Bellbrae stud secures top-priced Chandpara Southdown ram at 2026 auction

The top-priced Southdown ram at Chandpara, Tylden, has gone to a Bellbrae stud and commercial prime lamb operation.

Lot 2, Chandpara 183, was bought by Peter and Sheree Seiffert, Sherwood Park Southdowns, Bellbrae, for $5000 on Wednesday.

At its 27th annual sale, Chandpara sold 22 of the 38 Southdowns offered for an average price of $1772.

Chandpara sold eight of 13 White Suffolk rams to a top of $2200, for Lot 44, averaging $1525.

The top-priced Southdown was a May 2025-drop ram with a birthweight of 0.7 kilograms, a post-weaning weight of 15.35kg, a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 1.19 millimetres and a post-weaning fat measurement of -0.62mm.

His terminal carcase production index was 135 and he had an eating quality of 130.19.

He was ranked at number three on Lamplan TCP figures for a 2025-drop ram.

The ram was sired by Chandpara 230124 out of Chandpara 220022.

"I just found he was really stylish," Ms Seiffert said.

"He stood up well against the others, he's got a nice butt shape to him and he was of a quiet temperament, which is what we are after."

Ms Seiffert said he would be used at the Sherwood Park Southdown stud.

"He was the pick and he stood out as soon as I walked through the lineup."

Sherwood Park has 55 purebred Southdown ewes, selling about 20 flock rams a year.

Ms Seiffert said the couple also produced crossbred fat lambs from a 70-strong crossbred ewe flock.

Ms Seiffert said it was the only ram Sherwood Park bought this season.

"I have had a Chandpara ram previously and we are extremely happy with the lambs we have got on the ground," she said.

"It was time to buy another stud ram as we have only just got rid of one in the last couple of weeks.

"He was getting a bit old."

Chandpara stud principal Andrew Sellars-Jones said the sale went "as expected".

"We know the prime lamb industry is experiencing a boom, like never before, and people are recognising the Southdown produces a very even line of fast-maturing, easy-birth lambs that are really sought after by processors and butchers," Mr Sellars-Jones said.

He said he had used Lot 2 at Chandpara and the ram had lambs on the ground.

"Not only is he very fertile, but he is a proven breeder and has quality lambs on the ground," Mr Sellars-Jones said.

"I will probably use some of that lineage in the future, because he is such a good sheep."