New clients among loyal stud and volume buyers aid strong Newbold ram clearance
Stud interest was strong, along with a number of volume orders, to hand Newbold stud one of its best sale results in Gawler River on Friday.
The Poll Dorset offering of 92 head kicked off the sale, with 72 selling to $9000, averaging $1690 - a much stronger clearance and average than the 2025 sale.
While in the White Suffolks, a full clearance of 70 rams was achieved, with a $3000 top, averaging $1460 - also about a $400 increase.
The first 12 Poll Dorsets were specially-selected rams, averaging $3708, while the top six elite White Suffolks averaged $2200.
The $9000 top Poll Dorset price was paid by Ken and Betty Walker, Kenlorne stud, Beachport, via AuctionsPlus.
Mr Walker said the ram appealed for its "clean points and outstanding figures", traits they target for their stud.
The lot 11 specially-selected ram, sired by Felix 1129-23, was a May-2025 drop twin, with numerous figures in the top 5 per cent, including 13.88 weaning weight, 21.25 post-weaning weight, 1.52 post-weaning fat, 4.62 post eye muscle depth and 164.92 Terminal Carcase Production, while its 159.9 Lamb Eating Quality was in the top 10pc.
"We were wanting rams from that new Felix bloodline," he said.
"He had good fat cover and eye muscle depth.
"He had medium figures for birthweight (0.43), so he'll go over our higher birthweight ewes, to bring our birthweight down a little bit, but take the weaning weight up a little bit more."
The Walkers have been buying from Newbold since they formed their Kenlorne stud in 1976. They also bought lot 8 at $3000.
The $5500 second-highest Poll Dorset was bought by Peter Williams, Kreeside stud, Mount Torrens, in a sole purchase for its "clean head".
"We are trying to get rid of black marks and scurs, they're starting to come back in our Poll Dorsets, and this one was very clean," he said.
"He also had good eye muscle."
This lot 9 specially-selected ram was also sired by Felix 1129-23, another May-2025 drop twin, weighing 131kg.
It had 4.13PEMD and 1.47Pfat (both in the top 5pc), while its 161.53LEQ and 161.77TCP were both in the top 10pc.
Mr Williams is a long-time Newbold ewe buyer, while the last ram they bought was about 10 years ago.
"We didn't have the Felix bloodline, and Craig [McLachlan, Newbold] suggested that lot 9 would be the pick," Mr Williams said.
There were numerous bulk Poll Dorset buyers, with repeat clients WB&SJ Hurn, Angaston, taking home 15 through Elders agent Ben Paues, averaging $1413.
Florando Partners, Keith, were willing to bid up on their six rams, averaging $2950; new client Pasin Nominess, Mount Gambier, bought nine averaging $1855; while WA&WB Pearce, Parawa, bought 11 rams at the base price of $1000.
In the White Suffolks, return client Carcuma North stud, Peake, through Elders agent Hayden Biddle, paid the $3000 top for the first of the specially-selected rams - a May-drop twin by Newbold 153-22.
The 140-kilogram ram was in the top 20pc for WWT (11.9) and PWWT (19) and top 50pc for TCP at 146.4.
Carcuma North stud princpal Carolyn Johnson said they chose that Newbold White Suffolk as it was "structurally sound with the breeding values that are important for terminal sires".
The Johnsons' Select Poll Dorset stud also bought a Poll Dorset ram in lot 6 at $3000 - another May-drop twin by Derrynock 74-20, with figures in the top 5pc for WWT (13.72) and top 10pc for PWWT (19.91).
White Suffolk volume buyers included neighbours Boundrina, Reeves Plains, who bought 15 rams averaging $1320; Moonee Hills, Meningie, thorugh Nutrien Gawler's Sabrina Lawrence, bought nine averaging $1244; Tullabrin, through Elders Roseworthy, bought seven averaging $1385; while TR&OA Mudge, Port Wakefield, paid good money on their six averaging $1866.
After the 82nd sale - potentially a record number for meat breed stud longevity - Bill Close said support came from across the country, with 37 registered buyers plus numerous online, aiding its great result.
"We did really well at the recent Royal Adelaide Show in the production classes, and that exemplifies what we are about," he said.
"Well balanced sheep with good figures. Our data is often in the top 5pc of the country.
"We also had a few new buyers on the White Suffolks, aiding the total clearance."
The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien, with Tony Wetherall and Gordon Wood as acutioneers.
Nutrien studstock's Gordon Wood said the clearance and increased average was aided by a widespread buying gallery, from locally, to Kangaroo Island, to Mount Gambier.
"The sheep were presented exceptionally well, and were really good value buying, in particular the Poll Dorsets, but still a great result for Newbold," he said.
