IN A marathon selling session, Banyenong West Poll Dorset breeders Doug and Robyn Russell farewelled their stud ewes to a record-breaking top-price of $5500 last Friday.
During more than six hours of constant bidding under the guidance of four auctioneers, they off-loaded 520 stud ewes and broke Australia’s previous record ewe price of $2700.
The ewe, secured by Chris Marr of Gererdan Poll Dorsets, Marrar, near Wagga Wagga, NSW, was a well-acclaimed maiden, placing reserve champion ewe at Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show and Interbreed Champion Ewe at Hamilton Sheepvention.
She was also a daughter of the Champion Ewe at Adelaide Royal in 2008.
A hotly contested future breeder, she impressed Mr Marr with her correctness and length. Mr Marr said she will enter an embryo transfer program.
He was also the losing bidder on the $3750 ewe secured by Andrew Scott, Valley Vista Poll Dorsets, Coolac, NSW. This ewe’s four-month-old lamb was also offered and sold for $1500 to the Kentish Downs Stud from Holbrook, NSW.
The well known Gloroy Stud from Newbridge put together a draft of 14 ewes to a top of $3000 and an overall average of $1000.
They focused on buying top quality ewes which were structurally sound and balanced, but also with good growth and eye muscle figures.
The sale’s volume buyer, Gerard Rogers from Wood Wood, via Swan Hill, put together an impressive line of 92 ewes.
Other volume buyers included Noel Mawbey, Dubbo, NSW, who took 24 ewes and the studs Ashley Park, Bairnsdale, Claronden, Caramut and Yentrac, Tatura.
Banyenong West also sold 16 rams to fierce competition and a top price of $10,000 and an impressive $4500 average.
Paying top price was the stubbornly persistant bidder, Alan Ireland, Bygo stud, Tullibigeal, NSW.
The ram placed second in the shorn ram class, and first in the sire progeny group at this year’s Hamilton Sheepvention
He had excellent figures, including 16.14 for growth, a carcase of 197 and a Trade Index of 113.7. His dam had also bred three previous stud rams.
Roeston Park, Kybybolite, SA, paid to $8500 for their selection – an August drop ram who was the champion ram at Hamilton.
Graeme Hibbard of the Deepdene Poll Dorset Stud at Narrandera paid $6500 for their ram, who had placed first in the shorn pair at Bendigo and was a full brother to the interbreed champion ewe at Hamilton Sheepvention in 2009.
Other rams mostly sold between $3000 and $5000.
Mr Russell described the day as extremely satisfying,
“We had 30 millimetres of rain in the week leading up to the sale and then the night before we had a hail storm.
“It required an enormous amount of preparation, but co-operation from the agents and helpers was fantastic. It really was all hands on deck.”
Former Australian Poll Dorset chairman Graham Day, Allendale, Bordertown, South Australia, opened the sale and congratulated the Russells on their contribution to the Poll Dorset stud industry over the last 54 years.
Banyenong West will hold its annual flock ram sale on October 5 where buyers will be offered their choice of 140 head of 14-month-old rams.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark.
