Focusing on meat eating quality on a balanced frame is paying dividends for Tony Manchester, when he and his family offered 35 Corriedale and 51 Kingsvale Supreme Poll Dorset rams for their annual on-property sale.
"I have been working for many years to breed rams which have the genetic potential to lift the standard of the meat eating quality," Mr Manchester said.
"I still have a long way to go, but at this sale I am very proud to offer rams which are structurally correct and with a balanced set of figures."
Sale results:
Kingsvale Supreme Poll Dorsets; 51/51 sold
Top price - $3500, av $1970
Roseville Corriedales: 25/35 sold
Top price - $4000 (2), av $1810
The top priced Kingsvale Supreme Poll Dorset at $3500 was purchased by Jemalong Wool, Forbes, for an undisclosed client.
The ram was attractive for the depth and width of body on a very well balanced sheep.
Tony Manchester said he could see why the buyer bought the the ram who was born a twin and was prepared to pay top money.
"There is nothing wrong with this ram, he is early maturing ram with low birthweight of 0.18 and quick growth to weaning weight of 9.22," he said.
"He has a beautiful balance of figures with high PEMD and with great width of loin and great hindquarters and a lot of muscle."
The yearling twin rams carcass traits measured 0.47PFAT, 3.38PEMD with 153.44 MCP+ (Maternal Carcass Production Index) and 142.40 LEQ (Lamb Eating Quality).
In the Corriedale draft, the top priced ram at $4000 was bought by return buyer Ron Blekemore, Dunedoo for two.
Mr Blekemore has been buying Roseville Corriedale rams for the past 25 years.
One of Mr Blekemore's rams, Lot 11, had a Post Weaning Weight (PWWT) of 4.14, 0.48 PFAT, 1.04, PEMD and number of lambs weaned of 5pc, and Mr Manchester said the ram has a great combination of wool and meat.:
"With low birthweight and above average carcass figures for a Corriedale and 26.7 micron fleece, he is a very meaty ram with soft crimpy wool with comfort factor of 87pc," Mr Manchester said.
Mr Manchester further reported approximately 200 pure Corriedale ewes will be offered on AuctionsPlus in two weeks time.
The sale was settled by Delta and Elders, Young, with Cameron Rosser and Aaron Seaman wielding the gavel while it was interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
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