INCREASING the sale offering of their 4th annual sale paid off for Matt and Amy Reid of Rowallan Poll Dorsets, Crowther, last Friday, with a full clearance of 163 rams.
Making the choice to boost their sale draft numbers by 50 per cent following last year's success, the Reids were humbled by how well received the line-up was.
Three rams fetched the $2800 top price, while the average sat at $1678, slightly up from 2019.
Operating across around 3000 acres and joining 1100 ewes as part of their mixed farming enterprise, Linda and Beau Stewart of Eulo Pastoral Company, Harden, took home five rams including a $2800 high-seller in Rowallan 30/19.
The twin-born 2019-drop ram was sired by Aberdeen 527/16 and ranked top 10pc for postweaning eye muscle depth (PEMD) and top 25pc for birthweight (BWT), postweaning fat score (PFAT) and lean meat yield (LMY).
The Stewarts were repeat volume buyers, averaging $2260 across their five selections.
Steve Deasey, on behalf of Geoff Edgerton at Wombat, also purchased a $2800 sale-topper, Rowallan 35/19.
Also by the Aberdeen 527/16 sire, he ranked top 10pc for weaning weight (WWT) and top 25pc for postweaning weight (PWT), PFAT and LMY.
Mr Deasey and Mr Edgerton work together and have been long-term clients of Rowallan, annually purchasing rams to add to their sire battery.
"I run around 1000 first cross ewes and the (Rowallan) rams are reliable, top products. Every year we are very happy with what we pick up," Mr Deasey said.
The third $2800 equal top-priced ram was Rowallan 598/19 purchased by Butt Livestock and Property, for an undisclosed buyer.
A twin-born ram by the Aberdeen 679/16 sire, he was well-figured, sitting top 10pc for PEMD, LMY and the Terminal Carcase Production Index (TCP), and top 25pc for BWT and PFAT.
Phil Butt of selling agents Butt Livestock and Property, Yass, said the rams all stood up for themselves.
"The rams have done it all on grass and crop, and that speaks highly of the quality presented," Mr Butt said.
A number of repeat volume buyers were operating including long-term client Hugh Thackeray of Woornack Pastoral, Young, who purchased 15 rams to a top of $2300, and average of $1760.
Paraway Pastoral bought 10 rams for a $1700 top and $1400 average, and Michael Edwards of Goba Creek Station, Boorowa, bought eight rams for a $2700 top and $1863 average.
Yass based Medway Family Partnership paid a top of $2600 and averaged $2257 across their seven purchases.
Eight rams were sold to The Willows, Cootamundra, for a top of $1500 and average of $1275.
Taking bids on the day were guest auctioneers Nick Fogarty of Bowyer and Livermore, and James Tierney of Riverina Livestock Agents.