St George Amani Dorper sale proves solid under tough seasonal conditions

The eighth annual Amani Dorper Sale cemented a solid result despite difficult seasonal conditions and rising fuel prices at the St George Showgrounds on Thursday, March 26.

Vendor Rob Ramsay, Amani White Dorpers, Quandialla, NSW, offered 77 rams at the 2026 sale, of which 44 sold for a 58 per cent clearance and a $1559 average.

A further 10 rams sold post-auction to bring the clearance rate to 71pc for a $1456 average.

Overall, the sale grossed $78,600.

An ex-Amani sire, the top-price ram, Amani-244675, sold for $4000 to Mirage Land and Water Company, Cunnamulla.

The 23-month-old six-tooth ram weighed in at 101 kilograms and was sired by Kaya 210854 and out of Amani 233299.

Mirage Land and Water purchased an additional six rams at the sale, heading home with seven rams for an average of $2814.

Nick Forbes, Mirage Land and Water Queensland regional manager, purchased the Amani rams in a last-minute decision, bidding over the phone through his agent.

A repeat buyer, he runs 12,000 ewes over 48,562 hectares (20,000 acres) at Mirage, Cunnamulla.

"We're running an organic certified Dorper ewes as a fat lamb operation," Mr Forbes said.

"We're killing all our lambs at Gundagai, NSW, so we're just chasing those good, fertile, strong, good-going rams."

Also purchasing 13 rams at the Charleville Dorper and White Dorper ram sale on Tuesday, Mr Forbes said he returned to the Amani sale as he had been using their rams for a long time with great success.

"We're just looking for those stand-out, masculine, thick-bodied, well-structured, high-fertility rams," he said.

"We've been using Amani rams for a long time now, and getting great carcase data and great yields back from them.

"Their rams are doing a really good job for us on the ground."

Mr Forbes said the top-priced ram, Amani-244675, caught his eye as he was an overall impressive young ram.

With conditions still dry in Cunnamulla, Mr Forbes said he planned to wait for the season to break before he joined his new rams.

"They'll be put to work very soon," he said.

"The season is pretty ordinary, we're looking for a bit more. It's very dry here."

Notable bulk buyers at the sale included Polly Southern, Tippendale South, Dirranbandi, who took home 12 rams for an average of $1267, and Scott Pfingst, Talwood, who purchased 10 rams for an average of $1060.

Vendor Rob Ramsay said while it wasn't the best performing sale for his stud, he was pleased to see support from return buyers.

He said while the average was on par from his 2025 sale result, the clearance rate had pulled back.

"It certainly wasn't our best result, but it swings and roundabouts, and we've had four or five really good years here at St George," he said.

"This year, it was the buyers turn to do well, so we're happy with it. We would've liked it to be a bit higher, but this time it wasn't supposed to be."

Mr Ramsay said he would offer the unsold rams privately through paddock sales.

While he wasn't sure if rising diesel prices contributed to a softer sale result this year, Mr Ramsay said it did cost him triple what he normally would pay to truck his sheep to St George.

"We still believe there's great opportunities here [in St George], and great opportunities for the sheep we're offering," he said.

"As long as buyers want to keep supporting us, we'll keep coming out here.

"I love the area and I love the district."

GDL St George livestock agent Anthony Hyland said the day was a successful sale under tough conditions.

"I think the rams have been good enough to sell well and find a relatively good clearance in a tough season," he said.

"All the regulars that have been turning up for eight years have turned up again and supported it and bought well."

"I think the feed in the paddocks lately has let us down a little bit with the clearance, but it was still relatively strong, and there was more room in the sale today for more buyers.

"The top-priced fella was nearly on par with last year, and there were good sheep selling to good clients.

"Everyone is wanting to improve their genetics and they bought the best ones there today."

• Selling agents: GDL interfaced with AuctionsPlus