Nedelle Downs ram sale achieves full clearance for third consecutive year

Nedelle Downs notched a hat-trick of complete clearances, with both Southdown and White Suffolk rams cracking a $2000-plus average for the third straight year.

The Hawkesdale stud sold its complete draft of 82 Southdown and 16 White Suffolk rams on offer with a $2632 and $2443 average across the line up, respectively.

The Southdowns reached a peak of $4200 and the highest price White Suffolk rams was $3500 twice.

Nedelle Downs stud principal Ned Nagorcka was pleased with the momentum as the stud develops its all-round genetics to promote early growth in sheep suitable for commercial environments.

"I was happy that there were repeat buyers ... it was a particularly strong sale on a good average," he said.

"We want them finished early so people can sell them early if they choose to.

"We want them fat from day one ... and then just build on that."

The top-priced Southdown, Lot 3, Nedelle 250146, sold to one of the oldest Southdown studs in Australia, Kirkdale Southdowns, Evandale, TAS.

The August-drop ram displayed strong growth with a 7.75-kilogram weaning weight, 11.32 post weaning weight, a 0.14 millimetre post-weaning fat depth and a 2.4 millimetre post-weaning eye muscle depth.

Kirkdale have exchanged rams with Nedelle for many years, with the Tasmanian producer seeking out the best ram this year for its own joining program.

"They have a similar style of sheep to mine, they work well together, I bought a ram off (Mr Nagorcka) a couple of years ago and produced some of the best lambs I have ever had," Kirkdale Southdowns stud principal Andrew Hogarth said.

"He is the most correct ram and his Lambplan figures were as good as any in the catalogue, just a genuine, true-to-type Southdown."

Lot 91, Nedelle 253062, and Lot 92, Nedelle 253037, were the top-priced White Suffolk rams, both selling to Simon Cousins, Willatook.

The August-drop rams each had strong Australian Sheep Breeding Values with a post-weaning weight of 15.14kg for Lot 91 and 15.28kg for Lot 92.

Robert Morrison, Tarra Park Partnership, Caramut, bought three rams at the sale to join to his 1200 head Southdown ewe flock, among his flock of 5800 sheep that includes White Suffolks and Dorsets.

Mr Morrison has purchased three to four rams at Nedelle over the past few years.