Commercial producers set the Armdale Park sale ring alight, pushing their flock ram average to what is believed to be a new Poll Dorset flock ram record average price of $2219 at the Armstrong families first stand alone Poll Dorset ram sale on Friday.
Stud rams also created a lot of interest as they sold to a top of $10,000, with all 18 stud rams clearing to a $5117 average, but it was the flock rams that exploded with all 171 rams selling to $3000 tops to average $2219, an increase of $773 on last year.
In a new era for Garry and Catherine Armstrong and their children Sam, Georgia and Chloe, who for the first time held their own Armdale Park sale on their own property and drew one of the largest crowds that stud had seen at their sale.
What made the result even more remarkable was the fact that the 102 Autumn drop rams originally set for the sale averaged $2390, before the Armstrong's decided to add 69 Spring drop rams that would usually be set for their Autumn sale in January, they decided not to hold, averaged $1965.
The top ram was purchased by Karl Sinclair, Kinsdale Poll Dorset stud, Orange, who paid $10,000 for a son of the Armdale Park 520-19, who impressed for his thickness and length, coupled with a great sirey head, according to Mr Sinclair.
Mr Sinclair also paid $8750 for a son of AP271-17, who was a spring drop ram with tremendous growth, balance and overall correctness.
"They are both great rams that will offer a lot to our program," he said.
Mr Sinclair said he wanted to buy at the sale to support Garry and Cath at their first sale on their own and could not congratulate them enough on the way they presented all their stud and flock rams.
The Pyle Brothers, Albany, Western Australia, paid $9500 for the second top ram by AP520-16, while Bungola Dorset stud, Cootamundra, loaded two at $7750 and $3000 and DM and BB Blyton, Cooma, secured two at $6500 and $3500.
Long time supporter Tom Pattison, Killarney, Marrar, had bought at every sale for 40 years and hadn't missed one in that time, bought two rams to the flock ram top of $3000, along with a further two at $2800.
Mr Pattison, who runs 1500 ewes said he was in the meat game and the length, depth and ease of lambing that the Armdale Park rams offer, you just cant go past them as the perfect prime lamb sire.
Mr Pattison sold sucker lambs on Thursday for $210 and has averaged $190 over the past four weeks for 700 lambs he had sold.
"We aim our lambs at 28 to 32 kilograms as suckers for sale and Poll Dorsets are at their peak at that weight," he said.
Armdale Park stud principal Garry Armstrong said Mr Pattison was the best lamb producer in the district and regularly topped the Wagga sale.
Linden Trust, Wagga, bought 10 rams at $2500, Greg McKelvie who runs 2100 ewes secured 11 rams at $2527, while the Milson family, Caroross, Goulburn, loaded their 11 rams for a $2236 average and Sandy Tait, Gunong, Jugiong, again bought his 10 for $2180 apiece.
Rounding out the sale JD and M Molineux, Nangus, bought six at $2217, Burgess hill pastoral Company, Coolamon, averaged $2267 for their six, while JA Culley Jnr and Company, Woodbine Park, Crookwell, took home their six at $1833 and Rory Menzies, Ganmain, finished the sale with five at $2500.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien, with Steve Ridley and Peter Cabot as auctioneers.
Rounding out the sale JD and M Molineux, Nangus, bought six at $2217, Burgess hill pastoral Company, Coolamon, averaged $2267 for their six, while JA Culley Jnr and Company, Woodbine Park, Crookwell, took home their six at $1833 and Rory Menzies, Ganmain, finished the sale with five at $2500.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien, with Steve Ridley and Peter Cabot as auctioneers.