Taljar Polwarth ram sale tops $2400 at Parndana for a $963 average
Summary
Repeat clients on the island and the mainland were seeking high-quality dual-purpose rams at the Taljar Polwarths ram sale at Parndana, Kangaroo Island, on Wednesday, October 14. The stud sold 30 of the 33 rams offered for a 91 per cent clearance, with a top of $2400 and an average of $963.
The stud principal said every ram went to a repeat client, most in South Australia and one in Western Australia, and that he was very happy to see everybody get the rams they wanted. He said a lot of clients look at the size and depth of the animal, want quick growth rates and low worm counts, and that some are very focused on the wool side as well.
A Yankalilla buyer took the top-priced ram at lot 5, describing him as a very well put together ram with a very good body and a really nice fleece, and a real dual-purpose animal of the type he is trying to breed. He runs about 600 Polwarth ewes and almost 900 first-cross ewes, joining about 250 of the Polwarths to Polwarth rams and the remainder to Border Leicester rams.
Lot 11 sold for $1400 to Bates Holdings at Penneshaw.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Rams offered, sold | 33 offered, 30 sold |
| Clearance rate | 91 per cent |
| Sale average | $963 |
| Top price | $2400 |
| Second notable price | $1400 |
| Volume buyer draft | 13 rams |
| Buyers | All repeat clients |
| States supplied | South Australia and Western Australia |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Taljar Polwarth ram sale top at?
The sale topped at $2400 for lot 5. The stud sold 30 of the 33 rams offered for a 91 per cent clearance at a $963 average. Lot 11 made the next notable price at $1400.
Who bought the top-priced ram?
A Yankalilla buyer secured lot 5. He described him as a very well put together ram with a very good body and a really nice fleece, and a real dual-purpose animal of the type he is trying to breed. He is the second generation in his family to breed Polwarth sheep.
What is that buyer running?
He 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.
How do Polwarths handle wet country?
The top-priced ram's buyer said he was very happy with the breed partly because his country is reasonably wet, at around 28 to 30 inches or 711 to 762 millimetres of rainfall. He said the sheep certainly cope with the wet weather, alongside their dual-purpose qualities.
Who was the volume buyer?
Repeat clients Yalkuri Pastoral took 13 rams home to Penneshaw, where they run between 1000 and 1100 ewes in a breeding and lamb-finishing operation. Lambs are bred on the island then sent to Meningie for finishing.
How are the rams performing commercially?
The volume buyer said the rams make quite a good lamb that dresses out really well. He reported being pretty happy with feedback from feedlots and from the Meningie butcher, and said the wool is still as good as a Merino.
What traits are buyers chasing?
The stud principal said many clients look at the size and depth of the animal and want quick growth rates and low worm counts. Some are very focused on the wool side as well, reflecting the dual-purpose nature of the breed.
Who else bought at the sale?
Every ram went to a repeat client, with most staying in South Australia and one heading to Western Australia. A first-time buyer from Wisanger also bought a ram to get started and plans to purchase ewes from the stud later. The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag.
