Lamb price record-setting clients secure the top rams at Kismet ram sale
The proof has been in the pudding for clients of Graham Wilson's Kismet stud, near Howlong, with lamb record-price achieving clients among those securing the top rams at the studs sale, Wednesday, October 1.
The sale received strong support from new and returning purchasers from as far south as Hamilton, Vic, as well as around the local area and up to Tarcutta.
Overall, 173 of 189 rams sold to a top of $3300 and an average of $1695.
All 119 White Suffolk rams sold to a top of $3300, twice, for an average of $1828, while the Poll Dorset draft had a full clearance of 30 ram to $3000, averaging $1656, and 24 of 40 Southdown-White Suffolk rams sold to $1600, with an average of $1083.
The first ram to reach the $3300 equal top price was Kismet 642, a White Suffolk ram bought by JJ and GB Wright, Brixton Park, Boree Creek.
Weighing 107 kilograms, the ram scanned an eye muscle width of 104 millimetres, an eye muscle depth of 40mm, a fat depth of 5.5mm and an over-eye muscle area of 33 square centimetres.
Graham Wright bought the ram on behalf of his son James and said the family had been long-term clients of the stud, having had recent success in the sale yards.
"James topped the Elders run at Corowa just recently with some suckers making $350 a head," he said.
The family operation sells a portion of their lambs as suckers with the remainder sold as heavy weights over the hook, alongside a cropping and contracting operation.
The Wright family purchased four additional rams for an overall average of $2600.
The other equal top-price ram, another White Suffolk ram, Kismet 896, was purchased by first-time buyer, Garry Mickan, Mickan Brothers Farming Pty Ltd, Walla Walla.
The ram scanned an eye muscle width of 96mm, eye muscle depth of 35.5mm, fat depth of 4mm and an over-eye muscle area of 26sqcm, while weighing 112kg.
Mr Mickan said he was impressed with the quality of the rams throughout the draft.
The family operation joins 400 Border Leicester-Merino ewes, with the plan to expand flock numbers if the season permits.
Like Mr Wright, Mr Mickan sells a portion of the offspring as suckers, with the rest grown out ot export weights, with a pen of the operations lambs setting one of the lamb price records of $440 earlier in the year.
They also secured another three rams for an average of $2575.
Other volume buyers active throughout the draft were Tourang Pty Ltd, Berrigan, who took home eight rams for an average of $1487, Hume Farms, Lavington, who secured seven rams to average $1321, while seven rams were knocked down to JR Graham Trust, Boonongo, Morundah, for a top of $2200 for an average of $1971.
Victorian buyers stepped into the market with Valeclare Farms, Boorhaman, purchased 12 rams for an average of $1808.
Kismet stud principal Graham Wilson considered the result very pleasing.
"It's very encouraging to see old clients and some new ones sprinkled in," he said.
The sale was conducted by Elders Albury and Bullen Livestock Agencies, with Oliver Mason and Murray Bullen as auctioneers.
AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
