The Cliffs shedding sheep sale tops $3800 at Boomey for a $1805 average
Summary
Rams putting hybrid vigour back into shedding breeds proved popular with repeat and new clients at The Cliffs Shedding Sheep Stud on-property sale at Boomey on Wednesday, October 14.
The sale offered 44 Sheepmaster and Australian White composites, with 43 selling during the auction to a top of $3800 at a $1805 average and the final lot selling shortly after. There were also 10 Australian White rams, of which five sold to an equal $3800 top, averaging $2120. The sale concluded with a run of Sheepmaster ewes, the 30 January to April-drops at 45.5 kilograms topping at $350 and averaging $340, while the 20 October to January-drops at 54.45 kilograms topped at $410 and averaged $405.
The first of the $3800 top-priced rams was tag 25503, a 106 kilogram April 2025-drop Sheepmaster composite sired by The Cliffs 22101 Cliffmaster out of an Australian White ewe. He carried a 41 millimetre muscle depth and 8 millimetres of fat.
The second $3800 ram was tag 25070, a 111 kilogram twin-born April 2025-drop Australian White sired by The Cliffs 23366, with a 45.5 millimetre muscle depth and 8.5 millimetres of fat.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
|
Composites sold, top, average |
43 of 44 to $3800 at $1805 |
| Australian Whites sold, top, average |
5 of 10 to $3800 at $2120 |
| Younger ewes top, average | 30 head to $350 at $340 |
| Older ewes top, average |
20 head to $410 at $405 |
| Charity lot price | $2500 |
| Largest ram draft, average |
8 rams at $2450 |
| Top composite muscle depth |
41 millimetres |
|
Top Australian White muscle depth |
45.5 millimetres |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did The Cliffs sale top at?
Two rams shared the $3800 top, one a Sheepmaster composite and one an Australian White. The composites averaged $1805 from 43 of 44 sold, with the final lot selling shortly after. The Australian Whites averaged $2120 from five of 10 sold.
Who bought the top-priced composite?
Arakoom, Molong, secured tag 25503 as their sole purchase, bidding through an agent. The 106 kilogram April 2025-drop ram is sired by The Cliffs 22101 Cliffmaster out of an Australian White ewe, with a 41 millimetre muscle depth and 8 millimetres of fat. The agent said the buyers wanted a really good shedder and that this was a very clean ram with good weight and figures.
Who bought the top-priced Australian White?
Tepa Pty Ltd, Guyra, took tag 25070 among eight rams averaging $2450, the only Australian White in their draft. The 111 kilogram twin-born ram is sired by The Cliffs 23366, with a 45.5 millimetre muscle depth and 8.5 millimetres of fat.
What was that buyer looking for?
The buyer said he wanted anything that was a good shedder regardless of breed, seeking ease of management and noting clean shedders avoid fly problems. He also wanted good fertility and growth to hit target weights sooner. The business runs a couple of thousand ewes and also operates hotels and a butchery it is working towards supplying from its own pastoral operation.
What did the ewes make?
The 30 January to April-drop Sheepmaster ewes at 45.5 kilograms topped at $350 and averaged $340. The 20 October to January-drops at 54.45 kilograms topped at $410 and averaged $405.
What was the charity lot?
Lot 1, tag 25512, a 100 kilogram ram with 44 millimetre muscle and 6.5 millimetres of fat, had its proceeds donated to Beyond Blue. It made $2500 to a Yass River buyer. The stud has designated the first ram of the sale as a charity lot for the past five years and estimates it has directed more than $12,000 to the organisation.
Who were the volume buyers?
Tepa Pty Ltd took eight rams at a $2450 average. A Moondyne buyer selected six to $1800 at a $1250 average, a Densley buyer four at a $1375 average to a $1800 top, and Walla Wallah Pty Ltd three to $2600 at a $1700 average along with a run of 15 ewes at $330.
Why are buyers chasing shedding sheep?
The studmaster said the Sheepmaster composites were the sale's standout, increasingly so, with buyers chasing good bodies and shedding traits that the Sheepmaster and Australian White blend produces. He described it as putting hybrid vigour into shedding sheep. The stud will keep Australian White ewes as its base while building carcase through other bloodlines.
