Old Woombi Poll Dorset stud achieves $4500 top and $2189 average at first spring ram sale

Producers from across the state tuned into the online Helmsman-style sale via AuctionsPlus in an effort to get their hands on the 29 Poll Dorset rams on offer.

After running for almost an hour, the sale came to an end with 27 of the 29 rams sold for a clearance rate of 93 per cent and at an average of $2189.

The honour of being the sale's top-priced ram looked like it could be taken out by several contenders during the course of the auction, however the honour went to Old Woombi 200363, which was purchased by Rod and Brad Davies, Wrattonbullie, Naracoorte, South Australia.

The 15-month-old ram was sired by Old Woombi 150132 and out of Old Woombi 120135 and was rated in the top five pc of the breed for lean meat yield and terminal carcase production (TCP) as well as in the top 10pc for lamb-eating-quality.

"I think he was a cracking stand-up ram with a good head, soft shoulders, who stands correct and walks really well," Old Woombi stud principal Sam Lisle told The Land.

"As well as that, he has a good balance of figures to go with it."

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The top-seller was one of two rams to sell for more than $4000 as Old Woombi 200418 sold to Hovell Pastoral Company, Burrumbuttock, for $4100.

"Those guys also picked out a cracking ram because I think he had a balance of a lot of good traits" Mr Lisle said.

"He was very soft in the shoulders and a TCP of 160.2, so he was really pushing for a low-birth weight, good moderate growth with a high eye muscle."

Helping spur on the success of the inaugural sale was volume buyers such as Mynora Pastoral Company, Eurongilly, six rams at an average of $1516, Holman Tolmie Pty Ltd, Cootamundra, five rams at an average of $1020, Kirton Partnership, Walcha, four rams at an average of $3500 and J and A Hunt, Walcha, three rams at an average of $2900.

"Selling in spring is quite different to selling in February because with it being so cold it can be difficult to get the feed in front of them, given they are only pasture fed to ensure they are ready to work, however they really exploded over the past few weeks and have really done well," Mr Lisle said.

"We do normally have some stud inquires from down south at this time of year anyway, so it was good to put something together that allows everyone the chance of getting the ram they want, but the best part is half of the rams were purchased locally.

"Of this draft, two rams went to studs which was really pleasing and the amount of interest was really strong."

Wednesday's sale marked a landmark for the Lisle family as it was its first stand alone sale after years of selling at the Walcha British Breeds ram sale and comes after it purchased the Chain-O-Ponds Border Leicester stud from Margaret and Bruce Davidson earlier this year.

"A lot of those local buyers would normally buy from me in February at the Walcha British Breeds ram sale, which from next year I won't be involved in just due to the amount of sheep I'll be offering," Mr Lisle said.

"Instead, we will be hosting our first on-property ram sale on February 1 with 70 or 80 Poll Dorset rams, 50 or 60 Border Leicester rams and 10 Charolais rams as well.

"It will be sad to not be involved with the British Breeds sale, but we are excited for our first on-property sale and this spring auction will be an annual thing for us now because the southern guys are really looking for them at this time of year and we are starting to build up a bit of a following, so it makes sense."

Wednesday's online auction was conducted by Elders Walcha via AuctionsPlus.

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