*224 of 230 Poll Dorset rams sold to $3300, av $1533
*11 of 12 Southdown-Poll Dorset-cross rams sold to $2200, av $1372
*Total clearance of 73 Southdown rams sold to $2600, av $1798.
Penshurst Poll Dorset and Southdown stud Athlone has seen a significant price jump for its top ram at this year's annual on-farm auction.
New client Tim Fraser, Yalla-Y-Poora Tatyoon, paid $3300 for the top-priced Poll Dorset, up $500 on last year's sale.
"I think right throughout the sales have been going pretty well, the industry is pretty buoyant at the moment and we had a lot of repeat buyers, which was great," stud-co-principal Damian Cameron said.
He said Athlone had put a great deal of emphasis on online marketing, through its website and on social media.
Read more: Athlone's near total clearance to $2800
The June 2020 drop-ram had a birthweight of 0.475 kilograms, a weaning weight of 9.957kg and a post-weaning weight of 14.002kg.
He had StockScan figures of a 97 millimetre muscle width, 45mm muscle depth and eye muscle area of 33.6 square centimetres
His fat measurement was eight millimetres and he had a terminal carcase production index of 123.81.
"Structure is number one for us, as well as having the muscle in all the right places, with clean faces on our rams," he said.
"We want to produce rams that we would be happy to use ourselves."
Mr Cameron said Athlone had "toyed" with the idea of an online interface.
"The studs seem to sell on line, but when it comes to flock rams, people like to see what they are getting.
"It's something we will look at in the future's that's for sure."
Co-principal Lucy Cameron said there was a large turnout, despite the cold, rainy weather.
"We were pleasantly surprised with how well the Southdown-Poll Dorset-cross rams did," Ms Cameron said.
"We've never had them at a sale and only threw them in at the last minute - we didn't even advertise they were for sale."
LMB Livestock and Land auctioneer Bernie Grant said the top 100 Poll Dorset rams offered sold "really well.
"There was a wide spread of buyers out to Tatyoon and Streatham, as well as local support."
He said buyers were looking for muscle and fat cover, on a good "downsy" skin type.
"Athlone have a core following of repeat buyers that come and compete strongly on the Southdowns.
"The want to put the rams over maidens and Merinos and they are doing the job for them extremely well."'
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
