DERBY DOWNS
*Total clearance of 100 Poll Dorset rams sold to a top of $3200, av $1325
*Total clearance of 12 ewes sold to a top of $650, av $485
A BOOMING prime lamb industry has seen Derby Downs Poll Dorset stud, Marong, record a total clearance at its recent on-property ram sale.
The 100 per cent clearance rate is up significantly on last year, where the stud cleared 75pc of rams, and didn’t sell any ewes.
This year, Derby Downs sold 100 Poll Dorset rams, to a top price of $3200, which is up $300 on last year, and an average price of $1325, up $427.
It also sold 12 specially selected ewes, which sold to a top of $650, av $485.
Derby Downs stud co-principal Don McKinnon said it has been four or five years since the stud had offered ewes at their on-property sale.
“We used to always offer ewes, but then it got to a point where people weren’t bidding, and we were just selling after the sale, so we decided to stop that,” Mr McKinnon said.
“We thought we’d offer some again this year, and they were quite popular, so we might continue to do that.”
He said his clients have a lot of confidence in the industry at the moment.
“The industry is doing really well, and I think that has excited a lot of people,” he said.
“There are a lot of people out there trying to build up their ram numbers, so it’s not just us having a good sale, it’s positive right across the board.”
The top-priced ram, Lot 16, was purchased by Tarakan Poll Dorset stud, Deniliquin, NSW.
A big volume ram buyer was Geoff Weeks, Serpentine, who bought 10 to a top of $1400 (four times), av $1370.
In the ewe portion of the sale, the top price was achieved for the second last ewe, Lot 11, at $650.
It was purchased by ‘Mount Cleve Pastoral Company’, Yea.
‘SW Graham’, Tasmania, bought half of the ewes on offer, taking home six, to a top of $500 (twice), av $459.
The sale was conducted by Elders.