AN extremely even line of Poll Dorset rams drew buyers to the 17th annual Springwaters Poll Dorset ram sale yesterday at Boorowa, where a full clearance of 199 rams was achieved.
The Rowley family sold 13 stud rams to a top of $16,000 and average of $5538, and 186 flock rams to a $3200 top, twice and average of $2189.
The first son of Springwaters 'Guinness' 22-18 created spirited bidding among attendees, with the final bid made by the Sturgiss family of Kooradale stud and Sturgiss Pastoral, Koorawatha.
Springwaters 48-19 was a twin-born, April-drop ram that weighed 156 kilograms with a fat depth of nine millimetres, an eye muscle area (EMA) of 48.68 square centimetres and an Index of 1708.
The Sturgiss family have been purchasing from Springwaters for the last eight or nine years, and couldn't go past the sire appeal of the high-selling ram.
"He has the sire appeal, large EMA, length and correctness," Peter Sturgiss said.
Mixed farmers, the Sturgiss' run around 200 stud Poll Dorset ewes and 2800 first cross ewes. The 48-19 ram will be used as a stud sire to breed rams for the Sturgiss own operation and their clients.
"He will go to part of the 200 ewes," Mr Sturgiss said.
Springwaters 234-19 was the second top-priced ram that sold for $6000 to an online buyers through AuctionsPlus.
A son of Springwaters 27-17, he was a May-drop ram that tipped the scales at 140.5kg with a fat depth of 9mm, EMA of 42.85 sq cm and Index of 1482.
Kyle and Lisa Sturgess of Redline Poll Dorsets at West Wyalong secured Springwaters 462-19, a twin-born son of Springwaters 'Pocock' 66-16, for $5500.
"We liked the style of the ram and particularly the amount of muscle her carried while still having a smooth shoulder," Ms Sturgess said.
"He has a lot of meat over the top and through the hindquarter."
The highest indexing ram in the catalogue, he boasted an Index of 1775 with an EMA of 43.62, fat depth of 7mm and body weight of 137.5kg.
Return buyers to Springwaters, the Redline stud had previously purchased a ram in 2018 that worked really well for them.
A number of volume buyers were operating including Riverview Wallah and Co, Rugby, who purchased 22 rams to a $2800 top and $2272 average.
Local clients Hugh and Fran Flanery of Kalangan, Galong, have been buying Springwaters rams for around eight years and were back, selecting four rams for their mixed farming operation that includes around 2500 ewes that are joined to Dorset rams.
Looking for well muscled, high indexing rams that offer early growth and finish, the Flanery's paid a top of $3000 for Springwaters 494-19, a spring-drop ram by Guinness.
He weighed 117.5kg with an Index of 1687, fat depth of 7mm and EMA of 40.45 sq cm.
They averaged $2400 across their four purchases.
The sale was conducted by Delta Livestock and Elders, with auctioneers Aaron Seaman (Elders Young) and Cameron Rosser (Delta).
Full report from the 17th annual Springwaters Poll Dorset Ram Sale in next week's The Land newspaper.
