Buyer confidence skyrockets on a buoyant lamb market at Thurlstone ram sale
Confidence in the lamb market was clear among commercial producers at the Thurlstone Poll Dorset and White Suffolk flock ram sale, held on property near Cookamidgera on August 29.
Overall, 84 of 111 rams sold to a top price of $4000, twice, to average $2243, up more than 35 per cent on last year's result.
In the breakdown, 55 of 75 Poll Dorset rams made $3600, eight times, to average $2430, while 27 of 34 While Suffolk rams made $3000 to average $1738.
Two composite rams, Thurlstone-4383 and Thurlstone-4325, topped the sale at $4000 each, both purchased by return clients Anne, Scott and Merv O'Hara, Dunrovin, Tottenham.
For the O'Haras, key selection traits included length, depth, conformation, doability and longevity.
Their mixed enterprise incorporates cattle, sheep and cropping, with a self-replacing Mumblebone-blood Merino flock at its core.
Classed-out ewes are joined to composite rams, with lambs finished on Moby barley, native pastures and lucerne.
The family aims to turn off lambs at 70 kilograms and recently sold 360 head a month ago through Forbes for $450.
Joining commences on March 1 for six weeks, with their 2024 unscanned crossbred lambing reaching 121 per cent.
They also purchased two other Poll Dorset rams to average $3750 overall.
Return client Warwick Jones, WD and DL Jones, Molong, bought the top-priced White Suffolk ram for $3000.
He also purchased three other rams to average $2775.
Volume buyer EJ and RE Pengilly, Forbes, secured a draft of 19 Poll Dorset rams to a top of $3600, to average $2384.
Fedora Pastoral, Boree, purchased five Poll Dorset rams to average $2960.
WJ and CA Whatling, Forbes, bought two Poll Dorset rams for $3600 each.
Thurlstone principal Richard Hawken said he was pleased with the result and grateful for the support of returning commercial buyers.
AWN Langlands Hanlon, Parkes, and Forbes Livestock and Agency Co, Forbes, conducted the sale with Randal Grayson, FLA, as auctioneer.
