Westleigh White Suffolks, Beaufort, achieved a total clearance of 84 rams at their sale last week.
As well as selling five more rams, Ian and Denise Porter also achieved a more than $200 increase in their average compared to last year’s already strong sale.
Mr Porter said it “felt great” to have such a strong sale – in fact the auctioneer Tom Madden, TB White & Sons, only started the bidding at the base price of $600 once and competition remained strong to the end, with two of the final three rams selling for $1100 and the very last one for $1150.
Mr Porter said the sale draft was in “really good order” thanks to the good season.
The Porters ran the sale rams in the paddock.
“We’re for breed type and structural soundness and do-ability; if they can’t do it in the paddock not interested in them,” Mr Porter said.
This included the $1400 top-priced ram that sold to Motueka Pastoral, Tatyoon. They also purchased a second ram at $1100. Mr Porter said they purchased two or three of the better rams every year.
The top-priced ram was by a ram lamb Westleigh used and then sold at last year’s sale, and is of their own breeding.
Volume buyers included new client Maranui Pastoral, Tatyoon, who bought 10 rams to a top of $1250, av $1130.
Each with eight rams were long-term clients Rosevale Ridge, Maroona, to $1200 and av $1062; new clients Thomas Partners, Ascot to $1150 (3) and av $1062, long-term clients I&P McNaughton, Carranballac to $1100 (2) and av $1037; and Stepnell Farms, Lexton, to $1100 (3) and av $1025.
There were 27 registered buyers, 20 of whom were successful. Most came from within a 100-kilometre radius and a few from further afield including Lagoon Run, Cavendish, who again bought two rams (at $1350 and $1300).
Mr Porter said they had a few more rams to sell privately.
Next year they plan to offer more rams, as they have more ram lambs on the ground – spurred on by this and last years’ strong sales.