Full clearance for Derby Downs as new generation takes stud to next level

Derby Downs Poll Dorset stud achieved a total clearance at its annual on-property ram sale on Friday at Marong.

The stud sold a total of 72 rams, including eight specially selected rams and 64 flock rams, which averaged $1545.

The top-priced ram, Lot 6, Derby Downs 247-25, sold to Jono Turnbull, Ardazal Poll Dorset stud, Dumosa, for $3100.

Derby Downs stud principal Lachie Bailey said the ram was very correct, with a "huge hindquarter and good sire appeal".

"His sire, Derby Downs 279-23 (pink tag), is a solid ram packed full of muscle, thick bone and a fantastic Dorset head, which the majority of our 2026 show team is sired by," Mr Bailey said.

He said the Turnbull family typically purchased stud rams from him every couple of years, and this year took two home, including Lot 2, Derby Downs 462-25, the second-top-priced ram of the sale at $3000, which placed second in its class at the Australasian Dorset Championships.

Mr Turnbull said he intended to put his new purchases to use producing flock rams for his commercial clients.

"Those flock rams will be used in my clients' first-cross, Merino and composite operations," he said.

The top-priced ram, which was sired by Derby Downs 279-23, out of Derby Downs 372-20, measured an eye muscle area (EMA) of 49.13 square centimetres and fat depth of eight millimetres.

Lot 2, sired by Glenore 72-22, out of Derby Downs 156-18, measured an EMA of 54.93sqcm and fat depth of 8.5mm.

Buying in volume were Jo, Greg and Alby Bear, Bear and Twigg, Canary Island, who took home 15 rams for a top of $1600 twice, to average $1486.

Mrs Bear said they needed more lambs on the ground for their crossbred operation and introduced Derby Downs rams as a terminal sire over their commercial Merino ewes last year with great success.

She said this year's purchases would be put to work on their 4000-hectare property alongside last year's rams, which were achieving 93 per cent lambing percentages.

"We were looking for an easy care ram that could do the job, and at this stage we are really pleased with the results," she said.

"The evenness of the rams also impressed us - we could have bought any as they were very consistent.

"It's great to work with such positive people in the industry."

Other bulk buyers were TC and KM Campbell, who purchased 10 rams to a top of $2000, averaging $1520.

Having only recently taken over the reins of the stud from his uncle Don, Mr Bailey said he was very happy with the sale result.

"It's the first time we've achieved a full clearance since I started working with my uncle about four years ago," he said.

"We didn't have enough rams in the end, and of all the problems to have it's probably a good one.

"Our clients are still chasing our rams due to their good hindquarters and the consistency of our whole flock."

Elders Bendigo livestock manager Nigel Starick said the result was "absolutely sensational".

"The average was outstanding and relevant to where the current livestock market is for lambs and it was good to sell some back into the stud game," Mr Starick said.

"Derby Downs are taking their commercial production further and further every year, and have some very good genetics coming through.

"The buoyancy of the competition was strong, and people saw the relevance of what they were buying and the genetics were there to support that.

"The rams looked amazing and seasonally we are in a very good position to hit the optimum point in time.

"It was fantastic to see a really good sale for those guys, who put a lot of effort into their ram selling."

The sale was conducted by Elders Bendigo.