GAMADALE AUSTRALIAN WHITES
*Total clearance of 5 stud rams sold to $4100, av $3180
*53 of 65 flock rams sold to $2300, av $1343
*13 of 15 ewes sold to $1700, av $1246
*Total clearance of 5 ewes with lambs at foot sold to $2500, av $1600
GAMADALE Australian White stud held its first ever on-property sale on Friday, offering an impressive lineup of 90 rams and ewes.
The stud, located in Lascelles, finished the day with an 84 per cent clearance rate, a fantastic result for an inaugural sale.
There were 20 ewes offered to kick off the sale, including five ewes with lambs at foot, which sold to strong competition, to a top of $2500, and an average price of $1600.
There was a near total clearance for the remainder of the ewes, with 13 of 15 selling to a top of $1700, av $1246.
There were then five stud rams offered, who each sold, to reach a top price of $4100, av $3180.
The final portion of the sale saw 53 of 65 flock rams sell to a top of $2300, av $1343.
Craig Chad, Dubbo, NSW, managed to attend Gamadale’s sale purely by coincidence, and ended up taking home the first and second top-priced rams, as well as a selection of ewes.
“I’m delivering a truck of cattle to Naracoorte today, and it was purely coincidence that I was driving this route and could make a detour to attend the sale,” Mr Chad said.
He’s a first-time Gamadale buyer, after incorporating Australian White rams into his flock in recent years.
“Our first drop of Australian White lambs (crossed with White Dorper cross ewes) was in 2014, I just find that they’ve got better temperament and weight for age in the top end,” he said.
“The rams I selected today had great bone, weight and body length, and the ewes had extra scale and length capacity.”
He said the majority of his purchases were sired by TAT140035.
There were some big volume buyers on the day, including first-time clients Max and Valda Smith, Nhill, who bought five rams.
“The stud’s rams are very good, they’re well-bred and have good length in them,” Mr Smith said.
“We cross Australian White rams over White Dorper ewes, we just find they’re nice and quiet.”
Jarrad Simcock, Bool Lagoon, SA, took home 10 rams.
“They’ve got good size to them, and are good shedders,” Mr Simcock said.
Remah Australian White stud principals Jenny and Geoff Blohm, Hamilton, took home two stud rams.
Ms Blohm said she admires the Gamadale rams for their shape.
“The rams we purchased have a little bit of growing to do, but they’re nice sheep with black points and nice, square bums,” Ms Blohm said.
“We’ll be joining these to our flock to breed more purebred Australian White rams.”
Gamadale stud co-principal Nip Rowney said he was very happy with the result.
“Prices for flock rams were higher than I could have ever dreamt of,” Mr Rowney said.
“There were a lot more buyers than we expected.”
Elders agents Evan Fernandez and Martin Williams said it was a very strong result for Gamadale’s first ever on-property sale.
