HOT was the word Arthur Hoopell used to describe the Chandpara Southdown annual production sale held last Friday on-property at Tylden.
Buying at Chandpara for the past six years, the Hoopells, Woodend, were blown away by the strong contingent of new buyers that drove prices to $3100 for rams and $950 for ewes.
Overall, 48 rams averaged $1415 and 11 ewes av $855.
Andrew Hogarth and Aneika Crosswell, Kirkdale Southdowns, Evandale, Tasmania – keen to secure the reserve champion ram at the 2011 Australian Sheep & Wool Show – paid the top price.
The clean-faced, meaty ram with excellent length and type will be used as a stud sire to introduce new paternal bloodlines to the Kirkdale Stud.
First-time Chandpara buyer Tim Fincham, Burando Southdowns, Winchelsea, took home two rams, one at $3000 and the second at $2500, which was the twin to the sale-topping ram.
Graeme Dehnert, Fernhill Southdowns, Ballan, also paid $3000 for a ram and joined forces with New Zealand Southdown breeder John Macaulay, Tahrua Stud, to purchase lot 8 at $2600.
Mr Macaulay travelled to Australia earlier in the year as part of the NZ Southdown Society Tour and had taken a liking to the ram, in particular his paternal bloodlines.
He will use the ram’s semen in his stud, while the Dehnerts will use him as a sire.
Returning client Peter Bailey, Aramat Pastoral Co, Yarrawonga, was active throughout the top end of the sale, paying to $2100, av $1592, for seven rams.
However the sale’s biggest volume buyer was Mathew Puddicombe, Penmore, Darraweit Guim, taking 11 rams to $1350.
The Puddicombes have been using Chandpara Southdown rams for 11 years over their Border Leicester-East Friesian-Merino ewes because of their ease of lambing and high lambing percentages.
Rob McCrabb, Landmark Warrnambool, was also active throughout the sale, purchasing one ram at $2500 on behalf of AW&CM Douglas and Son, Woolsthorpe, to be used as a stud sire.
He also operated on behalf of clients ED&LR McKenzie, Timboon, buying six rams av $1325.
The McKenzies run a commercial prime lamb operation and will use the Southdowns over Coopworth ewes with lambs destined for the domestic market.
Tim Robinson, Paul & Scollard Albury, travelled to the sale with first-time client Malcolm Everitt, Albury, and secured two rams av $1150.
Mr Robinson also represented two other clients, purchasing five rams to be used over first-cross maiden ewes.
The ewe offering saw spirited bidding with only three buyers taking home ewes.
All & Jo Partnership, Digby, started their Southdown flock this year and were keen to buy numbers, ending up with six ewes av $833, while Beth McDonald, Edgcumbe Southdowns, Cavendish, took four at $913.
Stud principal and Southdown Australia secretary Andrew Sellars-Jones was thrilled with the result of the sale, saying it was testament to the resurgence in popularity for the Southdowns, with both on-property and paddock sales being buoyed by huge demand that far outweighed supply this year.
He has more stud ewes for sale in the New Year.
