Good support at Coronga White Suffolks with fundraising ram to return buyer
There was good local and western support at the Coronga White Suffolks' annual pick of the drop ram sale near Orange on September 5.
At the fall of the hammer, 83 of 91 rams sold to a $3750 top to average $1481, with additional rams selling after the auction.
The top-priced ram, Coronga 240226, an August-2024 drop by Ella Matta 210224, was born and raised a twin and weighed 84 kilograms. It sold to Gilmandyke Pastoral, Orange.
The ram's Australian Sheep Breeding Values included top 10 per cent for post-weaning eye muscle depth, lambing ease direct, and its lamb eating quality index, along with the top 20pc for post-weaning fat, intramuscular fat, shear force, and its terminal carcase production index.
Gilmandyke secured four rams in total to average $2750.
General manager Wade Peatman said the operation had been buying from Coronga for about 25 years.
The sires would be joined to Merino ewes and he was selecting for lambing ease and carcase traits.
"The proof is in the pudding for us - lambs perform really well for our situation and they just fit perfectly," he said.
Coronga also continued its tradition by offering the proceeds of a ram to the Molong Magpies Rugby Union Club.
Coronga 240440, by Ella Matta 210600, was knocked down to return buyer, Larras Pty Ltd, Molong, for $1500.
The 69kg ram was in the top 10pc for lambing ease direct and the top 20pc for lambing eating quality and terminal carcase production indexes.
Larras Pty Ltd property manager Andrew Heath said the operation ran Merino ewes with a portion joined to terminal sires.
"These rams we buy here go over mixed-age Merino ewes," he said.
"We mainly try to make sure we down let the birthweight get too high, then positive fat and structurally correct."
The operation had a history of buying the fundraiser ram, he said. Mr Heath had previously played for the club and Larras Pty Ltd owner, Gordon Welsh, had also played for a number of years.
Larras Pty Ltd bought 10 rams in total to average $1200.
Volume buyers included the Green family at Goodooga, who selected a draft of 19 average $1184.
James Jackson, Coronga, said it was a good result.
He noted there was good competition on the better animals, which reflected the stud's focus on fat, growth and muscle traits.
"It's good that people are recognising we're making an effort to be progressive and hopefully it's showing through in dollars in the pockets of the clients," he said.
Elders conducted the sale with Martin Simmons the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the interface.
