Deepdale Dorpers set stud record with new client both the top and volume buyer

A hush descended on the shed as the top price rose higher and higher to set a stud record at the annual Deepdale Dorpers ram sale at Merrinee, Vic, on October 6.

The $47,000 top price marked a highlight in a strong sale, with all 147 Dorper and White Dorper rams averaging $5239.

In the breakdown, the 50 Dorpers sold to an $11,000 top to average $5288, while 97 White Dorpers sold to $47,000 to average $5214.

The top-priced ram, Deepdale Prime 242398, was knocked down to Ben and Nicole Crozier, Blackjack Dorpers, Wilcannia.

He weighed 95 kilograms at 14 months and scanned an eye muscle depth of 40 millimetres and 7.5mm fat.

The ram, by Deepdale Bar 230189 and from Deepdale 230204, weighed 32kg at three months and 84.5kg at 11 months, for an average daily gain of 0.21kg.

Ben Crozier said the ram was hard to fault, with impressive fat and muscle.

"He's a very well put together ram, it's a credit to the bloodlines that are coming through," he said.

The Croziers currently run 8000 breeding ewes now, with 4500 Dorpers and the rest White Dorpers.

Ms Crozier said their stud, Blackjack, was currently sitting at 70 White Dorper ewes and 200 blacks, and they were in the process of building up numbers.

"We've been doing it for two years now but we're just keeping it low, trying to get everything right," she said.

The top-priced ram, along with the $18,000 Deepdale Vance 242378, another type five White Dorper and a Burrawang Trump 191472 descendent, would be used in the stud at the next joining.

Although the Croziers were new buyers at Deepdale, Mr Crozier said they were very familiar with the Burrawang lines and were able to buy with confidence.

The pair selected 17 rams in total to average $7824.

Mr Crozier said they were looking for structurally correct rams with good shedding ability, along with a good muscle and fat.

Return buyers Gary and Janice Fiegert, Melashdan Dorpers, Tumby Bay, SA, secured the second top-priced ram, Deepdale Crowie 241967, for $27,000.

The type five, by Burrawang Iron Man 220185 and from Deepdale 220875, was 118kg at 18 months with 46mm EMD and 6mm fat.

The ram was 32kg at three months and at 15 months, 107kg, for an ADG of 0.2kg.

The couple said the ram's length, depth, and shedding ability were particularly appealing.

They also paid $11,000 for the top-priced Dorper, the type five Deepdale Flash 241806, an embryo-transfer ram by Deepdale Bushwacker 220146 and from Deepdale 220412.

"They're both upstanding rams to put a bit of height and length and walk ability," she said.

"Good-doing sheep is what we're after."

Their final buy was the $9000 Deepdale Sammy 242491, another type five White Dorper.

The Fiegerts had fed sheep for about three months due to the poor season, but said things had turned around during the winter.

Mt Hope Pastoral, Mt Hope, selected a draft of 14 to average $4036, while Big Ampi, Menindee, averaged $3200 for 12.

Clayton and Clancy Griffiths, Pan Ban Station, Pan Ban, bought 11 rams to $5709.

Their top pick was the $7200 type four Dorper, Deepdale 242133, a Burrawang Cowboy 191253 descendent.

Mr Griffiths said he was seeking rams with early growth traits, positive fat, and good structure.

Pan Ban is running about 4000 breeders that are put to Dorper rams.

Wade and Terri Griffiths, Spring Hill Station, bought nine rams to average $5267, paying to $8000 for the type four Dorper, Deepdale 241891.

Kallara Partners, Tilpa, bought 10 rams to average $5770, paying to an equal top of $7500 for two type five Dorpers, in Deepdale Bill 242861 and Deepdale Chewy 241897.

Polia Pastoral, Pooncarie, bought eight rams averaging $5287. Court Nareen, Carwarp, Vic, also bought eight to average $5175.

Nulla Nulla Station, Wentworth, bought seven averaging $4343; Mark and Jo Griffiths, Balranald, averaged $4271, also for seven.

Emerson Family Trust, Horsham, Vic, bought six rams to average $3250.

Brady Bowen, Deepdale Dorpers, said it was a fantastic result with the top end selling better than expected.

"We're pretty proud of the sheep we're breeding, " he said.

"We're trying to breed from the best and give people the best, and just hope the money they spend on the rams gives them a return.

"We're pretty strict on our breeding - we don't deviate from what we want, to keep that quality."

The stud was established by the Hardwick family from Toodyay, WA, before it was relocated to Victoria, and this sale marked the stud's third at the Merrinee property.

Mr Bowen said Deepdale would again hold an autumn sale and would look to increase numbers again for its October 2026 lineup.

"The demand seems to be there, the bottom end was still strong," he said.

"The move into Dorpers is happening. People need more rams."

Demand for the blacks seemed to be particularly strong, he said, and market conditions meant confidence was high.

He acknowledged the season was still tough for a lot of operators, but thanked new and return clients for their support.

BR and C agents conducted the sale with auctioneer Joe O'Reilly, Nutrien Harcourts BRC. AuctionsPlus provided the interface.