Buyers pick through big catalogue at Bundara Downs' summer ram lamb sale
Widespread dry conditions, along with an oversupply of British breed rams last year limited interest in Bundara Downs' eighth annual summer ram lamb sale at Western Flat.
In a very similar result to the 2024 sale, 33 largely April and May drops sold of 173 White Suffolks, Poll Dorsets and Suffolks offered for a $948 average.
The eight registered bidders from the South East and western Vic had the upper hand. In nearly all instances it was the first of the to raise their hand first who bought the lot.
One of the few lots where there were multiple bids was lot 45 which made the $1100 top price.
The late May drop, which was sired by Bundara Downs 1351, had a low birthweight of 0.11 but a big eye muscle depth of 3.4 and a Terminal Carcase Prodction index of 157.5.
The successful buyer of the White Suffolk was MA&MA Woolston, Penola, who took home four ram lambs.
Thirty of the rams sold were White Suffolks while three Suffolks also found homes selling to D&J Rich, Bordertown at $1000 each.
There were no bids for the 51 Poll Dorsets.
Three buyers put together five White Suffolk rams each; J Graetz Family Trust, Mundulla, TR Mirtschin, Purdeet, Vic and B&L Loller, Keith.
In many spring sales at Bundara Downs, AuctionsPlus has been very active but this time despite the 17 online users the only bids came from those sitting in the gallery.
Stud co-principal Greg Funke said they expected it to be tough but decided to go ahead to give their clients an opportunity to select their ram lambs.
"It was tough enough but the ones that have bought here today have been buying for a long time and are really chuffed with it, they are probably the only ones that are mating ewe lambs so it is good to see what we are doing is still working for them," he said.
Elders southern SA livestock manager Laryn Gogel commended the Funke family on the draft of ram lambs which had been "dropped in a drought and reared in a drought " but were in great condition to go out with the ewes.
He described the offering as "industry-relevant" young sires.
"They have the data we are looking for, a lot of positive fats and a lot of big eye muscles and they are not extreme sheep, that are sheep with a moderate frame and built with capacity,"jhe said.
Mr Gogel said the ram lambs represented excellent value for money.
"The lamb industry is not in a bad state of play, we are a bit clogged up at the moment but we still have plenty of lambs come back on the hook exceeding $200," he said.
Fellow Elders auctioneer and SA stud stock manager Tony Wetherall agreed the sale result did not reflect the quality on offer.
"It is a reflection of the tough seasons and people changing a few programs, "he said.
"In those better times when we had good clearances there was a far bit of enquiry from interstate but there seems to be more ram lamb sales being held there."
Elders Bordertown conducted the sale.
One of the state's largest prime lamb sire sellers, Bundara Downs has two more on-property ram sales for 2025 with their third Ultrawhite ram sale moving forward from November to September 11.
The following day the Funke family will offer 360 White Suffolks, Poll Dorsets and Suffolks in their 29th annual production sale.
