Victoria and Tasmania's best terminal, maternal ram studs for 2024 ranked on average
A new national record, an inaugural open cry auction and more than half a dozen sheep breeds are just some of the success stories and highlights in Victoria and Tasmania's best terminal and maternal ram studs for 2024.
Dorper, Dorset, White Suffolk, Southdown, Maternal and Border Leicester studs feature in the top 10 best-performing studs for 2024 after one of the most challenging years on record due to below-average rainfall.
Stock & Land has examined the results from dozens of sales across both states to determine the best-performing maternal and terminal studs based on the average ram price at the end of each sale.
In order to qualify for Victoria and Tasmania's best terminal and maternal ram studs for 2024, studs had to record a minimum 70 per cent clearance rate at the final knock of the gavel and offer a draft of 40 or more rams on sale day.
Profiles on the top 10 studs are listed below in order from highest to lowest sale average, while the remaining top-performing studs are listed in a table at the bottom of this story.
Given the nature of terminal and maternal sales, data from seedstock enterprises who sold stud and flock rams from the same breed at the one sale have been merged to determine the overall average.
This list only includes sales reported on by Stock & Land during 2024.
Find out which studs ranked highly in Victoria and Tasmania's best terminal and maternal ram studs for 2023 here.
1. Deepdale, Dorper/White Dorper
Sale average: $6201
A new national record set by a Victorian Dorper and White Dorper stud last year has parachuted the Merrinee operation into the top spot on Victoria and Tasmania's best terminal and maternal ram studs for 2024.
Deepdale Dorper and White Dorper stud set the new Australian recorded an average price of $6201.
The record was an impressive $3868 higher compared to the second stud on the 2024 list.
The stud sold its entire draft of 137 rams, with Dorpers fetching a top price of $16,500 and White Dorpers recording a top price of $15,000.
The 70 Dorpers averaged $6227 in what is the highest average price achieved at an Australian on-property Dorper sale in history, while the 67 White Dorpers averaged $6175.
Deepdale stud manager Brady Bowen said the sale result was "unbelievable" and the team was "still in shock" a day after the sale.
The stud is owned by the Hardwick family, which has five generations of experience in the sheep and beef industry.
Based at Wilah, Merrinee, the operation is managed by Wicus Cronje and Brady Bowen.
2. Ivandene, Dorset
Sale average: $2333
A western district Dorset stud, which recorded an $8500 jump in its top-priced ram year-on-year, has secured a top-three position on Victoria and Tasmania's best-performing sheep meat studs in 2024.
Ivadene Poll Dorset stud, Hexham, sold 104 Poll Dorset and Charollais-cross rams at Benalla, recording a top price of $20,000 for a Dorset ram and an average of $2333.
The result was significantly higher compared to Ivadene's 2023 top-price result of $12,500.
Eighty-seven Poll Dorset stud and flock rams sold for an average of $2509, while the 17 Charollais-cross went for a top of $1600 and a $1429 average.
Ivadene stud co-principal Lachie Kelly said his decision to continue trucking the rams the 400 kilometres from the south-west to Benalla in the north of the state was paid dividends.
3. Anden, White Suffolk/Ultra White
Sale average: $2143
The Donnan family of Anden Anden White Suffolk and UltraWhite stud, Willangie, are one of three White Suffolk breeders in Victoria to secure a top 10 spot on the best terminal and maternal ram studs list for 2024.
The family offered a mega Mallee clearance of 203 rams in October, with top-priced buyers located in Western Australia and South Australia.
The stud offered 101 UltraWhite rams, selling 97 of them to a top price of $12,000 and an average price of $2713, and sold 101 of 102 White Suffolks to a top of $7000 and an average price of $1596.
The top UltraWhite ram, Lot 159, was purchased by a syndicate of Ilfracombe sheep stud, Donald, and Bundara Downs sheep stud, Western Flat, SA.
Anden stud principal Joel Donnan said to record such a solid clearance was very satisfying.
"In a season that's been reasonably tough and people have had the ability to choose a bit on what they buy because there's not a lot of ewes around, they're still choosing to buy good quality," he said.
4. Nedelle Downs, Southdown
Sale average: $2143
Ned Nagorcka's decision to move to an open cry auction at Hamilton in November proved to be a no-brainer after his stud recorded a full clearance at its inaugural auction in western Victoria.
Mr Nagorcka, who runs Nedelle Downs, sold his entire consignment of 80 Southdown rams to a top price of $8200 and an average of $2131.
