Eating quality and a 'huge rear end' drive demand for Gooramma Poll Dorsets

Partners in the pursuit of genetic excellence pooled resources to secure one of the "best rams" in the country, at the Gooramma Poll Dorset annual on-property sale at Galong on Friday, September 18.

On the back of a thriving sheepmeat market, buyers chased traits to support a diversity of enterprises, from dual-purpose to first-cross, through to leading Poll Dorset breeders and composite producers.

All 166 rams sold to a $21,000 top to average $4219, with 30 stud rams averaging $6350.

Top-priced ram Gooramma 250056 sold for $21,000 to Garry Armstrong, Armdale Park Poll Dorsets, Marrar, and Karl Sinclair, Boree Lane Poll Dorsets, Lidster.

The pair said the ram was a standout right from the start and would support genetic goals in both of their flocks, used on stud ewes and for artificial insemination (AI).

"He has a huge rear end, the hind corner and depth of that ram is rare this year," Mr Sinclair said.

"When you have two people who have similar breeding objectives and trust each other, being able to utilise that ram and support each other's stud, it makes it work.

"We can pool our collective resources together to target the best sheep in Australia."

The 150kg ram, by Gooramma 230115 and from Gooramma 210504, recorded Australian Sheep Breeding Values of +6.09 for carcase weight, with a post-weaning eye muscle depth of +2.39.

Mr Armstrong said the ram would be headed straight to the AI centre to collect semen, to make the best use of genetics.

"He has tremendous depth of body, that's the main appeal for him, and good raw data figures," Mr Armstrong said.

"That depth of body is hard to find."

Second-top-priced ram, Gooramma 250427, sold to Jess and Christian Hoolihan, Retreat River Rams, Cowra, for $20,000.

The May 2025-drop ram, by Derrynock 230210 and from Gooramma 230100, weighed 138kg and was described by the vendor as the epitome of blending phenotype with "exceptional" data.

Mr Hoolihan said while he typically purchased Gooramma rams on behalf of clients, the ram was ideally aligned with his own breeding goals, and was too good to pass up.

"He has the phenotype that really complements what we are trying to achieve for our clients, putting our terminal rams over composite ewes to hang up well on the rail at Breakout River Meats," he said.

"With awesome hindquarter shape, he also has that Gooramma top-end eye muscle raw scan data that is near impossible to find anywhere else, let alone the genotype stats of one of the top rams in the country for eating quality."

The ram recorded ASBVs in the top 1 per cent of the breed for intramuscular fat (IMF), with a shearforce in the top 5pc at -3.75, and a carcase fat depth of +1.64.

He also ranked in the top 10pc of the breed or higher across all eye muscle depth ASBVs, including a PEMD of +4.21, a +4.12 yearling eye muscle depth and a +4.03 carcase eye muscle depth.

Gooramma Poll Dorset Ram Sale 2026 | Gallery

Pictures by Eliza Spencer.

Tom Bull, Lambpro, secured Gooramma 250203 for $6000 through an online bid, bringing Gooramma genetics into the Riverina at Holbrook.

A twin by Valma 230162 and from Gooramma 220131, the 140kg ram recorded ASBVs in the top 5pc for carcase and dressed weight, at +7.95 and +4.09. He also recorded an IMF in top 10pc at +0.19, and a YEMD of +3.44.

The ram recorded all ASBVs for eye muscle depth in the top 5pc of the breed, with a SHEARF5 of -1.56 in the top 10pc.

Repeat buyers also made their presence felt. TM and A Smith, Forbes, bought equally-priced rams Gooramma 250377 and 250122 for $9000 each. Both rams were in the top 20pc or higher for IMF, at 0.03 for 250377 and 0.23 for 250122.

Daniel and Nadine Woods, Church Farm, Monteagle, also brought home two rams, Gooramma 250315 and Gooramma 250223 for $4000 each.

Gooramma stud principal James Corcoran jnr said buyers maintained high levels of interest in commercially-viable sheep to hold their own in a competitive meat market.

"We've kept our muscle, kept our fats, because if we're going to grow the muscle, we might as well make it an excellent eating experience," he said.

"There's a realisation in the lamb industry that there are supply chain opportunities, and more people are conscious of breeding and finding the genetics that match what the end producer - the abattoir, feedlots - want."

Auctioneer Rick Power, Nutrien Stud Stock, referenced the recent record-breaking numbers in the first-cross ewe market as a positive sign for buyers and vendors refining their flocks.

"Where the industry is at the moment, first-cross ewes and the money they've made this week and last, and the next few sales to come, there's a lot of positivity," he said.

"The lamb job is definitely holding up due to numbers and supply."

The sale was conducted by Bassingthwaighte Livestock and Property Marketing and Nutrien, with Lachlan Bassingthwaighte, Rick Power and Matthew Campion the auctioneers.

AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.