Dubbo invitational terminal ram sale building momentum in second year

Clearance and averages have grown for the Dubbo Invitational Terminal Ram Sale, the second time the event was held, on Wednesday, September 10.

This was the first time the multi-vendor sale was held on-property at Roseville Park, Dubbo, with it at Dubbo Showground in 2024, offering rams from three studs and three breeds.

During the auction, all 10 Roseville Park Charollais rams sold to a top of $3250, twice, and an average $2280, while all 14 Greywood Poll Dorset rams sold to $3000, averaging $1971, and 15 of 20 Westella White Suffolks sold to $2000, averaging $1453.

The first of the Charollais rams to hit $3250 was Roseville Park 24-2101, a 12-month-old, by Roseville Park 21-0089, bought by Blekemore Pastoral Co, Ballimore.

The ram weighed 88 kilograms, with a fat depth of five millimetres, an eye muscle area of 25.88 square centimetres and a Stockscan Meat Index of 758.

Blekemore Pastoral also bought another Charollais at $2250 and two Poll Dorsets for an overall average $2125.

Ron Blekemore said they liked to select Charollais sires due to the ease of lambing in maiden ewes and the growth rates after.

Blekemore Pastoral's Ben Maher said they had trialled Charolais sires across the Corriedale ewes about five years ago and found they had no issues and even lambed 120 per cent with their maiden ewes.

"We've been using them ever since," he said.

He said they selected their rams based on shape and size.

The second Charollais ram to sell at $3250 was Roseville Park 24-3630, by RP 21-0077, an 86kg, twin-born ram with a 6.5mm fat depth, 29.4sqcm EMA and Stockscan Meat Index of 1035.

It was bought by Allandale Charollais, Cowra, among its two selections for an average $2525.

The top price Poll Dorset ram, Greywood 24-0711, by F20-0213, was a May 2024-drop twin, weighing 133kg with an 8mm fat depth and 43.51sqcm EMA and a 1614 Stockscan Meat Index.

He was bought by regular buyers Wayne and Gail Leigh, Dubbo, who have supported the Greywood Stud since it was taken on by Charlie Coddington in 2021.

Mr Leigh said they liked to select from the top end for rams to join with their first-cross ewes for second-cross prime lamb production.

He said while they looked at the figures, the biggest focus was size and weight.

"Weight is everything, it's what the buyers look for," he said.

The Leighs bought four Poll Dorsets for a $2350 average.

The top price White Suffolk, Westella 46, was a 106kg, June 2024-drop with a 7mm fat depth, 34.56sqcm EMA and 1288 Stockscan Meat Index.

He was bought by PS and SJ Pastoral, Narromine, among its six rams - four White Suffolks and two Charollais to $3000, averaging $1917.

Westella's Craig French said he was pleased to see the sale lift in clearance and value for its second year, and he had hopes of it continuing to grow.

The sale was conducted by Delta Pollard Livestock with Tom Pollard the auctioneer.