Dorpers create highest demand at inaugural invitational multi-vendor sale

It was the Dorpers that created demand among the offering at the Dubbo Invitational Dorper and White Dorper sale on Friday, held at the Dubbo Showground.

Bidding reached to a top of $1700, paid for Dorper ram Youlden Valley 240082, sold via AuctionsPlus.

The one-year-old, type 3 ram weighed 92 kilograms and was sired by Kaya Rocksteady 220410, out of a Prieska dam.

It had an Australian Sheep Breeding Value of +3.2 for lean meat yield - in the top 30 per cent for shedding sheep - and a maternal carcase production-plus index of 137.5.

The ram, offered by Youlden Valley, Tomingley, was bought by Brandon Jarritt, Cargo, among his eight Dorper purchases.

Mr Jarritt said he was aware of the Youlden Valley breeding as the stud was located nearby.

"I had seen them do a pretty good job," he said.

He said the figures of the rams also impressed, with his lots also including Youlden Valley 240057 for $1200, a 78kg twin-born ram with a MCP+ of 141.36, post-weaning eye muscle depth of +2.19 and dressing percentage of +3.09 - all in the top 30pc - as well as a LMY of +3.5, in the top 10pc.

Mr Jarritt runs about 1000 Dorper ewes, and has been buying Burrawang rams for a number of years, but saw the opportunity to support smaller breeders.

He said he wanted to breed good shedding sheep with good weight gains - "that makes the money" - while also chasing ewes with good fecundity, producing twins and triplets.

All up, Mr Jarritt's lots averaged $1262.

Youlden Valley's Thomas Youlden said it was disappointing to see the low clearance but there were some good elements for him, with his White Dorper rams selling to repeat clients and new clients bidding on the Dorper rams.

He said the top price ram had good growth for age and a "lot of capacity".

The second highest price was $1400 for Stansbury 230085.

The July 2023-drop was the first Dorper ram offered, a twin-born, type 4, 94kg ram, sired by Amarula 210115.

It was bought by AT Moore, Coolah, in their single purchase.

In the overall breakdown, 22 of 71 rams sold to a top of $1700, averaging $1236, during the course of the auction, with more sold immediately after.

This included 14 of 23 Dorper rams to $1700, averaging $1257, and eight of 47 White Dorper rams sold at $1200, under the hammer.

The sale also included an offering of 17 White Dorper ewes, with four sold under the hammer to a $600 top and an average $525 to stud Stansbury, Kenebri.

Stansbury's Rowena Pennell said the four rams - two from Youlden Valley and two from Matchless - had good shedding characteristics and conformation, as well as femininity.

She said as a younger stud, they were building their breeding, with these ewes to go into their program.

Buying in the bulk during the sale were CM Mason and AA Seekamp, Woolcunda Station, Broken Hill, taking five White Dorper rams at $1200, via AuctionsPlus, and D&B Leadbitter, Mudgee, successfully bidding on three rams at $1200, as well as picking up a fourth ram shortly after the sale's conclusion.

This was the first time the invitational sale had been held, with the vendors hoping it replaces a now disbanded multi-vendor Dorper and White Dorper sale at Dubbo.

AWN's Scott Thrift said there was potential to rebuild the sale in the coming years.

He said seasonal conditions might have played a part, with many areas particularly dry at the moment.

"There were good quality genetics purchased very cheaply, especially when the lamb job is at $8.50 on contract and the mutton job $4.60," he said.

The sale included rams from Youlden Valley, Matchless, Petone, Harewood White Dorpers, Castlebar, Prieska and Stansbury Dorpers.

It was conducted by AWN with Greg Miller the auctioneer.