Wild weather no deterrent at Charinga

Charinga stud principal Roger Polkinghorne said 83 Charinga rams sold to an average of $2617 while 79 Banavie rams, from the stud based in the eastern Wimmera at Marnoo, averaged $3061.

Manager of Charinga White Suffolks Lenny Polkinghorne said 39 White Suffolk rams were sold to an average of $906.

There were also seven rams sold from the small-scale Gowandale stud the family also operates which sold at an average of $1564.

Roger said the result was similar to last year.

“The Banavies were up slightly, but the Charingas were down a little so it was around even.”

He said the wet weather, both locally and interstate, may have taken some of the cream off the sale.

“We had some regular clients from central NSW who could not make it down due to flood waters, while there were also issues with road closures locally,” Roger said.

However, he said he was pleased with the result.

“We had 38mm of rain overnight before the sale, that morning we didn’t know whether we would be the only people here so to get the sale going ahead and get a good result, we are thrilled with it.”

The top price ram was a Banavie ram by Majestic 333 which sold to the Maher family of Narromine, NSW, which made $21,000.

The top Charinga ram went for $11,000, selling locally to Chris Guthrie of Rich Avon, near Donald.

In the White Suffolk line, the top ram made $1250, selling to the Parry family at Navarre, south of St Arnaud.

Other major buyers of stud rams included the Cleland family partnership who bought three rams worth over $30,000 in total, which will be sent to a developing flock on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.

High value rams were also sold to Western Australia, with a buyer from Williams in the Great Southern and one from the south coast near Mount Barker.

In terms of volume buyers, the Geelong Lime partnership bought nine rams, while Atholbrae Farm, near Maldon in central Victoria bought eight.

Roger said Bradford Hill, near Lake Cargelligo in NSW also snapped a nice consignment of seven rams.

The horned rams averaged $3070 while the polled offering averaged $2531.

Roger said while there was keen demand for the rams on offer, reflected in the 100pc clearance rate, the sale also highlighted the impacts of two years of drought in south-eastern Australia were still being felt.

“Everyone has the potential for a good year this year and there are good wool and sheep meat prices, but people are still recovering after a couple of tough years,” he said.

The on-farm sale marks the end of a busy selling year for the two studs.

“We sold a couple of good rams at shows in Victoria and NSW earlier in the year so it has been a busy period.”

Roger said the clear trend to emerge from engaging with clients both at the sale and during the season had been the demand for heavy cutting sheep.

“People really want the big cutting sheep; that is a major thing they are looking at when making buying decisions.”