Wrattenbullie Poll Dorset stud lifts numbers, still posts strong average

Despite offering a few more rams this year, Wrattenbullie stud still notched up a modest rise in average and one of the best averages of the SA Poll Dorset studs this selling season.

After a couple of very strong sales, Brad and Alana Davies lifted their offering for the sale at the Naracoorte Showgrounds to 138 flock rams to ensure there were still rams for all budgets.

It had the desired result, with plenty of lots in the final 50 making $1200 to $1600 and buyers still paying $2200 to $2800 for the top picks in the flock rams.

All up, 147 stud and flock rams averaged $2114.

In comparison, last year 134 rams topped at $11,000 and averaged $1908.

When broken down the 138 flock rams averaged a credible $2040.

Some of the day's biggest bargains were the stud rams with these nine averaging $3244 and selling to three states.

The stud ram sale high was $5000.

Alistair, Jess and Shannon Sutherland, Konongwootong stud, near Coleraine, Vic, paid the top money for Lot 3, Wrattenbullie 250458, a standout ram with plenty of sire appeal.

Last month, Alistair judged the Poll Dorsets at the Royal Adelaide Show and put the Wrattenbullie ram up as his reserve senior champion.

He said the ram, which was also the reserve intermediate champion at the Australasian Dorset Championships in Bendigo, was one of a few they had picked out in the stud catalogue.

"Our son Shannon is running the stud and it was his preference so we went with that one," he said.

"He has a good honest balance of figures, he has plenty of meat on him and had a good physical scan in Adelaide and he was pretty correct on his feet and legs."

The June 2025-drop was a son of Morton 230091. It will go into the Konongwootong stud comprising about 500 ewes.

Another 230091 son, Lot 2 made the $4200 second highest price and sold to the Geue family, Vanita stud, Kingston. It was one half of Wrattenbullie's second placed pair of rams from Adelaide.

Mr Sutherland also bought two other rams - Lots 1 and 6 - for the Squiers family, Shirlee Downs, Quairiding, WA, at $3000 and $3200.

Ringside among the 40 registered bidders were many long-time clients who are turning off heavy lambs at a young age with plenty of carcase.

Fry Family Farms, Frances, bought 12 rams, averaging $2017, while Morundah, Bool Lagoon, secured 10 rams, averaging $2160.

PPHS's Robin Steen put together 11 rams for a $1773 average for Bronzehaven.

Brad Davies said it was a good day and was pleased no one missed out on rams this year.

"You don't want to lose clients to an extent, everyone has a different price range so you want to try and meet everyone's needs," he said.

He said there was strong demand for Poll Dorset sires.

"People are starting to put Dorsets over composites and finishing a few more lambs. You are never going to finish a lamb better than with the Dorset cross in them," he said.

Southern Australian Livestock auctioneer Mat MacDonald - who shared the auctioneering duties with Josh Manser from PPHS - noted the stud rams were very good buying.

"I thought we may have seen more bidding on the stud rams given Brad's recent show success and the power and growth in the rams," he said.

Mr MacDonald also didn't think the flock rams were "over the top" with the $2800 high seen at many other terminal sire sales this year.

"I thought for the quality of sheep it was pretty good buying," he said.