CLOVER VALLEY WHITE SUFFOLKS
Total clearance of 30 rams to $1200 (x3), av $930
Clover Valley White Suffolks, Stuart Mill, has again met with success, in only its second on-farm ram sale.
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The stud cleared all 30 rams on offer, mainly to regional, repeat buyers, Rodwell’s Brian Dixon said.
“It’s still, to a degree, a fledgling stud – last year was the first on-farm sale, but this year it was a better result,” Mr Dixon said. “The sheep presented a little bit better, they performed very well for people who bought them last year. Instead of buying one or two – they bought numbers.”
Three rams achieved the top price of $1200, while Mr Dixon said the average price, of $930, was well up on last year. Stud principal Brad Medlyn said better lamb prices and confidence in the season resulted in strong bidding for the Helmsman auction, from a largely local gallery. “There was a fair bit of focus on birthweight and eye muscle area, this year,” Mr Medlyn said.
The sale-topping rams went to Tony Pickthall, St Arnaud, Brent Mortlock, Dunluce, and RC & RM Fernandes, Beazleys Bridge. Mr Pickthall said he would use the ram over first cross ewes.
He picked up Lot one, an April 2015 drop, 119kg ram was sired by Laurel View 11095, which had Stockscan figures of an eye muscle width (EMW) of 105mm, eye muscle depth of of 49mm and an eye muscle area (EMA) of 39.62 square centimetres.
Mr Mortlock said he bought Lot number three, because he liked the ram’s size and depth of body.
The 17 month old 126kg ram, sired by Baringa 13W216, recorded figures of a 100mm EMW, 48mm EMD and an EMA of 36.22.
“He will be going over our merino ewes, for an autumn drop, and we will use him again for our spring drop,” Mr Mortlock said. The property ran about 1500 ewes, using a mix of Poll Dorsets and White Suffolks, to turn off prime lambs.
The third top price getter was a 107kg August 2015 drop Baringa ram, with figures of an 86mm EMW, 40mm EMD and 26.29EMA.