Paxton three-breed sale achieves strong result along with major stud news

It was a big afternoon in the shed at the Harvey family's Paxton ram sale at Western Flat on Thursday last week, with close to 380 rams from three different breeds going under the hammer.

Kicking off the afternoon were the terminal sires, with both achieving great results.

First to be offered were Poll Dorsets, with full clearance of 97 rams, and an average of $2125 achieved, a jump of $648 on the previous year.

The top price in the Poll Dorsets was also well up on last year, at $3200 compared to $2200.

Offered at Lot 2, the top price Poll Dorset was a May 2025-drop, sired by Allendale 220037.

Knocked down to Willswood Farms, Bordertown, the ram boasted some of the highest ASBVs in the catalogue including 154.41 for the Terminal Carcase Production index and 146.28 for Lamb Eating Quality.

One of the major volume buyers on the Poll Dorsets was Richard 'Cutter' Gould, Cortina Pastoral, Lucindale, taking 11 rams to $2200.

"I've been buying off Paxton for a long, long time, close to 30 years," he said.

"The Harvey family produce good quality rams that do a really good job for us."

Mr Gould said using Paxton genetics helped to produce 'really good, even lambs'.

Other volume buyers of Poll Dorsets were Moyhall Pastoral, Naracoorte, with 20 rams to $2600; ER Shand & SD Shand, Langkoop, Victoria, nine to $2600; and ME&JE Pridham, Western Flat, seven to $2400.

The results on the White Suffolks was also well up on the 2025 sale, with a full clearance of 102 rams.

The average was $2006, $620 up on 2025.

Demonstrating the depth in the catalogue, the joint top-price White Suffolks, offered at Lot 46 and 87, both made $3800.

Lot 46 was a June 2025-drop sired by Days 230233, while Lot 87 was a younger August 2025-drop from the same sire.

Both were knocked down to Ben Kuchel, Kuchel Cropping, Bordertown, a return buyer to Paxton.

Mr Kuchel said he was upping his sheep numbers, on the back of the positive sheep job, so needed some more rams.

He said he was targeting low birthweights, positive post-weaning fat depth and good eye muscle with his selections.

Also buying near the top of the White Suffolk catalogue was Kaye Bothe, BH Farming, Kaniva, Vic, taking six rams to $3200.

A long-time buyer, Ms Bothe said Paxton stock were proven doers in her country.

"I bought my first rams off Martin over 20 years ago," she said.

"They're top rams with great longevity. Paxton's rams are always excellent, but the friendship has also been special."

Other volume buyers on the Border Leicesters were the Oakley family, Oakalari, Pinnaroo, taking nine to $3200; Parilla Premium Potatoes, with eight to $2000; and McMahon Family Enterprises, McPiggery, Lameroo, with six to $1800.

Lucindale Area School was a guest vendor in the White Suffolks, selling three rams to $2400.

In the break between the White Suffolks and the Border Leicesters, Paxton principal Martin Harvey made a major announcement.

Mr Harvey said Paxton would be dispersing their Poll Dorset and White Suffolk studs after decades of breeding.

The stud has been breeding Poll Dorset sheep for more than 40 years, starting on Allendale bloodlines, and White Suffolks since the beginning of the breed over 30 years ago, using an infusion of Allendale Suffolks over Paxton Poll Dorset ewes.

Mr Harvey said it was an extremely difficult decision, but one he needed to make for better work/life balance.

He said there would be no change in Paxton's Border Leicester stud.

This year 141 Border Leicesters sold from 179 offered.

The average price was up by $189 at $2091.

Making the top Border Leicester price was the opening lot, knocked down at $7000 to WA&CR Stanley, from the Killarney stud at Galong, NSW.

The ram qualified as a SuperBorder, measuring 154.79 on the BLX index. Sired by Cooinda 22135, the ram was a twin.

The major volume buyer was Kevin Francis, Western Flat, taking 23 to $1800.

Other volume buyers included ME&JE Pridham, Western Flat, with eight to $3000; Deepwater Trust, Naracoorte, with nine to $4000; and Brown Farming, Keyneton, with six to $2000.

Mr Harvey was very pleased with the overall sale results.

"It was beyond our expectations," he said.

Mr Harvey said the stud prides itself on producing structurally sound, well-muscled, easy-care paddock-reared rams with high growth rates.

The sale was run by PPHS with Jono Spence, Josh Manser and Jack Guy sharing auctioneering duties.

Mr Spence said it was a great result to have such a large and quality yarding on offer in the one sale.

"To have 380 sheep in the shed is something we've never attempted before," he said.

Mr Spence said there was plenty of confidence in the industry.

"It's a wonderful time, with a wonderful season, and wonderful prices for our livestock," he said.