Clean-shedding, well-muscled rams in demand at Quartz Aussie Whites

Buyers from three states pushed up the prices at Quartz Australian White rams at the stud's on-property sale at Forbes on September 18.

Clean-shedding, well-muscled rams were in demand, with 63 of 80 rams selling to a top of $6000 and averaging $2411.

The first five registered stud rams averaged $4960.

Repeat client Michael Heywood, Peak Hill, purchased the top ram, Quartz 24-0005, for his 300-ewe commercial operation producing heavy lambs for the Forbes saleyards.

Mr Heywood said the top ram had a good balance of figures and was a very broad ram.

"I also liked that he was a twin, so if a twin ram can have those figures, he's a good ram," he said.

"His birthweight was 4.1 kilograms, but he's grown into a big ram, 116kg."

Quartz 24-0025 was the second highest-priced ram, making $4800 and selling to the Deaton family, Rennie, and Quartz 24-0026 sold to the Stone family, Woodstock Whites, Woodstock West, Victoria, also for $4800.

Liam Doyle, Morriset, bought Quartz 24-0031 for $4600.

Victorian lamb producer Alex Stone, Woodstock Whites, Woodstock West, was the volume buyer, purchasing 10 lots.

Mr Stone's draft included one stud ram for his 100-ewe stud flock, and nine rams for the commercial flock of 1200 ewes.

"We were looking for rams with good weaning weights to get the good early growth, early and clean shedding, and Will [Gordon, Quartz stud] had highlighted some that had scored really well for foot structure," he said.

Malcolm Lewis, Lewis Family Farming, Wyoming, Tullibigeal, south of Condobolin, took home eight rams for his flock of 1200 ewes.

It was his third time buying from Quartz after switching to lamb production from Merinos four years ago.

Stud principal Jack Gordon said buyers were chasing clean shedding rams, with good muscling and structure.

Rams sold to clients in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, with 17 lots sold online.

"We had a great response from the pre-sale video work we do and the collection of data that we're sharing with clients," Mr Gordon said.

He said clients were pleased with the consistency of the catalogue, which was influenced by the stud's sire, Tattykeel 220089, who was champion ram at the 2023 NSW Sheep Show and had 28 sons in the sale.

"Clients commented on the improvement in the depth of lots throughout the sale," Will Gordon said.

Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co conducted the sale and AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.