Buyers chase growthy rams at Dell African Dumisa Dorper and White Dorpers
Rams were sold far and wide at the 15th annual Dell African Dumisa Dorper and White Dorper sale, held on-property near Moama on Friday, October 2.
Buyers from NSW, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland, after stock with good growth, picked up rams and ewes for a full sale clearance.
In the breakdown, 91 Dorper rams sold to a top of $23,000 to average $6095, while 35 White Dorper rams hit $22,000 and averaged $4771.
Overall, the 126 rams averaged $5725.
Stud ewes were also on offer with all 53 sold for an average of $2547.
In the breakdown, 36 Dorper ewes sold to $6000 to average $3027, while 17 White Dorper ewes sold to $2500 and averaged $1529.
The top-priced ram was Dell Dorpers Super Prince 250904, which sold for $23,000 to repeat buyers Ben and Nicole Crozier, Wilcannia.
The August 2025-drop, type 5 ram, by Dell Dorpers Superman 200732 and from Dell Dorpers Ellie 210853, scanned an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 45 millimetres and 14mm fat.
He had a weaning weight of 36 kilograms, post weaning weight of 78kg and yearling weight of 105.5kg.
Dell African Dumisa Dorpers and White Dorpers stud principal Andrea Vagg said they had been going to retain the top-priced ram in the stud but already had a full brother.
"He's close to perfection - a well put-together ram, beautiful head, long body and moves well," she said.
Another notable purchase for the Croziers was Dell Dorpers Superdoopa 240302, which sold for $18,000.
The July 2024-drop, type 5 ram, by Dell Dorpers Superman 200732 and from Dell Dorpers Bells 210952, weighed 128kg and scanned 50mm EMD and 8mm fat.
The top-priced White Dorper ram was Dumisa 250018, which sold for $22,000 to repeat buyers Phillip and Chris Larwood, Bunnerungie White Dorpers, Wentworth.
The April 2025-drop, type 5 ram, by African D555 and from African 210120, had an EMD of 47mm and 7mm fat.
He weighed 36kg at 90 days, 62kg at 210 days, 81.5kg at 310 days and 109kg at 490 days.
Ms Vagg said the sire, African D555, was a 2008-drop ram whose genetics were used extensively within the stud.
"He's bred really well and shows how consistent we have been," she said.
The second top-priced White Dorper ram was Dumisa Bumpy 251020, which sold for $20,000 to RH Gates and NA Seekamp, Wilcannia.
The August 2025-drop ram, by Amarula Bump 232799 and from African 230307, weighed 103kg and scanned 41mm EMD and 7mm fat.
A notable sale was Dumisa Tolge 250115, which was sold for $15,000 to Red Rock Dorpers and White Dorpers, Coombe, SA.
The April 2025-drop, type five White Dorper ram, by African Warrior 230777 and from African 230364, scanned an EMD of 52mm and 6.5mm fat.
The twin-born ram had a weaning weight of 40kg, post weaning weight of 70.5kg, yearling weight of 80kg, and a most recent weight of 100.5kg.
He had been used in the stud at eight months old and was the 2026 DSSA national champion White Dorper ram in Dubbo in May.
Buyer Brad Edson, Red Rock, said the ram was selected for his sirey look, nice length and good width, as well as being an outcross.
"We were looking for that different bloodline," he said.
Mr Edson said the ram would go into their stud program, with 50 to 60 ewes picked out to start with.
He said they run about 1000 White Dorper and 500 Dorper stud ewes and sold 121 rams at their recent sale.
"We aim to breed that clean shedding ram that will walk up well in the pastoral country - we sell a lot of rams into the Broken Hill, Cobar, Ivanhoe areas," he said.
Mr Edson said they had bought rams from Dell every few years to top up and bring in different genetics.
The top-priced ewe was Dell Dorpers 250909, which sold for $6000 to Bob and Simone Burrows, Mount Dromedary Dorpers, Dromedary, Tas.
The August 2025-drop Dorper ewe was sired by Dell Dorpers Strike 230771 and from Dell Dorpers 240223.
The Burrows bought six Dorper ewes for an average of $4000, along with one Dorper ram, Dell Dorpers Striker 250142, for $7000.
Mr Burrows said they ran about 100 stud ewes and were heavily involved in showing their sheep.
"We aim to breed that perfect type of Dorper ram with correctness, and all type 5s," he said.
"We breed the rams to show in Tasmania - we find there's more of a market. We breed them, show them and sell them all through the shows."
Mr Burrows said their stud was fully based on Dell bloodlines and they bought from the stud every year.
"We come here to buy the best we can and hopefully we can then breed the best," he said.
Ms Vagg said she was "blown away" with the sale result, particularly delighted by the ewe results.
"The ewes sold amazingly well," she said.
"We select the best of the best ewes to give the next studs the best possible starts."
Ms Vagg said buyers were chasing rams with good frame and good bone.
"They were chasing rams with good weight for age, shape and the ability to finish," she said.
This year marked the 15th on-property sale for the family and 18 years of stud breeding, which Ms Vagg noted at the opening of the sale.
"We've had a lot of success and that is thanks to the many clients, livestock agents, friends and family that have helped us get to where we are today," she said.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions, with John Settree as the auctioneer. StockLive provided the online interface.
