New buyers drive Yentrac ram sale average up over $200 at Ballarat auction

Fresh buyer demand drove Yentrac Prime Lamb Sires' average up by more than $200 year-on-year, snapping up more than 50 Southdown and Poll Dorset rams at the stud's annual sale.

The Tatura stud sold 58 of 66 rams at the Ballarat Showgrounds on Wednesday, including 37 of 39 Southdowns and 21 of 27 Poll Dorsets.

The Southdowns averaged $1462 with a peak $3500, while the Poll Dorsets averaged $1257 with a top price of $1600.

It was an increase of more than $200 a head increase compared to last year's sale which averaged $1187 and $1054 for the respective breeds.

Lot 2, Yentrac 750/25, and Lot 3, Yentrac 717/25, were the highest-priced Southdowns, purchased for $3500 by two other Southdown studs, including Fernhill Southdowns, Ballan, which bought Lot 3.

The 107-kilogram ram has an eye muscle area (EMA) of 25.83 centimetres squared and was sired by 798/20, a ram purchased from Ashley Park stud, Bairnsdale.

Fernhill Southdowns stud principal Graeme Dehnert, a first-time Yentrac buyer, was seeking a new bloodline to add to his program.

"He suited our style," Mr Dehnert said.

"We are not going for the biggest rams ... I was looking for something a bit shorter, but he still has a bit length in him and a good structure."

The ram will go into Mr Dehnert's stud program which he runs alongside his commercial operation of 800-1000 first-cross ewes and 50 head of Angus cattle.

Lot 2, a 118kg ram with an EMA of 22.10 centimetres squared, was sired by 1040/23 from Fairbanks Prime Lamb Sires, Hagley Tas, and purchased by Finchams Burando Southdowns, Yea.

Finchams Burando Southdowns stud principal Tim Fincham was a return buyer to Yentrac.

"I liked his length and his balance, a beautifully balanced sheep," he said.

Yentrac stud co-principal Katie Shapcott was pleased that the new buyers were some of the highest bidders.

"It was nice to see a couple of rams go back into the stud job," she said.

"It's good to have new and repeat buyers, it's good to know that they've got trust within you."

Lot 42, Yentrac 171/25, was sold for $1600, the highest-priced Poll Dorset ram at the sale.

It had a 32.22cm EMA, a key reason why he bought the ram.

The top volume buyer was Pat McKinnon, Beaufort East, Langi Kal Kal, who purchased 13 Southdown rams to be joined to his 1500-head composite ewe flock.

Returning for his second Yentrac sale, farm owner Pat McKinnon committed fully to restocking with the stud after last year's five rams delivered strong lambing results.

"We were very happy with the lambing ease last year, we had a pretty good drop of lambs and we had to assist in very little births," he said.

"The weight gains we've had since marketing has been tremendous, and also the quality, they look nice and fresh.

"We were looking for good structure and feet, with Southdowns we wanted nice tight skin and good shape."