IT WAS deja vu at the annual Claronden Poll Dorset ram sale on Tuesday, when a WA buyer purchased the top-priced ram at $3000.
L.J. & J.K. Fairclough – Stockdale Poll Dorset Stud – outbid a selection of 38 buyers for the Lot-Two stud ram via telephone, winning the prized sire of Claronden 300/1.
The 123.5kg ram had Australian sheep breeding values of birth weight of 0.8kg, a weaning weight of 10.6kg and a post-weening weight (PWwt) of 15.8kg, fat depth of -0.8mm and muscle depth of 0.4mm.
Principal Aaron Pascoe was “extremely pleased”, selling 109 of 120 rams offered to a total average of $1034.
He said you could “always guarantee a good income from sheep” with prices “strong across the board”.
Mr Pascoe said it was “one of the stronger sales” in 13 years with livestock being “a very good space to be in right now”.
There was a strong demand for the 79 Poll Dorset rams that sold to an average of $1010, topping last year’s $986 sale average.
The top price for the Poll Dorset – sired by C300/1 – went to repeat Cavendish buyer Ray Brook – J.M Ellis & Co – for $2100, with a sale-weight of 125kg.
Following the positive 2015 debut, the 30 Charollais-Poll Dorset cross rams averaged $1095, increasing the $850 average of last year.
The top price of $1500 was shared by Hamilton buyer LJ & PD Schwarz – Landmark –and Dunkeld buyer W & J Hasell – M Ellis & Co.
The volume buyer of the day was Hawkesdale farmer Simon Prendergast of Kooringal Farming Trust who purchased purchased 12 rams at a top price of $1200 and an average of $1033.
Mr Prendergast said he had 3000 ewes to be joined and planned for a June drop.
He said he had judged the measurements and structure quality of the four Charollais-Poll Dorsets and the lineage of the eight Poll Dorsets.
Lanyons Stock and Station Agents Warren Clarke said it was the best run at Claronden in four years with the most buyers he’d seen.
“You’d have to be stupid to be disappointed with the results,” he said. “It just lacked a buyer who could handle a big number of rams.”
Mr Clarke said it was a good year to be in livestock.
