Repeat buyers chase sire of champions at Bowen Suffolk ram and ewe sale
Return clients for over a decade have taken home the top-priced ram at the Bowen Suffolks Suffolk ram and ewe sale on Friday, September 26.
The Millthorpe stud reached an overall average of $1358 at the fall of the hammer, with 10 of 29 rams sold to average $1800, while all 21 ewes sold to average $1016.
The top-priced ram, Bowen 240477, sold to long-term return buyer Tim Woods, Wingarra, Bylong, for $3500.
The July-2023 drop, by Bowen Jacky 210030 and from Bowen 200022, recorded a lamb eating quality of +144 Australian Sheep Breeding Value (ASBV) and a birthweight of +0.48, with a post-weaning weight of +13.9, and a shear force in the top five per cent of the breed at -2.56.
Mr Wood said he selected the ram for his structural soundness and the sire, Bowen Jacky 210030.
"I've got rams at home by him ... I bought them previously, and not only have they got very good figures, but they're structurally very good," he said.
"I bought three stud rams and three flock rams, they've got good growth rates, and they hit the ground running with a good birthweight.
"Bowen genetics have been the base of my flock over the years."
Turning lambs to the export market in about nine months at 65 kilograms, Mr Woods said he expected the new rams to work just as hard as his current stud and flock rams.
"The ram I bought this year was a full brother of one I bought last year, and he's just turned out to be a magnificent sire," Mr Woods said.
"Muscles and conformation, I couldn't really fault him."
Mr Woods also secured award-winning ram, Bowen Freddie 240410, for $3000, and four other rams to average $1833 across the six lots.
Bowen Freddie 240410, also by Bowen Jacky 210030 and from Bowen 190906, was the supreme ASSBA ram of the Sydney Royal Easter Show and Dubbo show.
The April 2024-drop ram recorded ASBVs of +0.53 for birthweight, +11.8 post-weaning weight, and LEQ of 133, and ranked in the top 5pc of SHEARF5 at -3.04.
The second-highest priced ram, Bowen 482, sold to Dean Cameron, Noremac White Suffolks, Englefield, Vic for $3400.
A July-2024 drop, by Bowen CV 3136 and from Bowen 200090, the ram recorded a birthweight ASBV of +0.54 BWT, PWT of +16.2 and LEQ of +142. The ram was also crowned the winner of the Lambplan Production Class at Bendigo Elite Show and Sale.
Stud principal Greg Good said there was a payoff for buyers in search of a balanced animal that maintained excellent eating quality.
"I'm really big on intramuscular fat and shear force. [Bowen 240477] had all those traits, good growth," he said.
"I don't chase one particular trait. I like to have good, balanced figures with a good, balanced ram."
Following a tough winter in Millthorpe, without 'much of an autumn,' Mr Good said the resilience of his rams and ewes shone through on the day.
"You want a ram that will do well under all conditions you could, whether they're going over first cross ewes or merinos or going into a stud condition, they can cope with all of those conditions and areas. That's where Suffolks are so good," he said.
"We just try to keep improving our bloodlines, and what we're doing."
The Helmsman auction was conducted by Scott Thrift, AWN Livestock Dubbo, and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
