*52 of 104 rams sold to $5000 (twice), av $1530
MAJOR wet weather meant many producers could not head out to the eighth annual Pepperton Poll Dorset and White Suffolk ram sale in Elmore.
The disappointing turn out meant many lots went unsold, with local farmers unable to get to the property due to major water over roads.
Pepperton stud principal Roger Trewick said many other producers would have been trying to get their own stock to higher ground too.
"Sadly a lot of people just could not get here," he said.
"I've spent most of the day trying to get a motor of my irrigation pump and they are currently sandbagging Rochester quickly too.
"When Rochester went and had a flood last time, I lost eight kilometres of river frontage fencing and many acres of wheat crop, so obviously I had other things on the mind sadly."
While Mr Trewick said the circumstances and timing of the sale were unfortunate, but it was important to protect his stock, considering he had received a further 80 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours since the sale.
"The water that we get generally comes from Lake Eppalock and there was a metre going over it last week, and the local river got to around nearly 20 feet last week too, and I think it'll go even higher this time around," he said.
Of the people who did come to the sale, Mr Trewick said many commented on the good quality and got what they wanted.
"I'm happy that many of the bidders who were here got what they needed, but it is just unfortunate that we got a lot of rain before the sale," he said.
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The top-priced rams of the auction were Lot 1, 210302, and Lot 9, 210136, which both sold for $5000.
Lot 1 recorded a post-weaning weight (PWT) of 19.7 kilograms, a post-weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD) of 2.1mm, and a post-weaning fat depth (PFAT) of -0.2.
Lot 9 recorded a PWT of 13.9kg, a PEMD of 5.7mm and a PFAT of -0.6.
