Gowan Brae Poll Dorset sale tops $3200 at Furner for a $1740 average
Summary
A full clearance and a $3200 top price highlighted the annual Gowan Brae Poll Dorset ram sale at Furner on Friday, with all 122 rams sold to average $1740.
The top price was achieved by lot 50, the stud's annual charity ram, donated by the stud principal to the Millicent Cancer Support Group. LS Johnson, Naracoorte, paid $3200 for the ram, continuing a tradition that has supported the group for more than 10 years. The stud has donated a ram to the group each year for the past decade as a way of supporting local women who raise funds to help make life easier for people affected by cancer.
The stud principal said he was pleased with the result, particularly the total clearance and the support from new buyers, noting it is a fairly competitive game and that picking up two or three new buyers was pleasing.
The average was $470 up on the stud's 2025 sale, when 107 of 115 rams sold to a high of $2400, a price reached three times. The selling agent said the sale offered a consistent line-up of large-framed, long-bodied rams, with buyers competing across the catalogue.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Rams offered, sold | 122, full clearance |
| Sale average | $1740 |
| Top price | $3200 |
| Year-on-year average lift | Up $470 |
| 2025 result | 107 of 115, $2400 high |
| Charity ram lot number | 50 |
| Top buyer's total draft, average | 10 rams at about $2170 |
| Years supporting the charity | More than 10 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Gowan Brae Poll Dorset sale top at?
The sale topped at $3200 for lot 50, the stud's annual charity ram. All 122 rams sold for a full clearance at a $1740 average. The stud principal said the full clearance was the main objective.
How much did the average rise?
The $1740 average was $470 up on the 2025 sale, when 107 of 115 rams sold to a high of $2400, a price reached three times. This year's offering was larger and cleared completely.
What is the charity ram?
Each year the stud donates one ram to the Millicent Cancer Support Group, placing it at lot 50. The tradition has run for the past decade and has supported the group for more than 10 years. The stud describes it as a way of supporting local women who raise funds to help make life easier for people affected by cancer.
Who bought the charity ram?
LS Johnson, Naracoorte, paid $3200, continuing its support of the tradition. The buyer said the charity ram is a regular feature of the sale and worth paying a little extra for, noting the ram could easily have been catalogued among the first few lots rather than at number 50.
How will the top-priced ram be used?
The ram will join a first-cross ewe program at Naracoorte, where the buyer runs about 10,000 head. That buyer has supported the stud for 15 years and also purchased nine other rams at the sale, averaging $2170.
How even was the offering?
The selling agent said buyers competed across the catalogue, from lot one through to lot 120, which indicates a very even sale rather than buyers finding rams only in the front half. He described a consistent line-up of large-framed, long-bodied rams.
Where did the rams sell to?
The selling agent said the rams basically went to all local buyers. The stud principal was pleased to see the offering find buyers throughout the sale rather than only at the top end.
Was the sale affordable for buyers?
The selling agent said buyers were able to find rams to suit a range of budgets, making it a value-driven sale. The stud principal added that picking up two or three new buyers was pleasing in a competitive market. The sale was conducted by Nutrien.
