Consistent line creates appealing prospect, record result at Rowallan

In a sign of the evenness of the lineup at Rowallan Poll Dorset's annual on-property sale, high prices were scattered throughout the more than 150 lots, with the peak coming at number 101.

All up, 151 of 157 rams sold to a top of $5000 - believed to be a stud record high - and an average of $1997 at the sale at Crowther on Friday, September 5.

The $5000 price was paid for Rowallan 240545, an August 2024-drop, sired by Rowallan 039, with it the sole purchase of Heywood, Vic, stud Elsted.

Elsted principal Ewan Price made the 900-kilometre trip north to look at some other Poll Dorset sales on about the same time, and decided to check the Rowallan offering, having bought a sire from the stud last year.

He was looking for heavy-muscling rams, admiring the ram's post-weaning eye muscle depth of +6.6 - in the top 1 per cent of the breed, and the +15.8 figure for post-weaning weight.

"We're after quick-maturing animals to sell off their mums - the quickest money is to sell off the mums, but you've got to have the right animals to do that," he said.

The twin-born ram also had a dressing percentage of +4.8 and a terminal carcase production index of +169 - in the top 1pc; a +0.7 for Pfat, +4.6 for lean meat yield and 157 for eating quality, in the top 10pc, while a birthweight of +0.13, in the top 30pc.

Mr Price said the ram also had good conformation, while the fact he was paddock-reared should bode well for his ability to perform in his environment.

"He'll fit in with our breeding - our average eye muscle area for last year's drop of ewes was +4.4," he said.

A second ram, at lot 138, sold at the second-highest price of $3600, for tag 240282, by Bruan 220334.

Bought by Free Fight, Yass, the twin-born, July 2024-drop ram had a weaning weight of +13.5, post-weaning weight of +20.2 and lean meat yield of +5.1, all ranking in the top 5pc, with a TCP of +152.

All up, Free Fight bought six rams, averaging $1600.

Among the other sale highs were three rams selling at the next highest price of $3400.

The first of these was at lot one, starting the sale on a high with twin-born tag 240336, a Valma 210341 son.

The ram had an eating quality of +165 and TCP of +169 - both in the top 1pc - as well as PEMD of +4.1 and dressing percentage of +3.6, in the top 5pc, lean meat yield of +4.4 (top 10pc) and shearforce of -0.6 (top 20pc).

He was bought by Willawari Enterprises, Bendick Murrell, as part of its nine rams, averaging $2222.

The second ram at $3400 was tag 240687, in lot 73, a twin-born son of Rowallan 210039.

His figures included a dressing percentage of +3.5 (top 5pc), PEMD of +3.6 (top 10pc), while his eating quality of +150 and TCP of +154 were in the top 20pc. He also had a weaning weight of +10.9, post-weaning weight of +17.3 and Pfat of +0.2.

He was bought by LR Buckmaster & Co, Yass, among its 10-ram haul, averaging $1700.

The third high flyer was tag 2405628 at lot 109, bought by PA and KS Kaveney, Thuddungra.

The ram ranked in the top 1pc for PEMD at +5.1 and LMY at +6.0, and was in the top 5pc for dressing percentage at +3.8 and TCP at +165. His figures also included a weaning weight of +12.3, post-weaning weight of +17.8 and eating quality of +153.

The Kaveneys bought a second ram at $3000.

Rowallan principal Matt Reid said he was "relieved" with the sale result, not being sure what to expect ahead of time.

He said it was good to see the consistency of the results throughout the sale, which spoke to the evenness of the rams.

He was also pleased to see repeat buyers, selecting multiple rams.

"If you're not getting your regulars back, you're doing something wrong," he said.

"Some of our volume buyers have bought here for years, which is great to see."

Among the volume buyers was Greenbank, Yass, which bought 17 rams to $2800, averaging $1553, while New Kayarem Pty Ltd, Cavan Station, Yass, selected 13 rams to $2600, averaging $2138.

Woornack Pastoral, Young, paid the top price in 2024 and returned this year to take home 12 rams to $3200, averaging $1917.

Sykes Grazing, Binalong, bid to $2600 among its selection of nine rams, averaging $2200.

The sale was conducted by Butt Livestock & Property with Nick Fogarty the auctioneer.