Strong demand from repeat buyers lifts Armdale Poll Dorset ram sale average

A complete clearance and significant lift in average capped off an outstanding show and sale season for Armdale Poll Dorset stud principals Sam and Maddy Armstrong at their 51st annual on-property ram sale at Murrulebale on Friday, September 18.

Overall, 143 stud and flock rams were offered and sold to an average of $3193, with the $9000 top price achieved twice.

The result follows the Armstrongs' recent success at the Australasian Dorset Championships in Bendigo, Vic, where the stud sold all five rams offered for an average of $12,800, including a sale record of $34,000 for Armdale 250110.

Armdale was also awarded Champion of Champions Ram of the Year and Champion of Champions Ewe of the Year.

The auction opened with the stud ram line-up, which attracted spirited bidding both on-property and through AuctionsPlus. All 14 stud rams sold for an average of $5428.

Lot 6, Armdale 250036, by Armdale Park 220200, was the first to reach the sale's equal top price of $9000, selling to Henry and Karen Cameron, Athlone Poll Dorset stud, Penshurst, Vic.

Weighing an impressive 154 kilograms, the April-drop ram had an eye muscle width of 116 millimetres and depth of 56mm, along with a fat depth of 9mm and an eye muscle area (EMA) of 50.02 square centimetres.

Mr Armstrong said the ram had a beautiful sirey outlook and real presence.

"He's a really long, smooth ram with a carcase that is put together well, smooth shoulders for lambing ease and a really big hindquarter," he said.

"He's also just really good on his legs and feet."

The ram was also named champion ram at the Royal Canberra Show in February this year.

Described by Mr Armstrong as having great body length and plenty of muscle, lot 11, Armdale 250138, was the next ram to reach the $9000 top price. Also sired by Armdale Park 220200, the ram was purchased by David Ingram, Hillview Poll Dorset stud, Mirrool.

The April-drop ram weighed 146kg and scanned an eye muscle width of 113mm and depth of 57mm, along with a fat depth of 8mm and an EMA of 49.60sq cm.

Buyer Mr Ingram said the ram was his personal pick on the day and he was pleased to secure him.

"I hadn't seen the ram before sale day and I actually wasn't expecting to buy anything because I was so unprepared," he said.

"Then I saw the ram and I liked him. I saw him again in the ring when I was sitting up on the podium and thought, 'Oh dear, we've got a problem here - we're going to have to buy this ram'."

Mr Ingram said he particularly liked the ram's topline, length, depth and clean head, and thought he would fit in with their style of sheep very well.

"We're opposite to what a lot of people want," he said.

"A lot of people are really focused on low birthweight rams, which has a massive trade-off with how long the lambs stay on your farm.

"We want early, bigger, faster-maturing lambs that can be turned off earlier."

Mr Ingram said post-weaning weight was the only performance figure he considered, as it provided an indication of early vigour, while visual attributes remained the main focus.

Hillview runs 500 stud Poll Dorset ewes and Mr Ingram is looking forward to using the ram in his breeding program. He plans to join him to a selection of elite ewes in a single-sire group in early November.

"I think there are some exciting times ahead in the sheep industry," Mr Ingram said.

"The costs of growing crops are getting a bit out of control, so I think the new flavour could be sheep, hopefully."

Bidding continued strongly for the flock rams, with the first 29 lots sold as pairs under the hammer. The flock rams opened with two pens topping at $4800, with Kooroogong Pastoral, Harefield, securing lots 21A and 21B at the top price. They went on to buy a further six rams, taking home eight in total at an overall average of $4200.

Also operating at the top end of the flock ram catalogue was GJ and JA Menzies Family Trust, Glenwann, Matong, which took home five rams for an average of $4420, paying to the top of $4800 for two young sires.

Quinn & Cruikshank, Merryvale, Ganmain, bought 10 rams for an average of $3240, paying to $4000, while PJ and KA Logan, Ganmain, took home five rams averaging $3660, and WJ and HM Graetz, Marrar, purchased five rams for an average of $3240.

The main volume buyer of the auction was repeat client Mywurlie Pastoral Co, Hay, which bought 15 rams for an average of $1866, while John Lamb Pastoral P/L, Willurah, Conargo, averaged $1981 for 11 rams.

Mr Armstrong was thrilled with the on-property sale result, particularly the average, which was about $700 higher than last year.

"We've had a fantastic year, and this was a great result to cap it off," he said.

"Most were repeat buyers, but there were plenty of new faces as well, which was really good to see. It's great to see our genetics finding their way into new flocks in different parts of the country.

"I think it's probably on the back of our show success this year and highlights the importance of attending shows and promoting your animals, so people can see what type of sheep you are aiming to breed."

Mr Armstrong said buyers were looking for high-muscled rams, with eye muscle area, fat and live weight for age all important selection traits. He said there was also strong interest in proven sire lines within the stud's pedigrees.

Nutrien Wagga Wagga conducted the sale with Peter Cabot performing the auctioneering duties, while AuctionsPlus collected the online bids.