RIGHT from the first lot buyers and spectators realised the sale draft of Gillmore Poll Dorset flock rams were not going to sell cheaply.
Selling in pens of three or in pairs the first 18 lots of 47 rams sold from $2000 to a top price of $4000 among the 65 lots cleared at auction resulting in 163 rams averaging a record $2261 with another three selling post-sale.
The record average was a significant result for Rory and Brooke Ryan and his mother, Gillian, who established the stud in 1963 as a teenager for a Junior Farmer project.
Gillmore stud's first on-property sale in 1990 sold 119 rams to a top of $370 to average $246.
Auctioneer Martin Simmons from selling agents Elders Dubbo stated prior to commencing the sale he could see the improvement in the sale stock presented year-on-year.
Rory Ryan said the rams were shorn just four weeks ago and "they were jumping out of their skins" in the past couple of weeks.
"We have rams this year younger than normal as we get ewes back into the old lambing routine since the drought," Mr Ryan said.
"Being younger rams and a bit smaller is an advantage, as buyers will be able to fit an extra ram onto the ute."
Mr Ryan said that with the season in front and the genetics behind them, "you're not going to know these by Christmas".
A happy buyer of the top-priced pair, Harold Baker of the Paul Baker Group, Scarborough Lodge, Wellington, said he had rated his second purchase at half the money as good as the top pair.
Of the $4000 pair one, a lamb, had put on 12 kilograms in the month between weighing from September 2 to October 3 and the other, a hogget, 9kg.
The Baker family has a reputation for production of quality terminal second-cross prime lambs which are from first-cross Merino/Border Leicester ewes. They join some 2000 first-cross ewes.
Harold's father, Paul, began buying Gillmore rams in 1996 and every year since with this year being the 30th stud sale. In 1996 they paid $500 each for three rams when that year the top price was $600. The family have purchased the top-priced rams at seven on the past 10 sales including last year.
Largest multi-lot buyer was Jason O'Brien of O'Brien Ag, Abberville, Arthurville. He purchased 39 rams to a top of $3400 to average $2713, and his purchases are the second largest number in sales around the state so far this season.
Mr O'Brien has bought a total of 250 rams in the past 13 sales, this year joining around 4000 Merino/Border Leicester first-cross ewes.
Returning for their second year, Westbrook Holdings Pty Ltd, Black Springs bought 21 rams paying to $3400 for a trio and an average of $1857.
Andrew Robinson, manager of stock agent, Colin Hoods enterprise at Yeoval, bought five to a top of $2200 to average $1920. First-time purchasers Townsend Brothers, Glenavey, Eugowra, bought 10 rams to a top of $2200 for five, to average $2100. Johnsons Red Hill, Yeoval, paid an average of $1875 for eight rams.
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