Repeat buyers seek dual-purpose performance at Taljar Polwarths ram sale

Repeat clients on the island and mainland were seeking high-quality dual-purpose rams at the Taljar Polwarths ram sale at Parndana, Kangaroo Island on Wednesday, October 14.

The McArdle family sold 30 of 33 rams offered for a clearance of 91 per cent, with a top of $2400 and an average of $963.

Jared McArdle said every ram went to a repeat client, with most in South Australia and one in Western Australia.

"We were very happy to see everybody get the rams they wanted," Mr McArdle said.

"A lot of our clients look at the size and depth of the animal, and they're looking for quick growth rates and low worm counts, and some are very focused on the wool side as well."

Ken Bond from Yankalilla took home the top-priced ram at lot 5.

"Lot 5 was a very well put together ram - he had a very good body, and really nice fleece," Mr Bond said.

"He's a real dual-purpose animal, which is what I'm trying to breed over here."

Mr Bond runs about 600 Polwarth ewes, and almost 900 first-cross ewes.

About 250 of the Polwarth ewes are joined to Polwarth rams, with the remainder joined to Border Leicester rams to breed the first-cross ewes.

Mr Bond is the second generation in his family to breed Polwarth sheep.

"We very happy with them, because they're dual-purpose, but we're also in a reasonably wet area, around 28 to 30 inch (711.2 mm to 762mm) rainfall, and they certainly cope with the wet weather."

Lot 11 sold for $1400 to Bates Holdings at Penneshaw.

The sale's volume buyers were repeat clients Lachie, Henry and Declan Harvey, Yalkuri Pastoral, who run a breeding and lamb-finishing operation.

The Harveys took 13 rams home to Penneshaw, where they run between 1000 and 1100 ewes.

Lambs are bred on the island, then sent to Meningie for finishing.

"The Taljar rams make quite a good lamb, and dress out really well," Lachie Harvey said.

"We've been pretty happy with feedback from feedlots, and the Meningie butcher has been pretty happy with them. And the wool is still as good as a Merino."

Among the buyers at Taljar was 11-year-old Ben Bott, from Wisanger.

"He's bought his first ram to get started, and he's going to purchase a few ewes off us later," Mr McArdle said.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag, with Paul Bott auctioneering.