get in and buy him."
Clients were taking a "wait and see" attitude towards the Charollais cross, he said.
"I'd probably like to see lambs on the ground before I purchased them," he said.
"These new breeds come in and some perform, some fade out, but everyone keeps falling back on the traditional Poll Dorsets or White Suffolks."
Mr Hooper said he was very pleased with the result as it was one of the best clearances Vortex had ever had.
"It was, without being ridiculous, not too silly," Mr Hooper said.
"It was much better than last year because there seemed to be a trend away from prime lambs in this district towards cropping and, yes, I am much happier."
He said the buyers of the Charollais-cross would be happy with their purchases.
"They are full of meat so their lambs will be too, for sure."