Bulk ram buying from loyal clients boosts Glen Devon Poll Dorset sale

Several big bulk ram orders from loyal clients ensured a much improved on-property auction for the Hart family, Glen Devon Poll Dorsets, at Two Wells on Monday.

Glen Devon sold 20 more rams than last year, with support from the Vic Mallee, Mid North and South East putting a solid floor in the sale.

In the sale breakdown, 69 of 83 primarily April 2025-drop Poll Dorset rams were sold to a sale high of $5000 and an average of $1310.

This comfortably outperformed 2025, when 49 of 89 rams sold to $3000, averaging $1139.

While a big shift to continuous cropping in the local area means that buyer numbers are constrained, support from further afield cleared plenty of rams, including 18 being bought, averaging $1177, by PSB & Sons Proprietary Limited, through Platinum Clare.

Ouyen, Vic, farmer Neil Hamilton was in attendance buying for himself and on behalf of BR&C/Nutrien agent Rory Singleton for several clients in the Vic Mallee.

Buying on and off for four decades at Glen Devon, Mr Hamilton said the rams had performed consistently well in the Ouyen area.

Personally, Mr Hamilton puts the 'maiden' Poll Dorset rams over maiden SAMM and Merino ewes. He said he always looks for rams that are narrow in the front for birthing ease and packed with back end muscle.

He finished the bulk buying expedition with 15 rams for him and several others, averaging $1246.

Another strong supporter was Sterita Park Pastoral, Lucindale, represented by Nutrien agent Nick Heffernan.

The South East enterprise finished with 16 rams on their bid card, averaging $1406.

It was another South East buyer that won the bidding on Glen Devon's highly rated Lot 2 ram that ended up being knocked down for $5000.

The twin-born son of Glen Devon 293-23 is headed to stud duties down at Robe for Mulgundawa Poll Dorsets, part of the Richmond Park White Suffolk and Mulgundawa Poll Dorset operation.

The robust April 2025-drop ram also had an eye-catching data set, with the highest terminal carcase production index (156.3) in the catalogue, and close to the highest on eye muscle depth (2.9).

Commenting post sale, Nutrien stud stock's Gordon Wood said there was great value to be had for buyers right through the Glen Devon offering.

He estimated the rams were up to 10 kilograms heavier than 2025, thanks to a kinder season leading into the sale.

"The rams presented incredibly well and represented amazing value at a $1310 average," Mr Wood said.

"If you divide that by what lambs are making it's not a lot of lambs to pay for a ram.

"Glen Devon has fantastic quality sheep and good performance data but can be victims of a geographical area that doesn't have a lot of sheep left."

Glen Devon principal Robert Hart echoed those sentiments about a push to cropping making the task of selling rams harder, but he was pleased to see 20 more sold than last year and post-sale enquiry.

He said there had been good feedback about the rams muscling this year after a better feed season.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, with Mr Wood the auctioneer.