“WE’VE just got to have this sheep.”
This was the sentiment of Isabele Roberts and her family when they saw Tattykeel Blackjack, and they were willing to pay top price for the impressive Poll Dorset ram.
In fact, that price was $35,000, breaking the world record for a Poll Dorset ram sold in a private sale.
The milestone was announced after the 41st annual Tattykeel Poll Dorset on-property stud sale last week, giving the Gilmore family, Black Springs, plenty to celebrate.
The 17-month-old ram, which was partnered with Tattykeel Jackpot, the supreme at the NSW Sheep Show in Dubbo, was sold to Ridgehaven Poll Dorset stud, Cudal, which is run by Mrs Roberts, and her siblings Ruth Klingner and Floyd Legge and their families.
Mrs Roberts said they had seen the Tattykeel sire before, and judged him primarily on a visual assessment.
“We looked at him and his progeny,” she said. “He is just beautiful through the front end. He had almost perfect structure and almost perfect carcase shape. You couldn’t beat him.”
“He had great extension of muscle from the loin all the way through.
“We are particularly pleased Graham agreed to sell him to us.”
Mrs Roberts said the main focus for the Ridgehaven stud was to breed rams for commercial producers.
“It’s never been about ribbons at shows for us – it is about producing lambs,” she said. “You’ve got to start with good genetics.”
Mrs Roberts said the ram would complement their line of ewes.
“I have every confidence we will breed a very good sort of sheep. We like the moderate frame, and he will match in with our ewes,” she said. “We look at a lot of sheep, and there are only a few you think will have a huge impact, and I think this ram will for us.”
Tattykeel principal Graham Gilmore said the ram ‘has got that something extra’.
There are only a few sheep you think will have a huge impact, and I think this ram will for us.
- Isabele Roberts, Ridgehaven Poll Dorset stud, Cudal
“He’s just an exceptional sheep,” he said. “You don’t get rams like this very often.”
He said Blackjack’s sire sold for $17,000 at the stud’s sale last year.
“He is throwing the carcase shape [Ridgehaven] were looking for,” he said.
“In a market that’s moving towards moderate carcase shape, he’s the right sheep.”
