A SMALL buying gallery of 12 registered bidders were enough to secure a strong $1852 average for rams at the Alfoxton Dohne sale near Armidale on Monday.
Chris and Cindy Clonan offered 70 rams with 57 selling for an 81 per cent clearance with all three top price rams selling to stud buyers.
The $5000 top price ram was purchased by first time buyers the Calga stud at Coonamble with an 18.8 micron fleece, standard deviation (SD) of 3.2, co-efficient of variation (CV) at 17.3 and a 75.3 per cent yield.
He had a body weight of 103.5 kilograms with Dohne breeding values of 4.8 for yearling weight (YWT), yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) of 14.2, a yearling worm egg count (YWEC) of -37 and an index of 138.5.
Representing the Calga stud on the day was farm manager Stuart Davidson and their classer Jason Southwell.
Proving himself a worthwhile investment for the Alfoxton stud, all three top price sale rams were sired by Roseville Park 14-0055 who was purchased for $20,000 in syndicate at the Dohne National Sale at Dubbo in 2016.
In total, 32 sons of 14-0055 were offered for the first time at the sale and averaged $2008.
Interstate buyers, the O’Brien family from O’Brien Dohne stud, Kyancutta, South Australia, secured the second top priced ram at $4250.
He had a 17.1 micron fleece, 2.7 SD and 16.4 CV with Dohne breeding figures of 4.3 YWT, 11.3 YCFW, -24 YWEC and yearling fat of 0.4.
The third top price ram of $4000 went to Pippadel stud, Balala, weighing 100 kilograms.
Volume buyer on the day was the Michel family of Lochallen, Warialda, with 13 ram purchases.
Bucknell Grazing secured 11 rams for their Bukkulla Station property while repeat clients, the Uebergang family, Oakhurst, North Star, took home 10 rams.
Unlike other sales hit by drought conditions in the area, Alfoxton’s prices were only $123 back on last year’s $1975 average.
Stud principal Chris Clonan was thankful for buyers’ support especially after the nearby Tingha fire threatened access for some attendees.
“The roads only just opened Sunday evening so to get clients through that way was such a relief,” he said.
“We are very grateful for the support in trying seasonal conditions.”
The sale was conducted by CL Squires and Co.
