Platinum prowess dominates during Sans-Souci annual on-property ram sale

Rams offered at Sans-Souci Australian Whites, Cundumbul, sold to new and repeat clients chasing shedding sheep, with Western Australian studs competing for the best genetics.

Of the 79 rams offered, 52 sold to average $2835 and top at $6400 for lot one, tag S240449.

The ram, 107.5 kilograms at 15 months, was by the $240,000 super sire, Tattykeel Platinum, T210184, from Sans-Souci ewe S210026.

In 2022, the Platinum syndicate, comprising four NSW studs including Sans Souci, set a national record with their bid.

The "first choice" Sans Souci ram S240449 ticked all the right boxes for Western Australia stud producer Stephen Abbott, Moody Whites, Harvey, WA.

"We were looking for a new line and the fact that he is a son of Platinum made him our first choice," Mr Abbott said.

"We were over in NSW a couple of weeks ago and had a look at the Sans-Souci rams. They look to be very honest, good shedding sheep that will produce fat lambs in that 18kg to 30kg range."

Mr Abbott said the seasonal turnaround in the west had been a game-changer, with nearly half their annual rainfall falling in the past two months.

Another Western Australian stud producer, Denam Carter, Ridgetop, Narrikup, paid $6100 for another Platinum son, S240343, which weighed 101.5kg at 15 months, for an average daily gain of 200 grams.

"I liked the ram, he took my fancy," reported Mr Carter, who will use him as a back-up sire over stud ewes after their artificial insemination program.

"I like his growth and breed type. I know Sans-Souci stud principal Joe Pederick, and I like how his rams have do-abiity in the paddock.

"His rams present without pretence. They are what they are."

Peter Johnstone, Woodstock, won the bidding on four of the best flock rams, paying an average of $4675 to $6200 for another Platinum son in S240572, 95.5kg at 11 months, with 284g/day growth.

The volume buyer was Queensland producer Alison Todd, Bollon, Qld, who bought seven flock rams for an average $2057, topping at $3200 for station-bred Sans-Souci White S240536, 101.5kg with an average 216g of growth weight per day.

Mr Pederick said the infusion of Tattykeel Platinum over Sans-Souci ewes had already started to transform the flock, with a "massive impact" on carcase shape.

"We are excited about the future with our latest ewe lambs by Platinum," he said.

The Sans-Souci annual ram sale was conducted by Forbes Livestock Agency with Randal Greyson as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus handled the livestream.