YENTRAC
*50 of 59 Poll Dorset rams offered sold to $1300, av $1002
*22 of 31 Southdown rams offered sold to $2000, av $1352
YENTRAC’S 17th annual production ram sale held at Burrumbeet last week offered 90 selected Poll Dorset and Southdown rams following a great year of show success in both breed.
The sale was opened by principal Rob McCartney who highlighted the studs continued focus on using the best genetics available.
The sale began with the run of Poll Dorset rams, lot 2 a specially selected ram was the top price, purchased by D A Hobson, Thorpdale, for $1300.
The April drop ram weighed 140kg and carried and a Stockscan Eye Muscle area 18.73. It should be noted that stock scan figures were taken in April, when the rams are a comparable age to the lamb being turned off.
Whilst the sale lacked buying depth at times Paraway Pastoral was the dominant influence in the run of Poll Dorsets, buying 18 rams for their Beckworth Court property at Clunes. Another first time visitor and volume buyer was Andrew Kilsby, Tarwin Lower, buying five rams ranging from $800-1200.
Competition lifted for the Southdown draft, in which 22 of 31 rams sold for an av of $1352.
The top-priced of $2000 was reached twice.
The first sold to Rod Knight from Shelford, the August drop ram weighed 119kg and had and an EMA of 18.06cm. Mr Knight was pleased with the purchase and said the ram will be put to use in their stud.
The ram had earlier in the year won Champion Southdown Ram at the Australian Sheep and Wool show at Bendigo.
The other top priced ram also had success at Bendigo and was sold to S & C Drinnan.
Volume buyers included Ian McCauge from Stanhope buying four rams ranging in price from $1250-$1450, and M & S Powell also buying four for an average of $1100.
The sale was conducted by Elders with Graeme Nicholson the auctioneer.
