Celebrating their 31st annual on-property sale, the Frost family’s Hillden Poll Dorset stud, Bannister, had another strong result in 2017.
The 10 stud rams offered sold to $5250 on two occasions and averaged $2875.
While 139 of the 140 flock rams offered sold for a $1407 average to equate to an overall average of $1506 on 149 rams.
The tops of the stud rams could not be split with two peaking at the equal top price of $5250.
Purchaser of last year’s top price ram, Danny Picker, of Crown Hill Poll Dorset stud, Bigga, returned to purchase equal top price ram, Hillden 45-16, an April 2016 son of Tattykeel 90-14, the standing sire at Hillden and the champion ram lamb at the 2014 Australasian Dorset Championships.
He weighed in at 126 kilograms and had a eye muscle area of 42.8 square millimetres, the second largest of the sale draft.
Assisted by adviser, Rick Power, Mr Picker selected the ram for “his added muscle, structure, and eye muscle definition”.
“He has a good body and a strong head,” Mr Picker said.
Not to be out done Greg Hamilton of Windradryne Poll Dorsets, Canowindra, paid the equal top money for his pick of the draft, Hillden 470-16, a June 2016 son of Hillden 40-15 who was sired by Hillden 400-14, the reserve champion ram at Canberra in 2015 under the eye of Mr Hamilton himself.
Hillden 470-16 weighed in at 132 kilograms and had an eye muscle area of 37 square millimetres.
Mr Hamilton selected him for “his length, conformation and pedigree”.
“He is a bit different (pedigree) to the other Hillden rams I have used particularly on the top side I don’t have that sire line.”
The large contingent of volume buyers were led by G.A. and B.R. Long, Laggan, who put together a draft of eight rams for a $1550 average.
Yass producer, Frank Kaveney, Tallawong Pastoral Company, was once again a strong supporter and bought seven rams in 2017 including three of the stud rams topping at $2100 for a flock ram for an average of $1929 over his selection.
Hollywood Pastoral Company, Crookwell, also loaded seven rams paying to a top of $1800 for a $1600 average.
Ambleside Pastoral Company travelled a distance from their Foxhow, Victoria, base to purchased seven rams for a $1529 average.
While Sylvan Farm Trust, “Genefee”, Cumnock, averaged $1100 for their selection of seven rams.
Duncombe and Co. client, Agscope, bought well averaging $843 on seven.
The auction sale was conducted by Landmark and Duncombe and Co Livestock with Rick Power and Jock Duncombe sharing the duties for their respective companies.