Solid support from return and new clients across Noremac's three-breed sale

Widespread rain did little to dampen buyer confidence at the Cameron family's 10th annual Noremac White Suffolk, Suffolk and Southies on-property ram sale at Englefield on Friday.

Strong support from repeat and new clients helped deliver a positive result across the three breeds, with 50 of the 54 White Suffolk rams selling to a top price of $2100 twice, while in the Suffolk line-up, three of 30 rams offered sold to a top price of $5000.

The Cameron family's breeding program also includes a line of White Suffolk/Southdown rams, with 26 of the 30 rams selling to a top of $1100 twice.

Overall, the sale averaged $1200 across the three breeds.

Noremac stud principal Dean Cameron said the sale attracted solid interest from repeat clients as well as several new buyers, with all 26 registered buyers making a purchase.

"We had about 400 millimetres of rain over winter, which is very wet for us, and the sheep have handled those conditions very well," Mr Cameron said.

"We received a lot of positive comments about the consistency and evenness of the rams across the three breeds, which was great to hear."

The $5000 sale-topper, Lot 55, was purchased by Tim and Amelia Johnston, Waradgery Pastoral Co, Brit Brit.

Weighing 131 kilograms, the July 2025-drop ram had an eye muscle width of 115 millimeters and depth of 52.5mm, along with a fat depth of 10.5mm and an eye muscle area of 48.30 square centimetres.

Mr Cameron said the Suffolk ram had originally been earmarked as a stud sire, having stood out from an early age, but the decision was made to offer him at the sale.

"He is a powerhouse of a ram and really stood out as a true Suffolk type," he said.

"He has smooth shoulders, plenty of depth through the carcase and hindquarter, and is an easy-doing ram.

"He just ticks a lot of boxes.

"I still have both his sire and dam here, so hopefully they'll produce more progeny of his quality."

Mr Johnston said he had purchased several Suffolk rams from Noremac previously and was looking for another ram to contribute to his terminal ram breeding program.

"We breed South Suffolk composite terminal rams for our own use and private sales," he said.

"The last couple of rams we've bought Suffolks to add some genetic diversity, as well as scale and growth, to the breeding program.

"We were looking for a very thick, well-muscled ram with a good pedigree, and we were really pleased to purchase him."

Neighbour and long-term client Josh Hill paid the top price in the White Suffolk draft of $2100 for lots 25 and 26.

Mr Hill secured seven White Suffolk rams in total.

The volume buyer in the White Suffolk draft was BR&C Agents, Swan Hill, which purchased 14 rams on behalf of two clients, while Jack and Hannah Jenkinson, Glenthompson, secured five rams, including one Suffolk and four White Suffolks.

New buyer Grant Campbell, Edenhope, operating through LMB Livestock, purchased six White Suffolk and White Suffolk/Southdown rams, while return client Tim Jones, operating through AWN Horsham, bought six White Suffolk/Southdown rams to a top of $1100.

J&D Hermann, Tarrington, secured three White Suffolk/Southdown rams, including one at the equal top price of $1100.

A Suffolk ram was sold privately after the sale for $3000 to the Hopea Suffolk and White Suffolk stud, Dadswells Bridge.

The helmsman sale was conducted by Lanyon's Stock & Station Agents, Hamilton.