PERFORMANCE recorded in NSW for more than 25 years, Strathview Maternal Genetics sold to a top of $4200 during the stud's 12th annual maternal composite ram sale at Henty last Tuesday.
Tim and Bek Lubke, Strathview Maternal Genetics, Henty, offered and sold 120 maternal composite rams for an average of $2024, up $400 on last year's sale. Mr Lubke said it was a strong result, with more rams entered in the catalogue this year.
John Ellis, Henty, secured the high-seller Strathview 200024, for $4200. A twin-born son of Strathview 297, he had a maternal breed makeup of 74 per cent Coopworth, 14pc White Suffolk, 6pc Texel, 5pc Poll Dorset and 1pc East Friesian.
He had Australian sheep breeding values (ASBVs) placing him in the top 20 per cent of the breed for weaning weight (9.7) and post-weaning fat (0.1), in the top 15pc for post-weaning weight (15.2) and in the top 5pc for post-weaning eye muscle depth (2.8).
He also had a Maternal Index of 168, placing him in the top 10pc of the breed.
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Among the gallery of buyers was Victorian stud breeder Tim Johnston, Waradgery Coopworth stud, Brit Brit, who purchased the second-top ram Strathview 200598, for $4100.
Twin-born son of Strathview 180, he had a maternal breed makeup of 67pc Coopworth, 25pc Border Leicester, 5pc Poll Dorset, 2pc White Suffolk and 1pc East Friesian.
Strathview 200598 had ASBVs placing him in the top 10pc of the breed for post-weaning fat (0.4) and post-weaning eye muscle depth (2.8), and in the top 5pc of the breed for number of lambs weaned (20).
He also had a Maternal Index of 165, placing him in the top 20pc of the breed.
Mr Lubke said the second-top ram in particular displayed strong maternal traits, which attracted spirited bidding.
"Mothering ability is the highest quality of the Coopworth breed," he said.
"One client is pregnancy scanning over 80pc multiples, and of those twin-bearing ewes they are weaning at 180pc.
"Many years of performance recording and data entry has helped our clients reach their breeding objectives."
Volume buyers included Lester Farming Co, Tamba, Henty, which purchased 32 rams to a top of $2000, averaging $1662. There were also three new buyers from Hamilton, Victoria.
The sale was conducted by AGnVET, Henty, online for AuctionsPlus.
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