Quality, dual-purpose rams in demand in Kardinia Dohnes

The Land By Hannah Powe

The $3600 equal top-priced ram, Kardinia 231038, with buyers Colin and Daniel Withers, Cawarra Pastoral Pty Ltd, Mulwala, and vendor Don Mills, Kardinia Dohnes, Corowa. Picture supplied by Rex Bennett, Elders Wangaratta, Vic.

Buyers chasing quality helped drive the average and top price up by more than $400 at the 19th annual Kardinia Dohne ram sale held at Corowa last Thursday.

Vendor Don Mills said they were happy to see rams sold to a wide spread to producers throughout north eastern Victoria, the south eastern Riverina, South West Slopes and Tablelands, and further afield to Tasmania.

“I think that people were probably looking for quality – instead of purchasing four to five rams, they bought two to three and focused on quality and top end sheep,” he said.

“Also, most people – even though the wool job is going through the doldrums – are long-term sheep breeders so they have a long-term view of the entire business.

“In particular, genuine dual purpose sheep are still what people are looking for – sheep that are good high performing Merino types, with meat and wool attributes.”

Overall, 37 of 50 rams sold resulting in a 74 per cent clearance, $3600 top, twice, and $2013 average. This was up from a $3200 top and $1612 average last year.

The first ram to hit the $3600 mark was Kardinia 231038, purchased by repeat buyers Colin and Daniel Withers of Cawarra Pastoral Pty Ltd, Mulwala, as part of their draft of four rams.

Sired by KD190013, who is a triplet son of a ram that had performed well at the AMSEA Coonong Dohne Trial, the equal high-seller ranked in the top 30pc of the breed for postweaning weight and fleece weight, and top 10pc for eye muscle depth and fat depth.

Mr Mills described him as a high performing, balanced sheep carrying both meat and wool traits.

The other $3600 top-priced ram was Kardinia 230738 purchased by repeat buyer Richard Johnstone, Esk Farm, Longford, Tas, operating through AuctionsPlus.

Also by KD190013, he was also ranked in the top 30pc for fleece weight and postweaning weight.

“He had a particularly nice soft, nourished wool that would suit the Tasmania climate,” Mr Mills said.

In total six rams were knocked down to online buyers, including five to a volume buyer at Anakie near Geelong, Vic.

Other volume buyers were Hopewood Pastoral Company, Jugiong, which is a long-standing repeat client of 15 years that took home six rams this year.

The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien with auctioneers Peter Godbolt, Nutrien stud stock, Albury, and Harry Cozens, Elders Albury, sharing the duties on the rostrum.