The stud also sold eight White Suffolk rams to a top price of $1800 twice and an average of $1212.
"We put a few more rams in because there was quite a bit of demand and I thought there might have been some people that were going to miss out,"
The operation is based on 243 hectares and located 13 kilometres west of Hawkesdale in a reliable 700-millimetre rainfall belt on clay loam soils.
5. Cloven Hills, Maternal
Sale average: $2054
Nareen stud Cloven Hills offered the single largest ram offering in 2024, with 290 maternal rams at its October auction.
Cloven Hills stud principals Chris and Kate Dorahy sold 250 of the 290 rams and increased their 2024 average by 22 per cent year-on-year to $2054.
The sale attracted bidders from four states, including seven stud buyers, who bought rams to a top price of $10,000.
In 2023, the stud sold 307 of 391 rams offered to a top price of $10,400 to average $1577.
"We're really proud to see not just the number of buyers here, but the variety - from smaller, independent and family producers to seven established studs."
6. Lansdale, Southdown
Sale average: $1967
The principal of Lansdale Pure Southdown stud has credited his 2024 auction success to a string of ribbons won at Hamilton's iconic Sheepvention event months earlier.
Both the buyer of the top-priced ram and Lansdale stud co-principal James Knight said showring success had played a part in the purchase of the $5000 ram in October.
Buyer Larry McIntosh, Laggan, NSW, paid the top price and said he was impressed by Lansdale's success in winning broad ribbons at various shows.
The Bamganie stud sold 56 of 60 rams to record an average of $1967.
In August, the stud won the champion ram and ewe titles along with the reserve in both classes at Sheepvention.
7. Booloola, White Suffolk
Sale average: $1871
A South Australian buyer walked away with the top-priced Booloola White Suffolk stud ram in 2024 after the Baker family offered more than 200 rams for auction in October.
The stud sold 214 rams to a top price of $8500 and average price of $1871.
The top-priced ram of the sale, Lot 11, sold to Elton Downs White Suffolk stud, Karoonda, SA.
Booloola stud principal Shane Baker said he was "incredibly grateful" for the support of buyers.
"We are extremely happy with the result of 98 per cent clearance, with a number of returning pastoral clients, as well as new faces, making that possible," he said.
8. Detpa Grove, White Suffolk
Sale average: $1870
Five interstate buyers swooped in on Detpa Grove White Suffolk stud's annual ram sale in October, with 140 rams of 170 lots offered sold during the on-property sale.
The first $9000 top-priced lot, the second ram through the ring, was bought by Wakeleigh White Suffolk stud principal Kylie Wake, Cavendish, who attended the stud's sale for the first time in almost 10 years.
Several lots later, Ronobri stud principal Robert Mitchell, Lockington, picked up the second equal top-priced ram for $9000.
Detpa Grove stud principal David Pipkorn said given the season and the difficult conditions many farmers faced, he "didn't put any expectations on the sale" but was very happy with the results.
9. LSK, Poll Dorset
Sale average: $1826
Hexham stud LSK was one of five studs in Victoria and Tasmania's best terminal and maternal ram studs for 2024 to record a 100 per cent clearance for a single breed at auction last year.
The sale offered 208 lots across three breeds including Poll Dorset, Charollais/Poll Dorset and Suffolk rams.
LSK stud principal Lachie Kelly recorded a total clearance for the 124 Poll Dorset rams offered, which averaged $1826 and topped at $11,200.
The Charollais/Poll Dorset rams sold to a near full clearance, with 43 of 44 sold to average $1174 and top at $1600 twice, while 31 of the 40 Suffolk rams sold to an average of $1209 and a top price of $3600.
10. Jackson Farming, Border Leicester
Sale average: $1563
Jackson Farming stud principal Ross Jackson said a total clearance at his 2024 on-property ram sale was "heartening" after one of the most challenging seasons in living memory.
All 154 rams offered were sold at the stud's 25th annual sale, with the top-priced ram selling for $5500 to a return buyer who farms less than 150 kilometres away.
The sale of 104 Border Leicester rams averaged $1563, while a total clearance of 49 Poll Dorset rams sold to a top price of $1800 and an average of $1391.
"It was a very good sale, especially considering the times and the season," Mr Jackson said.
Additional reporting by Joely Mitchell, Petra Oates, Andrew Miller and Barry Murphy.
Victoria and Tasmania's best terminal and maternal ram studs for 2024
Listed by highest to lowest sale price average.
