Proven show sire sets new on-property record at Dell African Dumisa Dorpers

A ram that rose to the top of the show ring has taken the lead once again in the sale pen at the Dell African Dumisa Dorper and White Dorper sale, held near Moama, Friday, October 3.

No distance was too far for buyers with rams and ewes destined as far as Queensland, Western Australia, into Victoria and throughout NSW.

The sale resulted in a top of $32,000, with 81 of 82 Dorper rams selling to the sale top price for and average of $6370, while 42 of 43 White Dorper rams reached a top of $14,000 to average $4690.

In the ewe draft, all 25 Dorper ewes sold for a top price of $3400 to average $1800, while all 15 of the White Dorper ewes sold to $2000 for an average of $1333.

A ram that is no stranger to being in the spotlight Dell Dorpers Strike 230771, stole the show once again, reaching the sale top price of $32,000 and was purchased by repeat clients, Tom and Bec Palmer, Girraween Pastoral, Ivanhoe.

He descends from a line of strong performers within the stud with his grand dam being one of the stud's foundation female lines in Dell Baby Doll 3.

However, it wasn't just the females that were strong in his pedigree, but also through his sire's side, being by Dell Dorpers Punch 210621, who was sired by the world record setting Dell Dorpers Legacy 190321, who sold for $50,000 at the 2020 Dorper Sheep National Show and Sale in Dubbo.

The August 2023-drop ram weighed 132 kilograms, while ranking in the top 50 per cent with his post-weaning fat Australian Sheep Breeding Value (ASBV) of +0.17, along with his maternal weaning weight (MWWT) figure of +2.48 and number of lambs weaned (NLW) value fo +0.05.

BR and C Livestock agent Russell Anthony who purchased the rams on behalf of the Palmers said the ram carried a lot of meat on him.

"He's a very sound-structured ram, very heavy and stands well underneath himself with his weight that he carries," he said.

Mr Anthony said the western operation ran 9000 Dorper ewes, with a self-replacing ewe flock, while most of the wether lambs were sold over the hook into the export market.

Dell African Dumisa stud principal Andrea Vagg said the young sire had been used extensively throughout the stud.

"He was part of the 2024 ASWS interbreed cleanskin group with two Dell ewes," she said.

"He's always been a growthy ram and his first sons will be in the sale next year.

Another proven sire Dell Dorpers Dart 240453, was another sale highlight selling for $14,000 to Rowena and Cheyenne Pennell, Stansbury Dorpers, Kenebri.

In the White Dorper draft, African 240066 claimed the top price, selling for $14,000 to Robert Kennedy, Nyngan.

The April 2024 drop ram, sired by Kaya White Pepperjack 140231, tipped the scales at 123kg, with a MWWT placing him in the top 20pc with a figure of +3.49.

He also placed in the top 5pc for his shear force (SHRF5) value of -2.22, while also being in the top 50pc for his lean meat yield, terminal carcase production and eating quality index, with figures of +2.32, +136.11 and +132.13, respectively.

Another proven sire, Dell Dorpers Dart 240453, was another sale highlight, selling for $14,000 to Rowena and Cheyenne Pennell, Stansbury Dorpers, Kenebri.

The Dorper ram sired by Preiska Dorper Flash 210534, who was said in the catalogue 'to be one of Dell's most successful purchased sires who just keeps producing high quality lambs'.

Some of these included the 2025 Dorper National Show and Sale top-priced Dorper ram, Dell Dorpers Dash, who was purchased by Tom and Bec Palmer, Girraween Pastoral, Ivanhoe, for $9800.

Shown throughout the year and receiving reserve champion junior Dorper ram, Dart recorded an SHRF5 figure of -1.37 and a dressing percentage value of +2.74, both ranking him in the top 20pc.

He also ranked in the top 50pc for his PEMD and NLW values of +2.11 and +0.04, respectively.

Purchaser Rowena Pennel said he was a ram to take the family's young stud forward.

"He's big, he has really good bone structure, good confirmation, with great meat and muscle," she said.

"We just really like him from the moment we saw him."

The family only started their 300 stud ewe operation four years ago, with Dell Dorpers being a prominent bloodline throughout the flock.

A Dorper ewe, Dell Dorpers 240864, rose to the top of the females, reaching $3400 and being purchased by Stacey Smith, Spring Ridge.

Ms Smith also secured an additional three ewes to average $2250.

The top-priced White Dorper ewe, Dumisa 240862 was secured by J and J McClure, Tilpa, for $2000.

The northwestern NSW family operation also secured an additional 10 ewes to average $1963.

Many volume buyers were active throughout the catalogue with online purchaser Grant Bredhuer, Cunnamulla, Qld, taking home eight rams for a top of $11,000 to average $7625, with LG and LE Jukes and Sons, Charleville, Qld, secured 12 rams to a top of $9000 for an average of $5541.

Lex Jukes, Cunnamulla, said he made the 1400-kilometre trip down after hearing a few people in the north talk about the southern stud and the quality on offer.

"I bought a few Dell rams at Dubbo about 10 years ago, and at that time I said I'd come down here and have a look, but it's just taken me that long to do so," he said.

Mr Juke said alongside the 4000 Dorper ewes, the operation also runs goats and cattle across 18210 hectares, with the ewe lambs being retained, while in the better seasons the wether portion are sold to Thomas Foods International, Tamworth, after being finished on buffel grass.

Southern purchaser Thomas Pastoral Company, Deniliquin, took home 14 rams to average $5964, while Clare Partnership, Hay, purchased 11 rams to a top of $6000 for an average of $4000.

New purchaser Simon Bunyan, Booligal, bought 14 rams to average $4750, while Grimwade and Gordon, Deniliquin, secured five rams for and average of $8500.

Mrs Vagg said the family was blown away with the support during the sale.

"We put a lot of effort into our covering, a lot of people commented on how good the sheep looked," she said.

"We're just really happy with the whole thing, the sheep have improved every year, and it's good that it's showing in our own bloodlines too."

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Echuca, with John Settree as auctioneer, while StockLive provided the online interface.