Gates Performance Genetics held their 2022 on-property ram sale on Tuesday at Uralla, with the large offering of 145 Maternal Composite and White Suffolk rams attracting a number of local buyers.
Overall 85 rams were sold of the 145 catalogued resulting in a total sales clearance of 59 per cent, average of $1236 and top for $3000.
Increasing the offering of Maternal Composite rams, 61 were sold of 98 offered for a 63 per cent clearance, a $1280 average and a $3000 top price, while in the White Suffolk section 24 of 47 sold for a 51pc clearance, an $1125 average and $2200 top price.
Additional to the ram offering, Gates Performance Genetics stud principal Rick Gates also made 64 Maternal Composite ewes, 18 months, available to buyers.
The top-priced ram, CM200259, sold for $3000 to return buyers Tony and Julie Partridge from Walcha, who also purchased the high-selling Maternal Composite last year.
The broad framed ram had a weaning weight of 10.8 kilograms, post weaning weight of 16.1kg, a post weaning egg worm count of -42 and a Maternal Carcase Plus ( MCP+) index of 155.8.
The Partridge family purchased a total of 17 ewes and five rams on the day with an average of $1880 across their ram selections.
"We have been buying from Rick and Julie Gates for over seven years now and base our breeding program off their genetics," Mrs Patridge said.
"The low birth weight rams will go with our seven to nine-month-old ewe lambs for their first year lambing while the others will go with the older ewes.
Dalara Pastoral Company, Walcha, where the largest volume buyers for the day with 13 Maternal Rams at an average of $1200, with a top of $2000 paid for CM200378. This was up from 2021 when they bought nine rams.
Other valuable buyers for the Gates family was PG Wyatt, Guyra, with 10 rams to a top of $1600 for CM200047, and average of $1220.
The $2200 top-priced White Suffolk ram was WS200689 purchased by Elswick Pastoral, Walcha
He had a weaning weight of 11.4kg, post weaning weight of 18.2, a worm resistance of -66 and a 2.6 post weaning eye muscle depth.
A full clearance on all ewes was achieved with an average of $304 a head across the board.
The ewes were split into two lots with the first lot of 47 ewes sold for $320/hd to McKemey Ag Trust, Guyra, and the second lot comprised of 17 ewes sold for $260/hd to Tony and Julie Partridge, Walcha.
Gates Performance Genetics stud principal Rick Gates was hoping for more of a clearance on the offering of rams at the sale although "happy overall with the total outcome".
"We were hoping to have more rams sold under the hammer today [Tuesday]. The attendance was just a little short to sell those additional rams with the large offering that we had," Mr Gates said.
"Although moving forward we are getting more live lambs on the ground and are achieving results in a wide range of environments from Victoria up through to southern and western New South Wales.
"Our client feedback on lambs sold as stores through AuctionPlus, saleyards or direct slaughter consignments have been outstanding to date with considerable profit made.
"Our Maternal and White Suffolk breeding program delivers genetics for self-replacing prime lamb enterprise, for producers breeding towards the goal of specialised prime lamb production with their programs.
"Sam [Rick's son] will be returning at the end of the month which will be a great asset to assist with the day-to-day operations in getting around to clients and promotions."
The sale was covered by Ray White Livestock Guyra/Armidale with Blake O'Reilly the auctioneer taking bids across the room with assistance from Sam Sewell.