New buyer secures 30 per cent of draft at The Cliffs shedding sheep ram sale

A full clearance during a tough season, shortly followed by a decent shower of rain, capped off a successful day for Phil and Judi Thompson at The Cliffs SheepMaster and Australian White ram sale at Molong on February 18.

A small but dedicated buying gallery, along with good support on StockLive, resulted in the 50 rams averaging $1818, a rise on last year's autumn sale.

In the breakdown, 44 SheepMasters sold to $4500, averaging $1877, while six Australian Whites averaged $1383.

The top-priced ram, Cliffs 24512, was sold to return online bidder Phil Corker, Blackwood SheepMasters, Kulikup, WA.

The December-2024 drop weighed 115.5 kilograms and scanned 41 millimetres eye muscle depth and 6.5mm fat. The twin was by CliffMaster 22101.

Mr Corker said the ram had linkages to his own stud, with the pedigree featuring notable SheepMaster sires in Monarch and Apollo, but was still enough of an outcross to be used in his operation.

Mr Corker's father had inspected the ram in person last week, and the family favoured its stretch and neck extension.

He was pleased with his buy and congratulated the Thompsons on a good result.

Putting a substantial draft together was a new buyer in Henry Andrews, Cumborah. Bidding online, the operation secured a draft of 15 rams averaging $2080.

Mr Andrews paid to $4200 for Cliffs 25531, 105kg, a twin born, March-2025 drop which scanned 43.5mm EMD and 8mm fat.

Another of his selections was the Beyond Blue charity ram, which kicked off the sale and was knocked down for $2600.

The stud has offered a charity ram for the last three years and has already raised more than $10,000.

Return buyer Angus Cleaver, Murrabee Pastoral, Nyngan, selected a draft of eight averaging $1675, paying to a $2100 top.

Mr Cleaver said the operation was seeking rams early-maturing, heavy-muscled rams with good bodyweight.

They had recently recieved 30mm of rain which had helped kicked the season along, he said.

He said they had been very impressed with the rams they had bought previously, and the progeny were performing well.

Another major buyer was Barry Holmesbury, Cowra, who bought a draft of eight, all for $1000.

The Redden family, Narromine, bought three Australian White rams, all for $1200.

The Thompsons also offered three pens of April to September 2025-drop SheepMaster ewes. Each pen of 10 averaged 50.65kg, with the pens selling for $330, $320 and $445 a head.

Victorian bidder Ashley Park bought all three pens, along with a SheepMaster ram for $2000.

Phil Thompson, The Cliffs, said it was a fantastic result with both breeds selling well.

"It just shows that what we're doing with the SheepMasters, putting a better body in, a better frame, and looking at the real data of the eye muscles and the fat scores, that's what people want," he said.

He said there was good positivity about the trajectory of the lamb market, and barley was currently priced at $280 a tonne, meaning producers were prepared to feed sheep.

Mr Thompson said there were some buyers absent given tough seasonal conditions but it was pleasing to see so many return clients, along with the new purchaser in Mr Andrews.

The operation had suffered with dry conditions, but there was rain forecast and he was hoping the season would improve.

Nutrien Milling Thomas conducted the sale with Peter and Sam Thomas sharing the rostrum. StockLive provided the online interface.