*31 of 60 Poll Dorsets sold to $4000, av $1173
*23 of 41 White Suffolks sold to $1150, av $874
The majority of producers within a 200 kilometre radius of Pepperton’s property are having anything but a normal season, and it affected the outcome of the stud’s recent ram sale greatly.
And it was a lost opportunity for lamb producers within the region who did not put themselves in the game by attending the sale of 60 Poll Dorset and 41 White Suffolk rams.
Consequently, from the 101 rams offered, only 54 cleared at auction for a $1045 average.
GTSM auctioneer Myles Pfitzner accommodated and rewarded the 14 registered bidders, but the reality was that six of these were single ram purchasers, leaving a void of strong competition for rams well worthy of that action.
Beside the quality of the offering there were other highlights, with three of the 10 elite Poll Dorset rams going to other stud breeders, two from as far afield as Western Australia.
Max Whyte, Brimfield Poll Dorset and White Suffolks, Kendenup, WA, connected via phone to successfully bid to the sale top of $4000 for P170274 Tw.
This April-drop ram was sired by Marocara 150035, and provided the ideal combination of top shelf phenotype and outstanding genotype.
Its Lambplan figures included 17.6 for post weaning weight, 2.3 for eye muscle, 4.6 for lean meat yield and indices of 217 on carcase plus and 141 for lamb eating quality.
Joining it on the trip west will be P170365Tw, a late August-drop ram, also sired by Marocara 150049.
With an earlier maturity pattern suited for targeting trade weight lamb production, its figures were even more impressive, highlighted by 4.2 for eye muscle, 5.7 for lean meat yield, and a carcase plus index of 232; all in the top 1 per cent of the industry.
It was snapped up by Keith Ladyman, Dumbledee stud, Katanning, WA, for just $3000.
Leigh Hartwig, Ivadene stud, Greta, also paid $3000 for P170463Tw, who boasted a post weaning weight of 17.5, an eye muscle of 2.8, and a carcase plus index of 220.
It was two buyers who attended from long distances who were the standout commercial buyers in this sale.
John and Phil Western, ‘Elm Valley’, Tarwin Lower, have been seeking out these high performance Pepperton genetics for the last 10 years.
The Westerns mate the rams over 1900 first cross ewes, lambing down in August for January sales.
“We travel up this far as the Pepperton rams are very good sheep with industry leading figures, and are ideal for our objective of producing top 20-kilogram carcase weight lambs,” Phil Western said.
They purchased 11 rams, eight Poll Dorsets and three White Suffolks, paying to $1400 and $1500 for two of the elite Poll Dorsets, and averaging $977 overall.
Gerard Keogh, Mountain Creek, NSW, came nearly as far to seek these high indexing rams.
After being the equal highest volume buyer last year with 11 rams, he was back again for more, purchasing 10 Poll Dorsets this year from $800 to $1000, averaging $900.
In the White Suffolk draft of 41 rams, the five elites did not attract a stud buyer, unlike the Poll Dorsets, so the top price was a very modest $1150.
t was paid by Eddie Carr, Emu Creek, for his only purchase, P170660Tw, with a C+ index of 215.
The third biggest volume buyer on the day was repeat client, Peter Safstrom, manager for Mantai Nominees, Redesdale.
Mr Safstrom purchased seven of the White Suffolk draft, paying from $800 to $1000, and averaging $921.
His family, trading as A & S Safstrom, Mt Carmel, purchased three more of the White Suffolk rams at an $833 average.
The Elmore Field Days Committee purchased five White Suffolks at $800 each, while Dave Pitson, Bagshot, averaged $900 for five Poll Dorsets.
