Third time's a charm as Orrie Cowie SheepMaster ram sale attracts big bids

The final ram sale for the South Australian season ended on a high, with the average at the Orrie Cowie SheepMaster ram sale up almost $1000 on last year.

The average was $3045, compared to 2024's $2110.

Held on-property just out of Minlaton on the Yorke Peninsula, overall the sale had 47 rams sold out of 50 offered.

The top price of $5000 was made three times to two different vendors.

Kicking off the sale was a thumping 123 kilogram, June 2024-ram with an eye muscle depth of 43 millimetres and 9mm fat.

It was knocked down to brothers Warren and Stuart Duncan, Dunedin Park, via Wentworth, NSW.

It was the second time the brothers had purchased from the Orrie Cowie SheepMaster sale.

Warren said there was plenty to like about the stud's sires.

"I like their body length, width and depth and the fact they're easy care," he said.

The brothers also bought another ram for the top price of $5000. The October 2024-drop ram weighed 100kg and had 42mm EMD and 11mm fat.

Overall, Dunedin Park bought eight rams for an average of $4093.

Another return buyer paid the joint highest price of $5000.

Eyre Peninsula buyer Daniel Parsons, RL&SJ Parsons & Son, Edillilie, bought from Orrie Cowie SheepMasters for the third time.

Mr Parsons likes the easy care and fast growth rates the breed exhibits, along with not having to shear or crutch them.

"You don't have to baby them, they just go about their business," he said.

The $5000 ram Mr Parsons bought was a September 2024-drop that weighed 116kg with 44mm EMD and 6.5mm fat. He also bought another ram at $1500.

There was stud interest at the sale with Blackwood SheepMaster, Kulikup, Western Australia, buying four rams, averaging $3937.

The stud paid the second-highest price of $4750 for an October 2024-drop that weighed 94kg and had 39mm EMD and 8mm fat.

Tilbrook Farming, Curramulka, was a volume buyer taking home nine rams to $4500, averaging $3555.

Orrie Cowie SheepMaster principal John Dalla said it was a fantastic sale with a good spread of new and repeat buyers.

"It's really pleasing to be rewarded for the quality we put up," he said.

"We're producing high-quality shedding rams with really great structure, good weight for age and to top it off, really high-quality skins.

"We're getting a big uptick of interest in SheepMasters."

Elders Minlaton branch and livestock manager Adam Pitt said the line-up displayed great weight for age and clean skins.

"It was an exceptional result and reflective of where the sheep job is at the moment and also a reflection of where buyers see the breed," he said.

"There was a good number of new buyers, but I also think it's fantastic that there were a lot of repeat bidders who are getting on well with the breed.

"The quality was on show for everyone to see."

The sale was conducted by Elders with Tony Wetherall auctioneering.