Aylesbury growth attracts bids

It was an even line of 85 White Suffolk and nine Suffolk rams on offer.

Stud principal Andrew Krieg said the season had seen a shortage of feed but the genetics had shone and the rams were in “ready to work” condition.

The stud has been busy this year, selling ewes and rams to China and Mongolia.

Mr Krieg said they had made the decision this year to include birth weight and growth rates, looking at grams gained per day.

“It’s a good tool to use, and another guide to select on,” he said.

Bidding on Lot 4 reached the top price of $1600 for an August-drop ram.

The ram had a growth rate of 611 grams per day, an eye muscle depth of 0.5 and Lambplan 2020 index of 108.1.

Mr Krieg said the ram’s sire was producing good early-growth lambs.

“He’s a long, easy care, low-maintenance that shows good meat but won’t go woolly,” he said.

“In a dry finish, like we’ve got now, (his offspring) will grow lambs to turn out early.”

The ram was bought by regular buyer Ivan Schwarz, Freeling.

Mr Schwarz said the size and “great figures” of the ram appealed.

“He must have been worth it because someone else pushed me to it,” he said.

Mr Schwarz was also volume buyer with eight rams in total.

The sale was conducted by Landmark with Murray Bullen, Landmark Burra, taking bids.