Solid values recorded for dual purpose breeds in WA 2024 ram sale season

South African originated dual purpose sheep breeds followed the general trend of the 2024 ram selling season, recording solid values on reduced numbers.

The challenges faced by sheep producers over the past couple of years need no introduction and dual purpose sheep breeds in WA haven't been immune from these.

Dual purpose breeds Dohne, Prime SAMM and Afrino are preferred by some sheep producers for their versatility as maternal and terminal sires, fertility and finishing ability of their progeny and a wool clip.

Unfortunately the lowest number of rams were offered this season since 2009 with supplies of these rams continuing to decline from its peak last decade.

But on a more positive note, the overall sale average was up on last year with some confidence returning to the industry, with improved seasonal and market conditions from this time last year.

A total of 788 Dohne, Prime SAMM and Afrino rams were collectively offered during the 2024 season at nine sales throughout WA.

Once selling was completed for the season, a total of 602 rams were sold at auction for a 76 per cent clearance rate which was back from 83pc last year.

Ram numbers offered was back 173 head from last year's total of 961, while rams sold was down 199 head from last year where 801 rams sold at auction.

In terms of returns, the three breeds combined to gross $754,050 and average $1253 which was down $215,800 on gross returns but up $42 on average compared to last year's results of $969,850 and $1211 respectively.

Dohne

The State's Dohne breeders offered 508 Dohne rams at four sales in 2024.

They collectively sold a total of 391 Dohne rams at auction to gross $527,200 for an improved average of $1348.

In the breakdown, ram numbers offered and sold were the lowest number since 2009, down 173 rams offered and 199 rams sold on last year, while the clearance rate was back five percentage points to 77pc.

Gross returns decreased $128,550 from last year to the lowest figure in the past 16 years however the average collectively rose $138 despite all breeders experiencing downturns in sale averages this year.

There were 655 Dohne rams offered in the 2023 season with 542 rams (83pc) sold at auction to average $1210.

This year, all Dohne breeders recorded drops in their sale averages with the Noorla sale at Williams posting the smallest difference from last year, down $53.

Of the four sales, three averaged more than $1000 headed again by the Chirniminup on-property sale at Nyabing at $1574 and followed by the Far Valley on-property ram sale at Arthur River at $1324.

Chirniminup was the biggest Dohne sale of the season where it offered 221 rams with 189 selling at auction to gross $297,500.

The next highest gross of $101,900 was recorded at the Mollerin Rock sale at Cadoux where 94 of 101 rams sold at auction followed by the equal second highest offering of 101 rams at the Far Valley sale which grossed $95,300.

Mollerin Rock led the clearance front recording the strongest rate of 93pc followed by the Chirniminup sale at 86pc from the largest number of rams offered and sold.

The $4000 top price for a Dohne ram this year was achieved at the Far Valley sale when knocked down to the Thompson family's Tasman Farm, Boyup Brook.

This ram was sired by 216137, which has performed well for key profit-driving Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs).

It had a Dohne index of 175.56, which is in the top 10 per cent of the Dohne database (as of the Sheep Genetics run on August 21, 2024), weaning weight (WWT) of 6.13 (top 10pc), yearling fat depth (YFat) of 0.89 (top 5pc), yearling eye muscle depth (YEMD) of 1.33 (top 20pc) and on the wool side, yearling fibre diameter (YFD) of -0.56 (top 30pc) and a yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) of 15.77 (top 10pc).

The main objectives for the Thompson's 3800-head ewe breeding flock are to increase lamb growth rates, especially from birth to weaning, and maintain key wool quality traits.

Buyer Steve Thompson said the ram's ASBV figures for WWT to post-WWT increased from the top 10pc to the top 5pc of the breed database, indicating it was making good genetic gains for lamb growth.

"The ram's figures for EMD and wool fibre diameter (FD) were also excellent," Mr Thompson said.

"I liked the look of his wool and his figures for clean fleece weight (CFW) were really good too.

"It is rare to get a ram with all of these ASBVs that we are placing significant value on in one package.

"And the ram's mother also had a great WWT ASBV."

Mr Thompson, said his family had been buying Dohne rams from Far Valley Dohne for 20 years and was very grateful for the support they received from stud principal David Kain.

"We started out wanting to have a genuine dual purpose sheep and we looked at a lot of breeds before deciding the Dohne was the only one that really fit that brief," he said.

"We get a high wool cut, probably only 20pc less than what you would get from a Merino, but the Dohne produces a fantastic carcase.

"And, because we want to sell wether lambs as killers, that is crucial for us to achieve."

Mr Thompson said the family aimed to sell lambs at 20-25 kilograms dressed weight at six to 12 months old.

He said they needed well structured sheep in their high rainfall environment, which was a great lambing area.

The Thompsons also purchased a ram for the equal $3100 second top price that had a WWT ASBV in the top 10pc at 5.8, YFAT of 0.66 (top 10pc) and it was in the top 5pc for YEMD of 1.69, YFD of -1.22 and overall Dohne index at 183.46.

