THE POLKINGHORNE family conducted a successful combined ram sale for their two studs, Charinga and Banavie, on-farm at Charinga, east of St Arnaud in central Victoria, in spite of wild weather leading to a major flood warning on the nearby Avoca River.
Eighty-three Charinga rams sold to an average of $2617 while 79 Banavie rams, from the stud based in the eastern Wimmera at Marnoo, Vic, averaged $3061.
Thirty-nine White Suffolk rams were sold to an average of $906.
There were seven rams sold from the small-scale Gowandale stud the family also operates which sold at an average of $1564.
Charinga stud principal, Roger Polkinghorne, said the result was similar to last year.
“The Banavies were up slightly, but the Charingas were down a little so it was around even,” he said.
He said the wet weather, both locally and interstate, may have taken some of the cream off the sale.
The top-price was paid for a Banavie ram by Majestic 333 which sold to the Maher family of Narromine for $21,000.
The top Charinga ram went for $11,000, selling locally to Chris Guthrie of Rich Avon, near Donald, Vic.
In the White Suffolk line, the top ram made $1250, selling to the Parry family at Navarre, south of St Arnaud, Vic..
Other major buyers included the Cleland family partnership who bought three rams worth over $30,000 in total, which will be sent to a developing flock on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.
Rams also sold to Western Australia, with a buyer from Williams in the Great Southern and one from the south coast near Mount Barker.
Volume buyers were Geelong Lime partnership, who bought nine rams, while Atholbrae Farm, near Maldon in central Victoria purchasing eight. Bradford Hill, near Lake Cargelligo also snapped a consignment of seven rams.
The horned rams averaged $3070 while the polled offering averaged $2531.
Mr Polkinghorne said while there was keen demand for the rams on offer, reflected in the 100 per cent clearance rate, the sale also highlighted the impacts of two years of drought in south-eastern Australia were still being felt.
“Everyone has the potential for a good year this year and there are good wool and sheep meat prices, but people are still recovering after a couple of tough years,” he said.
He said the clear trend to emerge from engaging with clients both at the sale and during the season had been the demand for heavy cutting sheep. “People really want the big cutting sheep; that is a major thing they are looking at when making buying decisions,” he said.
