Mainland buyers back Tasmanian stud

The stud sold 73 of 80 Southdown and Southdown-cross rams, including two which topped the sale at $5400, averaging $1428.

Fifty-six of 57 Poll Dorset rams sold to $2400 four times, averaging $1477, while a total clearance of 40 White Suffolk rams sold to $1800, averaging $1477.

Fairbank stud principal Chris Badcock, Hagley, Tas, described the sale as "strong and consistent".

"Our presentation of rams was as good as we've put up so we set a pretty good standard," Mr Badcock said.

"We had about 45 registered buyers and they ranged from Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales so it was one of our stronger attendances.

"Predominantly they were repeat buyers but we had about five new buyers which was pleasing."

The two top-priced Southdown rams sold to Gordon Branson, Mortlake (Lot 2) and Bill Douglas, Woolsthorpe (Lot 3).

Lot 2 is by the successful sire Fairbank 160821 which won champion ram at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in 2018.

"[He is] a very well-balanced ram with very good shoulder and length," Mr Badcock said.

"Lot 3 is a very powerful ram who had exceptional EBVs for the breed, having a great combination of low birth, good growth and muscle and also being slightly positive for fat."

Banquet White Suffolk stud principal Gordon Branson, Mortlake, who bought the ram via phone, said he liked the ram's length after inspecting it at the Royal Geelong Show.

"We'll use him over White Suffolk ewes and Southdown ewes from the first week of January," he said.

"I bought a ram from Fairbank two years ago and it's bred very well for me, he's produced good, little rams so we've been very happy."

Volume buyers included Quorn Pastoral, who bought 12 rams, Fox Pastoral with 11 rams and Markarna Grazing, Mineral Banks Estate and Cressy House Estate with nine rams each.

Roberts Limited stud stock manager Jock Gibson said the sale set a new average record for Fairbank.

"That's due to the high quality line up," he said.

"Our season down here is patchy in places ... but we had more mainland support for flock rams which put a bottom in the sale.

"We've had mainland support for stud rams, especially in the Southdowns, but this year we sold two of three stud rams and quite a few flock rams to the mainland."