National Dorper Sale, Dubbo
*68 of 72 Dorper rams sold to $11,500, av $2393
*Full clearance of 16 Dorper ewes, that sold to $3500, av $1944
DORPER rams were in demand at the National Sale at Dubbo NSW last Wednesday.
Buyers from four states secured 68 of 72, effecting a 94 per cent auction clearance.
Entering the Dorper breed after some years of producing stud White Dorpers, Tanya and Brad Edson, Red Rock stud, Keith, South Australia, said they wanted to make sure their foundations were right.
To fit their requirements the couple paid the $11,500 top money for the 105.5 kilogram Type-5 Dell Dip Stick, the reserve junior champion of the 2016 National Dorper Show. It was one of four rams sold by the van Niekerk family’s Dell Dorpers, Moama, NSW, for a $5625 average.
“This ram has the length and depth of body, plus he’s such a well-balance ram, that he’ll fit our requirements very well,” Mrs Edson said.
Mr Edson said the ram also had a very good temperament and the perfect black head.
Dell co-principal Andrea van Niekerk said the purchase confirmed Dell’s breeding principals.
“This sale gives us the confidence in what we are breeding,” she said.
This ram’s dam is Dell Baby Doll, the twice grand champion of the National Dorper Show and the sale backs up last year’s Dubbo National success when the stud sold the $15,000 second top-priced ram to Western Australia.
“We have used him extensively through the stud and also have semen retained,” Ms van Niekerk said.
Another Type-5 Dell ram selling at $6000 was a 2017 National class-winner weighing 94.5kg purchased by Scott Lochhead, Avoca Dorpers, Avoca Station, Wentworth, NSW. This ram’s dam was the senior champion at the 2017 National.
Bully and Marisa Malherbe’s Bulmar Dorpers, Orange, NSW, gained second top price of $10,500. They sold four rams, av $3500.
Their draft-topper, a Type-5 twin of Kaya parentage weighing 115kg was senior and grand champion ram of the 2017 Dubbo show and National senior champion at Australian National Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo, and sold to a partnership of Annabel Mangal, Genelink Dorpers, Nairne, SA, and Brendon Duncan, Glen Park Dorpers, Wentworth.
Ms Mangal said the ram suited Genelink’s breeding program.
“He has depth and muscling – it’s just his size which we want,” she said.
She and partner Bronte Mawson have been breeding White Dorpers since 1997 and and saw the ram at the National.
“He carries himself well – a a very correct ram. I came specifically to buy this ram after seeing him at Bendigo,” Ms Mangal said.
Justin and Lorroi Kirkby, Gravesend, NSW, were busy with their two Dorper studs, Amarula and Alurama, both selling rams for $6500. Four Amarula rams av $3625 and four Alurama rams av $3125.
Kaya stud of Adrian Veitch, Narrogin, WA, sold six rams topping at $3250, av $2583; while Tuckeroo stud of Scott Antcliff and Amanda Woollam, Limpinwood, NSW, sold five rams to $4000, av $2350.
A trio from the Gett family’s Whynot stud, Narrabri, NSW, av $2167; while Southern Cross Dorpers, SXD stud, operated by Martin and Fiona Mead, Narrabri, sold six rams, av $2350.
Bilgamma stud of Sharon and Michael Hibbens, Wee Waa, NSW, sold four rams to $3500, av $2000.
Marius Loots’ Prieska stud, Peak hill, sold five rams to $2500 twice, av $1800.
Powerpole Pastoral, Mount Royal, Bingara, NSW, bought 10 rams, av $1600.
All 16 stud ewes sold at auction to $3500, av $1944.
Top lot was a Type-5 from Amarula stud, weighing 59.5kg and joined to Amarula Coolaminya purchased by Cherilyn Lowe for her Nomuula stud, Moonbi.
The Kirkby family’s Amarula stud sold four stud ewes, av $2500; while Alurama stud sold four ewes, av $1150.
Dell stud followed its ram sales success with four stud ewes topping at $3000, av $2625. The dam of the $3000 ewe is a full sister to Dell Baby Doll III and was purchased by AA Dorper Stud, Mulgoa, NSW.
Future stud, Boggabri, NSW, sold two ewes at $1500 each.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark. Paul Jameson sold for Elders and John Settree for Landmark.