Low-maintenance genetics push Gamadale Australian White sale to a $6500 top

Commercial demand for low-maintenance genetics pushed the Gamadale Australian White stud sale to a top of $6500.

The Lascelles stud sold 68 of 80 Australian White rams to average $2350 on Thursday.

Gamadale Australian White stud co-principal Ben Rowney said the family was pleased with the strong clearance and support from return buyers.

"The rams in the first half of the sale sold very well, but by the end of the auction, most people had picked through and purchased what they wanted," Mr Rowney said.

"We had buyers from as far away as Kangaroo Island, Tas, to Bairnsdale and up to Wilcannia, NSW, Horsham and everywhere in between.

"Most of these rams will end up in commercial operations, along with a few stud rams, and are going into farming operations to improve the genetic gains of sheep flocks."

He said the breed was known for its low-maintenance, quick-growing and easy-care characteristics.

"Some of our clients have properties where they don't have a shearing shed, so it means they can run more Australian Whites to the acre than some other breeds without having to shear or worry about lice and flies," he said.

"This year, the rams were left out in the paddock and have not had any supplementary feeding or grain, so what people saw on sale day was a true representation of how they perform in a commercial environment."

The sale started on a high, with Lot 1, Gamadale 250101, knocked down for the top price of $6500.

It was purchased by Kym, Kathy and Tyke Staude, KD Sheep Studs, Bordertown, SA.

Kym said he had purchased rams from Gamadale sporadically over the last eight years.

"The Rowneys have sourced the best genetics for their stud over many years," he said.

"We are looking for sound feet and good shedding rams that we can join to our Aussie White stud ewes, which we do three times a year, so the first joining will take place next month."

Among the volume buyers were Daniel and Nadia Simmons, Endurance Ag, Wilcannia, who bought 10 rams to a top price of $3000, averaging $1800.

"We have 5000 breeding Aussie White ewes and these rams will be replacements for our older sires," Mr Simmons, who has bought rams from Gamadale for a decade, said.

"We've also had to increase our ram numbers because we're joining ewe lambs at six to eight months of age and we're doing that to receive those lambs on the ground in May and June.

"We want our lambs born around this time to give them the best opportunity from a seasonal perspective when the best feed is available."

Another volume buying pair was James and Tracey O'Day, Flagstaff Farms, Millewa, who bought nine rams to a top price of $2400.

"We run about 2000 Aussie White breeding ewes and we plan to join these rams to the flock in December," Mr O'Day said.

"We sell our lambs through the Ouyen saleyards - we used to sell a lot of them over the hooks - but we've found saleyards have caught up with demand for shedding sheep and have more appreciation for the breed."

McKean McGregor livestock agent Tim Ferguson, Ouyen, said strong, early momentum and steady backing from repeat buyers underpinned the sale.

"The rams lined up very well and we were happy with the outcome of the sale," Mr Ferguson said.

"The sale was strong in the early stages and rams were getting knocked out, but we ran out of a bit of buyer support at the end."

Despite the late drop in momentum, he said there was a reassuring presence of loyal breeders who continued to put faith in the stud's genetics.