CLOVEN HILLS
153 of 160 rams sold to $3000 twice, av $1272
Cloven Hills’ third annual ram Sale at the recently flooded Casterton Showgrounds on Monday, saw a massive lift from 2015.
They cleared 95pc of the offering which had 57 more rams than in 2015. They sold four more rams after the auction. They also managed to increase their average to $1272 – up $202 increase on 2015’s result (which was an $176 increase from 2014).
Two rams sold for the top price of $3000, Lot 2 and 17. Repeat buyer Mereeta Coz, Coojar, purchased Lot 17.
“I was after rams with a small adult weight, good post weaning weight, mothering ability and EMA” Ms Cox said. She has used their rams for the past five or six years. She also purchased Lot 18, which was the second top-priced lot at $2750.
This high performance ram, measured 144 Maternal Carcase Index, weaning weight of 8.6 kilograms, post weaning weight of 12.7kg and post weaning eye muscle depth of 1.4 millimetres, while worm egg count sits in the top 5pc.
Volume buyers included Strathdownie Estate, Strathdownie, that bought 14 rams to $1900, av $1521; Sam Dohle, Tahara, got 11 rams to $2250, av $1695; and Ardmeen Farms, Poolaijelo, got 10 rams to $1300, av $980.
Mr Dohle said he was getting out of cattle and setting up a self-replacing sheep flock, this is mainly due to the opportunity with the current market prices.
“This is the first year I have bought from Cloven Hills, I have been watching their program and came for a look last year and liked what I saw so I came back.” Mr Dohle said.
Landmark stud stock auctioneer Andrew Sloan said the sale was very strong.
“With the gamble of adding the additional number of rams, it opened up a market for everyone, without people missing out on rams.” Mr Sloan said
Kate and Chris Dorahy, Cloven Hills, Nareen, were “absolutely thrilled” with the sale result which again attracted return clients, first time buyers and volume buyers. They said it exceeded their expectations.
