*117 of 125 sold to $3700, av $1531
NEW clients underpinned the success of the Cloven Hills Tasmania summer ram lamb sale, where prices peaked at $3700.
Now in its fourth year of sales in the southern state, Victorian-based principals Kate and Chris Dorahy offered 125 August-drop ram lambs and sold 117, for a sale average of $1531.
"One of our objectives for holding our summer ram lambs sales both in Tasmania and Victoria has been to provide clients with access to Australia's highest-ranking maternal genetics at good value - this is particularly important for volume buyers," Ms Dorahy said.
The top price was paid by Helen Baillie, Wesley Dale, Mole Creek, Tas, for Lot 19, a ram lamb who recorded a maternal dollar index (MCP+) of 178.87, birth weight (BW) of 0.638, weaning weight (WWT) of 9.37, post-weaning weight (PWWT) of 15.5, and an average dam weaning of 200 per cent.
Attracted to the straightforward lambing, high fertility, and lamb survival rates, Ms Bailie purchased nine rams in total for a draft average of $2145.
The sale's second-highest lot of $3400, was also knocked down to Ms Bailie, paid for Lot 6 - a ram with a MCP+ of 181.35, BW 0.68, WWT 10.17 and PWWT of 16.14, and average dam weaning of 260pc.
Webb and Woodiwiss Livestock Marketing director Mark Webb said the sale was strengthened by Tasmanian prime lamb producers' shifts to composite flocks.
"We are seeing a clear swing away from traditional Border Leicester/Merino flocks with the larger producers running either a Merino or composite flock in large numbers because of the ease of management and availability of genetics," Mr Webb said.
"That trend won't change."
The major buyer of the sale was Bonds Eastfield, Cressy, Tas, who purchased 28 rams to a top price of $1900, for a draft average of $1242.
Their draft high was paid for Lot 61, a seven-month-old ram lamb with a MCP+ of 183.73, BW of 0.73, WWT 11.45 and PWWT 17.61.
New client Rosedale Rural, Campbelltown, Tas, put together a draft of nine which topped at $1700, and averaged $1333.
After dipping their toes in the genetics last year with the purchase of four rams, Ramsay Ag returned to purchase 15 ram lambs to a top price of $2200, and draft average of $1466 - destined for their breeding operation at Bridport, Tas.
Cloven Hills hosted its first open day in Tasmania four year ago, where it privately sold 20 rams.
That demand grew last year where it sold 80 in a helmsman auction.
"They trust [Cloven Hills'] performance," Mr Webb said.
Annabelle Cleeland
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
