Elders Lucindale agent Scott Christie, Aaron Clothier, Woolumbool Studs, Woolumbool, and Gordon Wood, Nutrien Ag Solutions, with buyers Barrie Gale and Emma McKay, Fingerpost White Suffolks, Monarto South, holding the top-priced White Suffolk ram. Picture supplied
A spirited gallery of bidders resulted in a strong ram sale for the Clothier family's Woolumbool stud at their 38th annual on-property ram sale held at Woolumbool, near Lucindale, last week.
Across three breeds, 188 rams sold of the 200 offered.
In the White Suffolks, 91 of 94 sold for a $1719 average, to a sale high of $3000.
Poll Dorsets sold to $2400, averaging $1758, with 77 of 78 rams selling, while 20 of 28 Multi-Meats sold to $2000, averaging $1447.
After an opening bid of $2000, the Lot 139 ram, Woolumbool 254383, which was midway through the second draft of White Suffolks, hit the top price of $3000 and will go on to be used as a stud ram.
Buyer Barrie Gale, Fingerpost White Suffolks, Monarto South, was attracted to the balance of figures accompanying the ram, particularly being in the top 1pc on the Lamb Eating Quality index at 175.3.
Livestock agents Malcolm Graetz, Nutrien Lucindale, and Scott Christie, Elders Lucindale, were on hand, with Mr Christie saying the quality of rams across the sale was a tribute to the Clothier family with the catalogue "lit up" with top performers across multiple traits.
"The majority of the lots were showing some outstanding figures, with the top price ram at Lot 139 in the top 5 per cent for post weaning weight at 20.4 and top 1pc for the breed overall," he said.
Nineteen White Suffolk rams were picked up by volume buyer Longbottom Partners, Robe, with GW&CL Clothier & Sons, Lucindale, purchasing 14.
RL Hancock & Sons, Kingston SE, paid the sale high for the Poll Dorsets, with Lot 16 boasting exceptional figures for eating quality and carcase production.
The volume Poll Dorset buyers were Struan Farming who purchased 15 rams, while AK&JE Terry, Lochaber, secured 12 rams.
Multi-Meats averaged $1447, hitting a top of $2000 paid by Eura-Carla, Padthaway, with Woomera Homestead, Furner, picking up four as the breed's volume buyer.
The White Suffolk offering featured elite parasite resistance, high growth and market-leading eating quality, while the Poll Dorset lots offered buyers rapid growth, eye muscle depth, and eating quality.
Bred for dual-purpose and maternal performance, the Multi-Meats showed solid data for high-growth, parasite resistance, and finer wool performance.
Woolumbool stud principal Aaron Clothier said he was pleased with the sale results overall.
"We were able to fill buyers' orders on the day and nobody walked away empty-handed, which continues to give us confidence that we are breeding the right rams for the commercial buyer," he said.
The recent sale comes off the back of the stud's 2025 success, which saw 198 of 205 White Suffolk, Poll Dorset and Multi-Meat rams average an impressive $1651.
Nutrien and Elders conducted the sale, with Gordon Wood and Tony Wetherall sharing auctioneering duties.
Story courtesy of The Stock Journal.
https://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/9364255/woolumbool-ram-sale-hits-3000-high-with-94pc-clearance/