POLL DORSET ram buyers, most being returning clients of many years, bought 101 of the 132 rams offered for an average of $1046 at the 19th annual Marocara Poll Dorset stud sale at Wongarbon on Tuesday.
Autumn drop rams provided a wider choice in numbers with 74 selling from 94 to $2500 to average $1043, while 27 of 38 Spring-drop rams sold to a top of $1600 three times to average $1052.
The stud is celebrating 50 years of breeding and performance recording by John Kelly and sons, Angus and Alistair at their Hillview property and enjoy the strong demand by their many happy returning clients, some as far south as the Monaro.
A buyer of many years, Ross Bayliss, Roselea, Bakers Swamp near Wellington, returned with his eye on one ram, an Aberdeen 160617 son weighing 124 kilograms, which he bid to capture at the top price of $2500.
Mr Baylis breeds his own flock rams and purchases a Marocara ram every couple of years. He is joining 1000 Merino ewes this year and sells his prime lambs mainly as suckers through Dubbo saleyards.
Another Wellington breeder, Peter Carter, Umagarlee, also return and purchased two rams at $2000 also by the Aberdeen sire.
Among other returning buyers was Mark Conn, Woodhurst Partnership, Wellington, paid an average $1217 for six rams, paying to $1500, while the Shanks family, Marathon, Dubbo, bought four at a $975, also paying up to $1500 for their draft.
The Martin-Smith family from Glenfinnan, Nimmitabel, who have been buying here for decades, returned to secure seven rams while paying a $986 average and up to $1300.
Marocara principal, John Kelly, said his family was very privileged to have the strong support of prime lamb breeders who return each year to secure Marocara performance recorded Lambplan measured rams.
The sale was conducted by Carter Lindsay Weber, Dubbo, with John Lindsay taking the auctioneer duties.
