A BRAND new stud sire was on display at the Ridgetop on-property ram sale, with the Carter family keen to show off the stud's continued investment in genetic direction, which paid off with interest at the top end of the sale, resulting in a top-price of $2000 reached twice.
Three breeds were offered this year with White Suffolks and Poll Dorsets joined by South Suffolks in the line-up which replaced the White Dorper offering from last year.
A total of 150 rams were offered, 100 being White Suffolk, with 30 Poll Dorsets and 20 South Suffolks rounding out the catalogue which sold to a combined average of $781.
The result was very firm on last year's sale where an average of $783 was posted, but this year's clearance trumped the 2018 sale when 128 of 153 were sold, because this year all but one sold under the hammer.
Elders auctioneer Don Morgan said he thought it was a good result for the Carter family.
"It was a good, steady sale with one passed in after we sold that single South Suffolk which was left at the end of the sale," Mr Morgan said.
"The rams presented very well, especially the first run of White Suffolks which showed great growth for age and were backed up with good carcase measurements.
"With not as many registrations as last year, the competition was strong enough to see all the sheep sold on the day which is a good result and better than last year when we did unfortunately pass a few in."
p White Suffolk
The offering of 100 White Suffolks saw a total clearance and a combined average of $817, which was stronger than last year when 101 of 105 were sold to an average of $772.
At the top end of the sale, it was Laurie and Brenton Fairclough, Stockdale White Suffolk stud, York, who travelled south to get their hands on a new stud sire and outlaid the equal biggest sum of the day at $2000 for the White Suffolk in lot 32.
Of their top-priced purchase, Brenton Fairclough said it was a good White Suffolk type with a good structure, carried nice and squarely on its feet.
"This is a good safe ram," Mr Fairclough said.
"We saw him up at the Royal Show this year and liked him immediately.
"This is the first time we've used Ridgetop genetics so this will be a new bloodline for our stud with a handy pedigree on both sides."
The ram goes back to Brimfield, Pollambi and Depta Grove bloodlines.
Lot 32 weighed in at 110.5kg with an eye muscle depth of 43.8mm and a 'C' fat measurement of 5.6mm.
Elders Albany agent Nigel Hawke made an impact on the White Suffolk portion of the sale, tallying up a strong team of 51 Ridgetop White Suffolks on behalf of Arkle Farm, Bedford Harbour, at a combined average of $737.
"These were good value for money commercial type rams which will be used over about a third of the ewe flock at Arkle Farm," Mr Hawke said.
Ryan Smith, Baboo Pty Ltd, Green Range, also bought numbers in the White Suffolk catalogue, landing himself a team of 19 for an average of $874, including a top of $1050 twice, while the other volume buyer was Richard Metcalfe, Metcalfe Pastoral, Manypeaks, who bought 11 at an average of $850.
p Poll Dorset
The Poll Dorset breed was represented at the sale by 30 sires which also sold to a total clearance and an average of $717, down from $824 last year when 27 of 42 were sold under the hammer.
The top-priced Poll Dorset also fetched the $2000 price tag when ERJ & JP Churly outlaid the sum.
The Ridgetop bred equal top-priced ram of the sale tipped the scales at 112kg and had an eye muscle depth of 44mm and 'C' fat measurement of 8.3mm.
Albany Community Hospice was a beneficiary of the proceeds of one of the rams on offer in the Poll Dorset line-up with $700 donated to the organisation after EA Coombe & Son, Kronkup, bought the charity ram along with three other Poll Dorsets at $700 each.
Weighing in at 105kg, the charity ram had an eye muscle depth of 40mm and a 'C' fat measurement of 5mm.
Volume buyer in the Poll Dorset section of the sale was David Lindberg, Elders, who bought a team of 15 on behalf of repeat buyer RJ & JA Thomason for $650 apeice.
Mr Lindberg said the buyer had been supporting the Ridgetop sale for years and had been very happy with the performance of the Ridgetop Poll Dorsets over their Merino ewes.
Albany-based Moir & Co Pty Ltd bought seven Poll Dorsets at an average of $693 to be the other main volume buyer in the Poll Dorset portion of the sale.
p South Suffolk
Rounding out the sale were the South Suffolks, 20 of which went under the hammer, selling to a top of $900 and an average of $692 across the 19 rams sold during the sale.
Two buyers were operating on this part of the catalogue, Nigel Hawke, Elders and Mt Barker Transport, and they had no trouble snapping up the rams with all 20 sold between the two buyers.
Mr Hawke bought a total of 12 under the hammer including the top-priced ram at $900, meaning he paid an average of $675 across his selections.
These were headed to a number of his locally-based clients who were looking for rams to use over their maiden ewes.
Mount Barker Transport secured a team of seven South Suffolks, including a top of $800 paid twice, taking their average to $721.
Ridgetop stud principal Denam Carter said he was happy to clear all of the sheep offered at this year's sale.
"I'm happy people were able to get good quality rams for affordable prices," Mr Carter said.
"It was also great to have some stud interest on the top-priced rams, as well as new and returning clients here to support the sale."
