Cloven Hills
*195 of 200 rams offered sold to $2750 (2), av $1420
IT was another strong sale for Cloven Hills fourth, but first on-property, sale at Nereen on Monday.
The growth and demand for Cloven Hills genetics was evident with strong buying support from NSW, SA, Tas and Vic with rams also being purchased by studs.
After an impressive sale in 2016 which saw them offer a further 57 rams from the year prior and increase their average to $1272, which was more than a $200 lift.
This year they have once again increased their offering by a further 40 rams and increased their average to $1420, which is close to another $150 increase.
The top lots of $2750 where found in Lots 6 being knocked down to Colin Smith, Grassdale Estate, Grassdale and Lot 15 going to Georgina Gubbins, Maneroo, Allansford.
Grassdale Estate purchased a total of six rams including the top priced ram and the second top to average $2258.
“We want to push our maternal line of sheep,” Mr Smith said.
“We used to have a split flock of both, now we only used the maternal rams; we find they end up with similar carcass to that of a terminal lamb. We are buying the best genetics to increase our self replacing ewe flock.”
One volume buyer on the day was Strathdownie Estate, Strathdownie, who purchased 10 rams to average $1450.
“We buy our rams here for the evenness of rams and the fact they help increase our growth and fertility in our flock,” Mr Harvey said. With the main volume buyer being Barton Station, Moyston who purchased a total of 21 rams during the auction to average $1142 while also purchasing a further 11 rams after the auction.
Other volume buyers where Phil Clark, SA with nine rams to $1466, while Banemore, Penshurt and Mt William Station, Willaura both purchased eight rams to average $1700 and $1125 respectively.
Cloven Hills Kate Dorahy was overwhelmed with the successful sale result.
“We have had a great clearance of close to all rams with more rams offered this year, even selling further rams after auction,” Ms Dorahy said.
“We really do value our clients that come back year after year. We think that selling breeding stock to clients is a big responsibility therefore we need to have a good article for our clients to buy.”
While Chris Dorahy said he was very happy with the sale. ”It appeared to me there was lots of mid-range bidding across the whole catalogue,” he said.
“I think people are using the ASBVs to make their selections coupled with the type and conformation of the sheep. We offered enough for everyone to take rams to their own objectives and budgets”.
Landmarks Andrew Sloane said that the first on property sale was a great success for Cloven Hills. “While offering and selling more rams they have managed to increase their clearance and also average. This is the first composite sale in the area, making it look like it will be a good year”.
A further 25 reserve rams where sold after auction with a mini auction held due to the demand on certain rams.