The next highest price of $2800 was recorded three times for the top prices at the Chirniminup sale.

The first was purchased by Clayton South, Wagin, for a twin-born ram boasting a 168.7 Dohne Plus index (top 20pc) and had exceptional components showing a 5.3 WWT, 6.8 post weaning weight (PWT), 0.5 post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD), 0.6 post weaning fat (PFAT), 17.9 yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW), 19.4 yearling fibre diameter (YFD) and 71.4 yearling yield (YYLD).

It was part of a Chirniminup syndicate mating, which were all derivatives of TR114283, and ranked in the top 20 per cent for WWT and PWT, and top five per cent for PFAT and YCFW.

The next top-priced ram sold to Ashton Hood, AT Hood & Co, Kojaneerup, for a twin-born ram with ASBVs of 5.9 WWT, 7.1 PWT, 0.5 PEMD, 0.4 PFAT, 18.6 YCFW, 20.7 YFD, 64.7 YYLD and a Dohne Plus index of 170.1.

At these figures the ram was ranked in the top 10pc for WWT and index, top 20pc for PWT and PFAT, and top 5pc for YCFW.

The other $2800 ram was purchased by DB & KA Smith, Pingrup, for a ram with a top 10pc Dohne Plus index of 177.8.

Prime SAMM

The State's Prime SAMM breeders collectively offered 254 Prime SAMM rams at four on-property sales during the 2024 selling season.

Overall and individual sale indicators were all mainly down on last year but generally they were marginal in difference.

At the end of selling, 194 rams had sold under the hammer at a 76pc clearance rate which was down from 91pc last year.

Prime SAMM sales grossed $210,800 at an average of $1087.

Compared to last year where 276 rams were offered with 252 rams selling at auction to gross $307,950 for an average of $1222, there were 22 fewer rams offered and 58 less rams sold with the gross down $97,150 and the average back $135 this year.

This year's offering of 254 Prime SAMM rams is the lowest number of Prime SAMM rams offered at WA sales since their first year of sales in 2002 where 242 rams were offered.

This year continued an annual decline of Prime SAMM ram numbers offered over the past 14 years from when they peaked in 2010 at 1178 rams offered while the number of rams sold peaked at 1011 in 2011.

The Shirlee Downs sale at Quairading was the only sale to see improved results from last year with its average up by $87, while it also recorded the highest clearance rate of 89pc.

The Tiarri/Uralla sale at Lake Grace was again the biggest Prime SAMM sale of the season with 106 of 140 rams (76pc) selling at auction for a gross of $131,500.

The Tiarri/Uralla sale also recorded the highest average for the breed of $1241 and the $4200 top-priced ram.

The next highest average of $1129 was achieved at the Royston sale at Napier, while the Shirlee Downs sale at Quairading also averaged more than the $1000 mark at $1081.

The other sale to notch up a clearance more than 80pc was the final Sandown ram sale at Badgingarra where 39 of 48 rams sold at auction.

The $4200 top-priced ram at the Tiarri/Uralla stud was purchased by Chris Squiers, CJ Squiers & Sons, Shirlee Downs stud, Quairading.

The 124 kilogram ram was sold with wool tests of 22.1 micron and a 98.2pc comfort factor (CF), while its scan figures were 45 millimetres eye muscle depth (EMD) and 3.7mm fat.

Mr Squiers said the ram overall was very correct.

"It had the right wool we wanted, while its overall conformation was great and it showed plenty of growth," Mr Squiers said.

Securing the second top-priced Prime SAMM ram also at the Tiarri/Uralla sale was the Walker family, CJ & IF & KM Walker, Dunn Rock, for $3300.

The well-rounded, upstanding ram was a triplet and weighed 116kg with wool tests figures of 22.1 micron and 99pc CF to go with scan figures of 43mm EMD and 5.1mm fat.

Prices topped at $2300 at the Shirlee Downs sale and $2200 at the Royston sale.

Afrino

The Bennier family, Bailup Downs stud, Wooroloo, was the sole vendor of Afrino rams again this year with 26 Afrino rams offered in conjunction with the Canternatting Poll Dorset stud's on-property sale at Southern Brook in September.

Results improved on last year's disappointing sale with 17 rams selling at auction this year for an average of $944.

This marked an increase in clearance of 10 rams with the average up by $65 compared to last year's sale.

The sale's $1600 top-priced Afrino ram was purchased by JG and JA Girdwood, Victoria, bidding by phone via Elders stud stock specialist Michael O'Neill.

Bailup Downs Afrino studmaster John Bennier said Mr Girdwood was a regular buyer of his rams.

"My sheep do really well in the south west corner of Victoria where he is based," Mr Bennier said.

The top-priced ram had a body weight of 110 kilograms, eye muscle depth (EMD) of 43, a BFAT of 7 and its wool measurements were 17.5 micron in fibre diameter (FD) and 100 per cent in comfort factor (CF).

Mr Girdwood bought a second ram for $1400 and another for $1000.