Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets attracts local and interstate support for 60-year sale

Confidence in the industry was clear at the Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets annual ram sale at Cudal on September 11, with local volume buyers operating and stud rams selling interstate.

The sale also marked the 60-year anniversary for the Ridgehaven stud.

All 149 rams sold to a top of $4750 to average $2465, while 11 of 20 stud ewes reached a top of $900, averaging $755.

The top-priced ram, Ridgehaven 240439, was by Gooramma 220064, a sire Ridgehaven purchased for $25,000 in 2023.

He sold online to first-time buyer Samantha Kelly, Kelly Poll Dorsets, Binnum, SA.

The ram recorded Australian Sheep Breeding Values of +0.3 birthweight, +15.3 post-weaning weight, +3.75 eye muscle depth, +0.52 intramuscular fat and a terminal carcase production index of 163.7.

Ridgehaven had used the ram and he was out of one of the stud's top dams.

Ms Kelly said she had been interested in the operation for a while after becoming involved in the Bowan Park sire evaluation.

She had been impressed by the work in genotyping and improving growth traits, and favoured the ram for his genetics and structural soundness.

Her stud runs about 300 ewes and aims to breed clean-headed rams with fat and muscle.

"He is a young ram and he still has time to grow," she said.

Ms Kelly also purchased three stud ewes, also for their outcross genetics.

Paul Catterall, Wattle Ridge Poll Dorsets, Karoola, Tas, paid $4000 for another Gooramma 220064 son in Ridgehaven 240653.

The ram was a twin to Ridgehaven's keeper ram, 240652.

He measured +0.25 BWT, +15.77 PWT, +3.66 PEMD, -0.82 IMF and TCP 159.6.

Anthony and Teagan Large, Tucklan Valley Poll Dorsets, Gulgong, paid $3600 for Ridgehaven 240174.

Volume buyers included return clients Rob and Jude Cooke, Dilledewong Pastoral Co, Cudal, who selected 24 rams averaging $2025, while another return buyer, Townsend Bros, Eugowra, bought six rams averaging $2691.

Isabele Roberts, Ridgehaven, said the shed was full of confidence.

"The consistency in quality, and depth of performance data, drove the sale to hold its value from first to last ram offered," she said.

"Recent rain in the region will boost the spring season, and the prices received for the 2025 new season lambs encouraged buyers to bid up on the rams on offer."

The sale was conducted by KMWL Forbes.