Sheepmaster composite rams bring the bids at The Cliffs spring sale

Buyers were clear in their breed of choice at Phil and Judi Thompson's The Cliffs Sheepmaster composite and Australian White ram sale at Molong on September 24.

Demand was solid for the Sheepmaster composites, with 40 of 43 selling to a $4600 top to average $1888.

The top-priced ram was The Cliffs 24678, a Garnett Sheepmaster Apollo 20P073 descendent.

The April-2024 drop was born a single and weighed 100 kilograms with 41 millimetres eye muscle depth and 6.5mm fat.

He sold to John Atkins, Tepa Pty Ltd, Guyra. Mr Atkins said his current flock had about 2000 Australian White ewes, but he was changing the operation's direction and looking to move towards Sheepmasters to gain more meat.

The operation sent all its lambs to a butcher shop in Armidale, which was owned by another section of the business.

Along with the top ram, Mr Atkins bought another five to average $3183 in total.

The second top-priced ram was The Cliffs 24724, 108kg, which sold for $4400 to GE and JJ Burbidge, Crookwell.

The March-2024, single-born ram scanned 48mm EMD and 9mm fat. He was by The Cliffs Kingsman 22122, a Garnet Sheepmaster Monarch 19G384 son.

The Burbidges also bought the top-priced Australian White ram, The Cliffs 24137, 109kg, by Baringa 21A148, for $1900.

Return buyer John McIsaac, Gulargambone, bought 10 Sheepmasters to average $1140. As the volume buyer, Mr McIsaac was gifted a Yeti camp chair, donated by The Rural Centre, Molong.

Lockie Miller, Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon, was bidding for Parkes operation Wallah Walla. Mr Miller selected eight Sheepmasters to average $1750 and two Australian Whites at $800 each.

He said he was after rams with growth for age, muscle depth and fat, and also good shedding ability.

The Haling family, Gulargambone, were new buyers at the stud, selecting three Sheepmaster rams and one Australian White to average $1800.

The Cliffs also continued its tradition of offering a charity ram with the proceeds donated to Beyond Blue. The Cliffs 24745 was knocked down to an online bidder for $1400.

Three pens of 12 Sheepmaster/Australian White-cross ewes, born between November and April and averaging 45kg, were also offered.

Return buyer Leanne Tremain, bidding as West Timbie Pastoral Company, Yeoval, selected the top pen for $450 a head.

Ms Tremain said she had had bred first-cross ewes to Australian Whites and was now in the third generation of breeding the progeny back to shedding rams.

The ewes would help build up her shedding sheep numbers.

The buyer of the top ram, Mr Atkins, purchased one of the pens for $440 a head, with the remaining 12 selling to Primrose Valley Cabinet, Kangaroobie, for $420.

Demand was subdued for the Australian White rams, with four of 13 averaging $1075.

Phil Thompson, The Cliffs, said it was a good result and it was clear buyers were chasing the stud's Sheepmaster composites.

He said there were some nice rams in the Australian Whites draft, but buyers were chasing better-bodied animals with more meat and The Cliffs would focus on the Sheepmasters for its February sale.

The ewe prices were particularly strong, he said, and the sheep had come through winter well despite the tougher season.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Milling Thomas with Peter and Sam Thomas sharing the rostrum. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.