Growing interest in Charolais rams for meatier prime lamb production was evident at the annual Camlea stud ram sale at Glencoe on Friday with a top price of $3200.
The 50 yearling rams on offer sold to a full clearance, averaging $1117.
Robert and Daniel Hooper, “Vortex”, Banalla, Victoria purchased the top priced ram, lot 9 at 100 kilograms, for $3200 and will put him to stud.
Charolais rams produce small lambs at birth and lively ones too,” said Robert. “They have good structure and grow quickly.”
Fletcher International Exports purchased 10 rams for its Condobolin enterprise, topping at $1650 for lot 32, 98kg. The company later loaded 60 Charolais lambs from Camlea to take to Condoblin for a feedlot trial. At the recent Glen Innes show company founder Roger Fletcher praised Camlea Charolais and its crosses in his role as prime lamb judge.
Jon Cumming, “Chippendale” Guyra, bought nine Charolais rams including lot 40 for $1500 and will put them over White Suffolk/ Merino first cross maiden ewes.
Repeat buyers Warren and Graham Lockyer, Ben Lomand, bought five rams, including lot 25, 94kg for $1400 and will put them to Border Leicester/ Merino first cross maiden ewes for ease of lambing. But they will keep the daughters and build their Charolais content with prime lamb going direct to Woolworths through Thomas Foods International at Tamworth. “Our lambs dress out at 24kg, at the top of the grid,” Graham said.
Repeat buyers Jeff and Chris Pumper, Howlong, bought five rams, including lot 49, 94kg, for $1050 and will use them to replace Black Suffolk. “We switched for ease of lambing,” said Jeff. “And for their structure and their dress-out percentage.”
Family affair Penelope, Chelsea, Charlie and Ben Turner, Lings Plain, bought lot 47, 84kg, for $750 and will put him to first cross ewes for easy lambing on their smaller Merinos.
Repeat buyer Jan Simmons, Bundarra, purchased lot 45, 82kg, for $800 and will put him over Samm ewes to create an even meatier prime lamb.
Duncan Davidson, “Yoi”, Delungra, bought two rams to service White Suffolk/ Merino first cross ewes, including lot 18 for $1700. A previous infusion of Charolais has already worked to reduce the size of his Merino ewes and to add vigour.
“This breed ticks a lot of boxes,”’he said. “They are a tight unit.”
Howard and Kerry Carter, Barraba, bought rams for repeat buyer Fermanagh Allan, “Coreen”, Barraba, to put over first cross ewes.
“Charolais have good growth rates and are good converters. You can value add to your country with this breed,” Howard said.
Repeat Buyer Andrew Hines, Sandy Flat via Tenterfield, bought lot 37, 92kg, for $1100 to put to Dorset/ Merino.
“They produce a beautiful lamb,” he said. “At Tenterfield show I got best pen of lambs by other than Poll Dorset and sold them for $180 a head.”