Imogen O’Brien and Daniel Hooper with their Charollais ram which won Champion Ram at Sheepvention and then sold for $3000 at their stud ram sale on Wednesday, September 25.
The Benalla Showgrounds played first-time host to a popular annual ram sale on Wednesday, September 25.
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Vortex White Suffolk and Charollais stud principal Daniel Hooper said their first use of the sheep pavilion at the showgrounds had been a success and that despite a hard winter, things were improving for the current market.
“Our rams are really young; they still have their lambs’ teeth, so they have done really well to get up for such an early sale,” Mr Hooper said.
“It was a tough season last year with the market crash, however things are really looking up for the prime lamb job; those factors that caused the crash are not in play for this season, so it will be nice for everyone to get back on track.”
Ninety of the 125 rams put up for sale sold at an average of $1156, with it appearing there were not enough buyers to bid for the remainder.
“There were also a number of good volume buyers who could not make the sale, so we will trade privately on the rest of them,” Mr Hooper said.
The average price for the White Suffolk and Charollais rams averaged $1120 and $1182, respectively.
Buyers came from as far as Finley, Ararat and Seaspray.
The top price of $3000 went to a Charollais that won Champion Ram at Sheepvention in August.
It was purchased by Jeremy Mackay of Poplar Park Charollais Stud.
“He’s a cracking good ram,” Mr Hooper said.
“He is as good a Charollais as I have seen; he’s structurally sound and packed with meat in the loin and hind quarters.
James Ridgeway of Avenel purchased two of three White Suffolks that reached $1500, with the third going to TL & SA Evans of Tatong.
There was a solid number of volume buyers at the sale, with Bruce Stewart of Baynton purchasing nine and TL & SA Evans, James Ridgeway and Neville Reilly of Thoona buying eight each.
Mr Hooper and partner Imogen O’Brien worked with Margaret Corby from Rodwells in Benalla to prepare the pavilion for the sale.
“It was really successful having the sale there and we are thinking of making it a permanent thing.”
The sheep pavilion at the Benalla Showgrounds played host to Vortex White Suffolk and Charollais annual sale.
Photo by
Imogen O'Brien
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