Averages lift in both breeds at successful Paxton terminal sire sale

After several years of Paxton studs' White Suffolk offering having the stronger average, the pendulum swung back in favour of the Poll Dorsets for the second year in a row.

But Martin and Kirstry Harvey and their children Will, Lilly and Zoe had a great result on both breeds at their eighth annual on-property ram sale at Western Flat.

In the breakdown, 90 of 94 Poll Dorsets averaged $1477 and 86 of 97 White Suffolks averaged $1386 at the twilight sale.

The averages of both breeds was up- both by around $150 on 2024's sale.

Many buyers came with a similar upper budget with a $2200 high reached six times in the Poll Dorsets and eight times in the White Suffolks.

This also showed the evenness of the offering of terminal sires with plenty of length and carcase merit.

Two of these $2200 White Suffolks sold to the Oakley family, Oakalari, Pinnaroo. They held the state saleyard record for prime lambs for a couple of weeks, selling 63 at $425.

Oakalari bought 10 rams for a $1600 average.

One of the sale's biggest buyers was NJ&MJ Watson, Lucindale, who secured 12 White Suffolks for a $1500 average.

Lucindale Area School was a guest vendor with two of their White Suffolk rams included mid way through the catalogue.

The rams, which had both been shown recently at the Royal Adelaide Show, made $1800 and $2000.

They were both AI bred sons of Ashmore 17986,

Brecon Props, Keith, was the dominant Poll Dorset buyer with 15 rams to a $2200 high and $1780 average.

ER&SD Shand, Langkoop, Vic, bought in both catalogues, taking home 12 Poll Dorsets, largely at $1600 to $1800 and two White Suffolks at $1400 and $1800.

Mr Harvey said it had been a challenging year to prepare rams and was disappointed some of the rams had suffered a late setback with cow pea aphid in their lucerne paddock.

"That knocked a few around but it was pleasing most people overlooked that and know what we are doing here and our genetics," he said.

He was really pleased with the result, with buyers who have been on Paxton bloodlines for decades in many cases again the backbone of the sale.

There were also a few new buyers among the 34 registered bidders from the Mallee and South East and into the Vic Mallee.

"It is obvious everyone is feeling the pinch and money is tight enough but this year it is all about clearance and we had a reasonable one- we are really happy," he said.

Mr Harvey was excited about the coming few years and price outlook for the industry.

"If you can't get excited about what is happening in the lamb and sheep job you never will, it is a good time to be in the sheep game."

PPHS was the selling agent with Josh Manser and Jono Spence from fellow Round Table agency Spence Dix & Co, the auctioneers.

PPHS director Robin Steen said the Harveys did an outstanding job presenting a strong line-up and were rewarded with "not many rams left".

"There was a bit of a lull spot in the last 20 of the White Suffolks but the Dorsets sold very well," he said.

"If you look through the catalogue Allendale and Days keep popping up (as sires) so no wonder with all the years of breeding they are breeding true."

Paxton stud's Border Leicester sale will be held on October 9 with 140 rams on offer.