Strong results for data-backed rams at Yasloc on-property sale
Attention to data and how it relates to breeding has secured a solid ram sale for Yasloc Poll Dorset and White Suffolks, held on-property at Euroa, Glen Innes on Friday, March 6.
Posting a better result than in 2025, and in 2024, Yasloc sold all 91 two-tooth rams for a 100 per cent clearance to average $1645 and top at $2600.
Of the 37 lamb rams, many with high indexing figures, 35 sold to average $1518 and top at $3600.
The overall sale average for 123 rams was $1634.
Leading buyer, and long-term repeat clients, Roy and Nan Robertson, Robertson Grazing at Wanderriby, next to Jeogla Station, paid the top price of $3600 for a White Suffolk/Poll Dorset, Yasloc 208.
The ram weighed 73.5 kilograms with Australian sheep breeding values across key traits that make a difference to Robertson Grazing's bottom line.
Most impressive was the top 1 per cent figure for lamb eating quality (LEQ), at +169, the highest in the catalogue and from a flock that has steadily increased the value of this trait in the past decade, to place well above the breed average.
This ram, by influential White Suffolk Farrer 98/21, also had figures in the top 5pc for intramuscular fat (IMF) at +0.32, top 10pc for post weaning weight (PWWT) at +18.7 and top 20pc for post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD).
Robertson Grazing, which will put this sire into a second-cross program with prime lamb the outcome, came away with eight lamb rams for an average $2262.
"The good figures here are why I have been coming here for the last 25 years," Mr Robertson said.
"We buy our Merinos on figures, and our Border Leicesters on figures.
"We buy our Angus cattle using similar indexes.
"I look at moderate birth weight, good fat figures with IMF that show carcase qualities. Once a lamb has those traits they come up on top."
Mr Robertson said it helped to focus on a few good traits, and not cover too many bases.
"Shear force as an indication of tenderness is one of those traits that we don't yet get paid on," he said.
Volume buyer, and repeat client Geoff Bucknell, Bukkulla Station via Inverell, went home with 20, two-tooth rams to average $1805 and top at $2400 for the White Suffolk ram Yasloc 392 by Yasloc183/23, with top 5pc PEMD, top 10pc LEQ and top 20pc PWWT.
"We run a Dohne flock and join half of those to terminal sires. Meat is our main enterprise, but with wool up in price it is good to have a bit of both," he said.
With the season drying off, and no winter forage yet sown, the enterprise has been selling sucker lambs to southern feedlots with Mr Bucknell saying the option has been something of a lifesaver.
"We don't have enough feed at hand," he said. "We are lucky to have that outlet."
Repeat client Robert Jackson, Westbrook Pastoral, Guyra, went home with four rams, three of them two-year-olds to average $1900 and top at $2300 for a White Suffolk/Poll Dorset with top 5pc for PEMD and top 20pc for LEQ. He also bought a ram lamb for $1800.
"We produce second-cross fat lambs for the domestic market and for export," he said.
"The lamb market is terrific at the moment. It gives us a lot of confidence."
Stud principal Nick Say was pleased with the sale result and the way Yasloc's drive to improve figures had led to better sale outcomes.
"We produce figures that we hope matter to the breed," he said.
"Eating quality is one of those areas where most producers don't get a premium yet, but it is coming.
"Everything comes back to data. The more you do, the more you are rewarded."
The sale was hosted by Colin Say & Co in conjunction with AuctionsPlus.
