Englewood Park stud celebrates total clearance of rams after tough 2025
There was a total clearance of more than 120 Poll Dorset and White Suffolk rams at an Inverleigh stud's 49th annual ram sale.
Englewood Park sold 100 Poll Dorset rams to a top of $3500 twice, with an average of $1829, and 21 White Suffolk rams to a top of $2600 and an average of $1795.
Englewood Park stud principal Geoff Oliver said he was thrilled with the result after a very tough 2025.
"It was an excellent sale," Mr Oliver said.
"The prices were well up on both the Poll Dorsets and the White Suffolks."
He said both of the top-priced rams, Lot A1 and Lot A6, were picked up by repeat buyers.
Lot A1 was a son of E.P 29-22(T) and out of A.P 138-18.
The ram weighed 130 kilograms and recorded a fat score of 8 and eye muscle area (EMA) of 50.88 square centimetres.
Lot A6 was a son of A.P. 183-18 and out of E.P. 362-22 (T).
The ram weighed 125kg and a recorded a fat score of 8 and EMA of 48.29sqcm.
Michael Holmes, Carnoah Pastoral, Inverleigh, paid $3500 for Lot A1 and $3000 for Lot A2.
Mr Holmes has bought Poll Dorset rams from Englewood Park for about 20 years.
He said Lot A1 stood out because of his frame and length.
"He had good EMA numbers, as well as good stretch in his body," he said.
"The quality is always there with Englewood Park."
Warwick Doolan, Finley, NSW, picked up the other top-priced Poll Dorset, Lot A6.
Mr Oliver said this season was better than last year thanks to 66 millimetres of rain several weeks ago.
"It was tight enough all along until a fortnight ago," he said.
He said he had experienced three or four years of below-average rainfall on his property.
"The rain a fortnight ago has just pushed us over half our annual rainfall," he said.
Mr Oliver said he believed Poll Dorset rams were the best prime lamb that could be used over a first-cross ewe.
He said the stud focused on consistency and rams with "plenty of meat on them".
HR Richardson livestock agent James Haddrick, Ballarat, said the sale result was outstanding.
"The rams presented beautifully and they sold accordingly," Mr Haddrick said.
He said there was an increase in buyer confidence this year.
"Everything is going pretty well at the moment," he said.
"We had a lot of familiar faces there and a few new ones, which probably boosted the overall result."
Mr Haddrick said years of breeding made the Englewood Park rams stand out.
BR&C Agents, Swan Hill, bought 18 Poll Dorset rams and seven White Suffolk rams for a client at the sale.
