Ashmore pens new chapter in Pinery recovery

It was a triumph over adversity.

Just 10 months ago, the Pinery fire blazed through the Fischers’ property, with all 500 of their adult ewes perishing in the inferno.

Nestled near a watercourse, their lambs avoided the fire that swept overhead and embarked on a tough journey of survival.

The 600 lambs lived on stubbles and donated feed for six months, before enduring a cold and wet winter in a small paddock near the property’s shearing shed.

Despite the numerous challenges thrown their way, the Fishers presented their 172 sale rams in tremendous condition and celebrated with a full clearance and healthy $1347 average.

Ashmore principal Troy Fischer said the stud had three simple goals after the devastation of the Pinery fire – hold the 2016 ram sale, drop enough lambs this year to continue the sale in 2017, and ensure the rams were equal or better in generic merit than previous sales.

With those goals achieved, Mr Fischer said he and the family were over the moon.

“It’s a relief to get through today and realise that we’re back on track and it’ll be business as usual from here on in,” he said.

“We’re extremely grateful to the dozens of people that have helped us rebuild our fences, rebuild our flock, and helped with today.”

The flock rebuilding was assisted by an embryo transfer program made possible by some of Australia’s best White Suffolk breeders.

The support of the stud continued on Monday, with a huge crowd of buyers.

Lot 2 made the top price, selling for $3800 to Trevor and Nita Kennett, Brinkley, while the $1800 paid for lot 25 was donated to the Country Fire Service and BlazeAid.

A buyer for about a decade, Mr Kennett said he liked the length and hindquarters of the sale topper, which boasted a 17.7-kilogram post weaning weight, -32 worm egg count, rated 116.3 on the lamb 20/20 index, and had a carcase plus index of 212.

“I run a few White Suffolk ewes to breed my own ram replacements to put with Merino ewes,” he said.

“We usually only buy every other year so there’s no chance of inbreeding.

“I watch a few of the offspring of these go through the Dublin market where I sell most of my lambs and guys that buy their rams do extremely well with them.”

The sale’s volume buyer was Bradford Hills, Maldon, Vic, with 20 rams to $1700, averaging $1145.

Other bulk buyers were Quality Livestock’s Mark Dyson, who bought 17 to $1900, averaging $1700, and Willis Farm Trust, Tarlee, with 10 to $1700, averaging $1395.

Landmark’s Gordon Wood and Elders’ Tom Penna were full of praise for the stud, especially given the 10 months they had endured.

“For them to come out of the ashes and come back as they have – this family have worked like Trojans for the past 10 months to bring it back to what it is – it's a great result for them,” Mr Wood said.

“Talking to the crew here, the rams were probably a bit lighter than they’d normally present them because of what they’ve come through.

“But from what they have been through, they present well and genetically they’re at the top of the tree.”

Mr Penna said the rams’ path to the auction and the way they presented was a testament to their doing ability.

“There were 83 rams that were better than 200 on the C+ index, which is nearly unheard of,” he said.

“The production figures were incredible and the bidding was strong all day.”