LOYAL clients who know just how the Stockdale rams perform in a commercial operation were the driving force behind the solid result at last week's Stockdale White Suffolk and Poll Dorset on-property ram sale at York.
In total 28 registered buyers operated in the sale conducted by Landmark in conjunction with Elders and backed with the knowledge of the genetics and the impressive season they weren't to afraid to bid up on the rams which best suited their requirements pushing prices to a high of $3000 for Poll Dorset stud sire.
With solid bidding throughout, Landmark auctioneer John Wirth was able to clear all 140 flock rams offered and two of the four stud sires to ensure a near perfect result for the Fairclough family.
When the final ram left the selling ring and the numbers were crunched all 140 White Suffolk and Poll Dorset flock rams had been sold for an average of $1167, up $18 on last year.
In comparison, in last year's sale the Fairclough family offered and sold 136 White Suffolk and Poll Dorset flock rams for an average of $1149.
In the breakdown the 80 White Suffolk flock rams sold averaged $1362 (up $122 on last year), while the 60 Poll Dorset flock rams sold averaged $908 (down $110).
In the terms of the stud offering the Faircloughs offered two White Suffolk stud rams and two stud Poll Dorset rams, but unlike last year the demand for these wasn't as great and as a result they sold one White Suffolk at $2500 and one Poll Dorset at $3000.
Mr Wirth said it was a very successful sale with a 100pc clearance across the offering of flock rams.
"Once again there was very strong local support from return buyers who know exactly how the rams perform and they bid strongly through the whole offering which helped to ensure the solid result," Mr Wirth said
"Like other sales this year the White Suffolk offering sold extremely well to strong competition, the breed has certainly gained momentum within the State in the past 12 months," Mr Wirth said.
"Overall it was a very even and outstanding line-up of rams across both breeds right through which were showing the signs of how good the season is."
Stockdale stud principal Laurie Fairclough said they were very happy with the overall result.
"It was really pleasing to achieve a total clearance of the flock rams at similar prices to last year," Mr Fairclough said.
"The White Suffolks sold extremely well and sold slightly better than we expected.
"Once again we had strong support from return buyers which we are extremely grateful to and there was also a handful of new buyers operating which was pleasing to see."
The White Suffolk offering may have been the biggest and the one which kicked started the sale, but it was a stud sire in the Poll Dorset offering that attracted the most attention and a flurry of bids before being knocked down at the sale's $3000 top price.
Holding the winning bidding when the ram was knocked over was return buyer of four years the Alp family, RHG Alp, Gingin.
The stretchy, square ram weighed 142 kilograms and had scans of 50mm eye muscle depth (EMD) and 8mm fat.
Ron Alp, who was buying for the family, said the ram was an outstanding sire with good length and depth.
"My son Brad will use the ram in a nucleus flock to breed rams to use over first-cross Border Leicester ewes in our prime lamb operation," Mr Alp said.
The Alps mate about 1000 ewes in their prime lamb program and turn the lambs off as suckers, which Mr Alp said always grade well.
The stud White Suffolk stud ram which sold made $2500 when it was purchased by first time buyer Brad Bassett, RJ & LJ Bassett, Brookton.
The long-bodied, deep sire had a body weight of 126kg and scans of 49mm EMD and 6mm fat.
Mr Bassett said he liked the size and eye muscle of the ram.
"We will use him in a nucleus flock of 50 ewes to breed rams for our prime lamb operation where we mate 1600 Merino ewes to White Suffolk sires," Mr Bassett said.
The Bassetts aim to turn their lambs, which start dropping in mid-April, off as suckers.
"We have sold 80 per cent of this year's lambs already direct to abattoirs and they have averaged 22kg," Mr Bassett said.
When it came to the White Suffolk rams, Mr Wirth had no problems finding new homes for them and they topped at $1700 on five occasions.
On four occasions this value was paid by second-year buyers RG & AG Della Bosca & Sons, North Bodallin.
All four were long, deep rams which weighed between 114kg and 124kg, three had EMDs of 45mm and the other scanned 44mm while their fats were between 5 and 7mm.
The fifth ram to sell at $1700 was purchased by MJ & SL Symes, Moorine Rock, as part of a team of four White Suffolks, which averaged $1500.
They also purchased two Poll Dorset flock rams at $1100.
The $1700 ram weighed 106kg and scanned 41mm EMD and 6mm fat.
Return buyers GW & E Anderson, Quairading, weren't afraid to bid up and ended the sale with six White Suffolks to a top of $1600 (four times) at an average of $1567.
Matching the Andersons on many of the top rams was Westcoast livestock York representative Mark Fairclough, who purchased five to a top of $1600 (twice) and an average of $1520, with some of these destined for the paddocks of Adrian Smith, Beverley.
There were multiple volume buyers of the White Suffolk flock rams which all secured nine sires.
Leading these with an average of $1433 across his team of nine was return buyer, Gordon Marwick, GW Marwick & Co, York, who said the Stockdale sires were good strong rams with a consistent body mass.
Mr Marwick's team included seven sires at $1500.
Fellow return buyer Chris Luff, Falconhurst Grazing, York, who will this year mate 2000 Merino ewes to White Suffolk sires, averaged $1267 across his team of nine that topped at $1400.
Mr Luff said it was muscling in the Stockdale sires which kept him coming back.
The third buyer to secure nine sires was another regular buyer Mt Bebb Farms, Shackleton. It averaged $1211 across its team which topped at $1300.
The Poll Dorset flock ram offering topped at $1200 on four occasions.
York producers DE & BJ Draper paid this value twice for rams weighing 118kg and 122kg which both had scans of 45mm EMD and 5mm fat.
The Drapers also purchased two more Poll Dorsets at $950 and a White Suffolk at $1200.
The other two sires to sell for $1200 were purchased by return buyers GW Boyle & Co, York.
They were part of a team of six Poll Dorset knocked down to the operation at an average of $1033.
These rams weighed 113kg and 116kg and had EMD scans of 44mm and 46mm EMD respectively.
The operation also purchased two White Suffolks at $1300.
Others to bid up strongly were KJ Hodby, who purchased six at an average of $992 and to a top of $1100 (three times), while RB & CM Harridge, New Norcia, averaged $925 across a team of four.
After bidding strongly in the White Suffolk offering, Westcoast Livestock representative Mark Fairclough went on to be the volume buyer of the Poll Dorset flock rams securing a team of 14 at an average of $854.
He purchased some these for Tristan O'Brien, Jennacubbine.
Showing no preference for either breed was Erin Emin, Ferncourt Enterprises, York, who was the day's single biggest buyer outside Mr Fairclough who was operating for a number of clients.
The operation, which has been buying from the Faircloughs since they established the stud, purchased seven Poll Dorsets and six White Suffolks at averages of $843 and $1200 respectively.
Mr Emin said the Stockdale sires were nice, even rams which were consistent in their breeding.
The Emins mate 4500 Merino ewes to Poll Dorset and White Suffolk sires and aim to turn their lambs, which are dropped in May, off as suckers
Mr Emin said this year they had already sold 3500 lambs to both the abattoir (44kg liveweight) and export markets (35kg liveweight).
There were a number of buyer prizes for the sale, which were sponsored by Morgan Feed Supplies, the Farm Shop and Bayer.