A strong year in the show ring was capped off with a total clearance at the 16th annual Valley Vista Poll Dorset ram sale at Coolac on Friday, where buyers pushed the top stud rams to $4500.
It was the flock buyers that set the pace at the sale as some of the top end operators even cashed in on the stud sires to boost the production in their own flocks as the 140 rams averaged $1235.
The top ram was bought by Andy Keatinge, Kinghill Pastoral Company, Jugiong, who snapped up a second ram at $2000 to breed a few of their own rams for their flock use only.
Mr Keatinge said he loved the Valley Vista genetics and was chasing rams with good shape, a great hindquarter, the ability to stand well and a great balance of figures.
Brookglen Pastoral Company, paid $3750 for the reserve junior champion ram lamb at Melbourne Royal with a post weaning weight of 12.32 and a 42.85 eye muscle area.
Long time buyer Curwin Maclure, "Dunedin", Tarcutta, had been buying at the Scott families sale since its inception and again took home seven rams averaging $1357.
Mr Maclure said the rams will go to work over 1500 Merino ewes and 700 crossbred ewes to produce lambs that they take through to 12 months of age.
"The rams do the job for us as we have topped the Wagga market twice this year with progeny from these rams, with the best dressing out at 36 kilograms," he said.
Volume buyer on the day David Clark, representing T.A. Field Estates, "Benangaroo", Jugiong, with the help of agent Jarrod Slattery, Landmark, Wagga Wagga, picked through the rams to choose 15 rams with good fats to go over Merino ewes for a $1273 average..
Mr Clarke said they wanted rams with low birth weights and high weaning weights, with an aim to produce a lamb to be on-sold to backgrounders to grow out at young ages.
Coolac Pastoral Company, "Harvey Park", Coolac, loaded six at $1100, while DJ Graham Trust, " Red Hill", Coolac, settled in early taking the tops out of the sale to average $1400 for their 10 and Andrew Shannon, Bookham, secured 10 at $940 a head.
Rounding out the sale Tangarang Pastoral Company, Coolac, held up the back end of the sale securing seven at $847, while .the locals finished strongly with GH Harris, Coolac, loading four at $1300, AA, MM and D Crowe, Coolac, secured five at $1100, David Wakem, bought four at $1375 and BC and EA McGregor, Muttama, went home with six grossing $7000.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark with Hamish McGeoch, Tim Woodham and Jake Smith as the auctioneers.
Brett Tindal
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
