STRONG support from repeat clients looking for big numbers of rams pushed prices to a high of $3000 at the annual Alfoxton Dohne ram sale at "Alfoxton", Armidale, on Monday.
Sixty seven of the 70 rams on offer sold for an average of $1532 and clearance of 96 per cent.
Long-time Alfoxton client Ian Uebergang, “Oakhurst”, North Star, was the sales biggest supporter, buying 14 rams, including seven of the eight highest selling lots.
His rams will be used in the commercial flock of 3500 ewes.
Mr Uebergang’s $3000 September 2015-drop AI ram by UD05-68 weighed 100 kilograms, had a 17.7-micron fibre diameter, and had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of +4.3 for yearling weight, +19 for clean fleece weight, +0.3 for fat and +0.3 for eye muscle depth (EMD).
“I was looking for rams with good body weight for meat production and to produce big bodied lambs,” he said.
“I like that the Alfoxton rams and mainly focused on lamb production but hold the bold micron and good wool quality without trying to be too fine.”
Mr Uebergang bought another UD05-68 son, a twin, for $2900. The 92.5kg ram had a fibre diameter of 18.9-micron and ASBVs of +4 for yearling weight, +17.1 for yearling clean fleece weight, +0,1 for EMD and +0.3 for fat.
An AI twin by UD08-119 sold for $2700, also to Mr Uebergang. The ram weighed 98kg, had a 18.7-micron fibre diameter and ASBVs of +4.5 for yearling weight, +6.8 for yearling clean fleece weight, +0.7 for EMD and +0.4 for fat.
Mr Uebergang also bought two rams, a UD05-68 son and a ram by UC13-68, for $2500.
Three rams sold for $2300, with two going to Mr Uebergang and the other purchased by Blair Smith, Mossgrove Partnership, Inverell.
The sale’s strength came from a large number of repeat clients who were volume buyers.
Mr Uebergang purchased 14 rams, with his draft averaging $2257. Peter Hubbard, “Woodville”, Curlewis, bought eight rams topping at $2000 and averaging $1300 and Alistair and Kirsty Michelle, Warialda, took home seven rams for a top of 41700 and average of $1214.
Two buyers – James Bishop, Bando Station, Mullaley, and Bill Hiscox, Armidale – bought six rams each, averaging $1550 and $1183 respectively. Geoff Bucknell, Bukkulla Station, Inverell, took home five rams averaging $1020 and Queensland producers Graeme and Sue Ware, Surat, purchased four rams averaging $1075.
Stud principal Chris Clonan said buyers were looking for rams with good fleece weights, body weights, fat and eye muscle.
The sale was settled by CL Squires and Co, Inverell, with Robbie Bloch taking the bids.