Prime Lamb producers have been rewarded with strong prices for lambs despite tough seasonal conditions which created optimism among buyers at the 8th Annual Wattle Park White Suffolk ram sale held on property at Finley.
The Jamieson family offered 149 quality White Suffolk rams a further increase on the number of rams offered by the family in 2017.
The May to August 2017 drop rams presented well with all 149 rams weighing in at over 100 kilograms.
The rams were recieved well by commercial buyers with rams selling throughout Victoria and the Riverina.
In total 111 rams sold for an average of $1075 sold to a modest top of $2000 on two occasions.
The average slightly down on last year was solid considering there was only one stud ram sold whilst in 2017 there were 10 rams that found stud duties.
Finding stud duties was W17-100 a June drop son of muscle and high fat sire Depta Grove 15-256.
Selling to Balmar White Suffolk, Barunga Gap, South Australia, he weighed in at 103 kg and had a muscle depth of 48 millimetres, a muscle width of 109 mm and a fat depth of 11 mm.
Matched but not beaten the equal top price ram was W17-39 a July drop twin son of Ashbank 12-26 was the reserve champion ram at Bendigo Elite White Suffolk show and sale in 2016.
He weighed in at 120kg and had a muscle depth of 52.5 mm, a muscle width of 114 mm and fat depth of 11 mm and sold to Callandoon, Strath Creek, Victoria.
Leading the volume buyers Carson Thomas, Jerilderie, put together a draft of 24 rams.
The Morona Family of Bilkurra, Deniliquin, again operated strongly purchasing a total of 18 rams.
While Plunkett Whitegate Pty Ltd, Avenel, Vic, loaded 14 rams and Kevin Wilkie, Horsham, Vic, bought 12 rams.
The auction was conducted by Elders and Landmark with Tim Woodham, Landmark, and James Kennedy, Elders, weilding the gavel.
There’s an enormous amount of confidence in the lamb industry, and in sheep generally, and the demand for lamb is really strong.
- John Jamieson, Wattle Park White Suffolk
