Hawkesdale stud's long-term genetics strategy delivers full sale clearance

A south-west Victorian sheep stud has recorded a total clearance of almost 100 rams at its second-ever sale.

Nedelle Downs Southdown and White Suffolk stud principal Ned Nagorcka, Hawkesdale, said he was nervous before the sale.

"Some of the other sales haven't been as good," he said.

"I am lucky to have a very good, loyal clientele."

The stud offered 94 rams of both breeds and sold all of them to a top price of $2700.

In the breakdown, 79 Southdown rams averaged $1540 and 14 White Suffolks averaged $1265.

Mr Nagorcka said the top-priced animal (a Southdown) was very well structured and balanced.

"There were quite a few like him," he said.

"We were lucky to have quite a few rams which were quite similar."

The ram, Lot 26, SD240342, was an August 2024-drop twin ram, sired by ND180383, which had a birth weight (BWT) of 0.23 kilograms, a weaning weight (WWT) of 8.64kg and a post-weaning weight (PWWT) of 12.66kg.

His post-weaning fat measurement (PFAT) was -0.57 millimetres, post-weaning eye muscle depth (PWEMD) was 0.08mm and terminal carcase production (TCP) index was 116.32.

The top-priced ram was one of four purchased by Robert Morrison, Hawkesdale.

Mr Morrison said the rams would be mated with composite ewes.

"It's been 40 years since I've had a Merino on this property," he said.

"I am hoping for a fair bit from these rams.

"Breeding sheep is not an exact science as you go with what you think is best."

He made most of his sales to Coles, over the hooks or through the Ballarat yards.

"We sell a few in the markets, especially the Southies, as they have tighter skins and present better than the other lambs at Ballarat," he said.

The top-priced White Suffolk ram, Lot 84, was also a twin.

WS 243045 was an August 2024-drop ram by Day 210268.

His BWT was 0.14kg, WWT was 11.02kg and PWWT was 17.56kg.

He had a PFAT measurement of -0.06mm, PWEMD of 2.54mm and his TCP index was 152.59.

Mr Nagorcka said the rams all had a good growth rate.

"We run our rams fairly hard right throughout the year," he said.

"They are all run in a commercial situation, so I know the top-priced ram and his progeny will stand up, especially this year."

He said the rams had gone through a tough season, with minimal supplementary feeding.

"We try to put a lot of pressure on our sheep, so the good ones stand out and the clients get the benefit of that," he said.

He said he didn't think he'd see conditions similar to the ones he had experienced in the last two to three years.

"It was a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of worrying about how you could shuffle things around to get by," he said.

"It was incredibly tough - it just wouldn't rain."

He said as soon as the area got some good feed, the rams responded.

"I was a bit worried they weren't going to come up there, but they just took off," he said.

Mr Nagorcka said the area was now experiencing a "phenomenal season".

"All the paddocks have been fallow, and once we got a bit of rain, I can't believe the amount of grass and clover that we have got now," he said.

He said he had always tried to buy the best genetics he could.

"I've been doing it for 23 years and from day one I have never shied away from purchasing the best rams," he said.