The Goroke-based Hausler family’s Janmac Poll Dorset White Suffolk Stud achieved a record high price when it sold a Poll Dorset ram at its most recent sale for $13,000.

Janmac co-principal Grant Hausler said the ram would be going over a Poll Dorset ewe flock, having sold to a large commercial operation – Charles Koch of Tallageira Pastoral Co from Frances, South Australia – that bred its own rams.

“There was quite a bit of interest in the ram from a few parties, he was just a great carcass sheep, with wonderful loin and hindquarter and a really good Dorset type,” he said.

“It was also a well-boned, correct ram – one of the most complete rams we’ve bred.”

The ram was a twin by Ulandi Park 210217, weighing 136 kilograms with an eye muscle depth of 52 millimetres and 10 millimetres of fat.

It also had an impressive post-weaning weight ASBV figure of 15.84, the highest in the catalogue.

The sale saw solid clearance across both breeds of the 144 Poll Dorsets offered, 136 sold to average $1549 – nearly $300 more than the previous sale.

The stud also offered 36 white Suffolk rams, selling 34 at auction for an average of $1260 and to a top price of $2300 for lot 157 – a twin ram weighing 118 kilograms with a Lambplan total carcass production index of 141, picked up by Craig Hole and family from KP Farms at Naracoorte.

The Hole family of KP Farms picked up 11 rams total averaging $1718.

Mr Hausler said Janmac was pleased to welcome six new clients, all of whom found the rams they were looking for, as well as a good number of volume buyers.

“We had 43 registered bidders, with nine clients who purchased more than seven rams, and four who took more than 10, so it was a great spread of buyers,” he said.

One of the new clients was also a volume buyer, with the Martin family of Horsham buying seven rams for a great value average of $857, while the West family of Westwood at Edenhope purchased 13 rams for an average of $1500, paying to $2200 three times.

The Robinson family of Edenhope bought 11 rams for an average of $1218 and top of $1400, and long-time buyers the Rich family of Goroke paid to $1300 and averaged $1127.

Mr Hausler said after a tough 12 months of poor lamb prices and below average seasons, they were very happy with the sale result.

“It was a year that those sheep that were visually appealing sold really well. We pride ourselves on those type of sheep and they sold accordingly – we made a big effort in a difficult year to make sure they were up to their usual standard, and the group was as good as they’ve been,” he said. “And the most positive thing was that the people who attended were prepared to invest in the future and look forward to the coming years with confidence – and I am positive the next few years will see great results.

“We’ve a reliable clientele who don’t chop and change with trends and prices, they do what they’ve always done and what has always worked for them, which has included our genetics.”

The Hausler family boosted their own sire battery prior to the sale, purchasing Mallee Park 230255 privately from Hopetoun’s Ferguson family. 

He was the grand champion Poll Dorset ram at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show, by Pepperton 210136.

“We were lucky enough to secure the ram from Mallee Park, as well as another Kurralea sire for our stud this year – we continue to invest in genetics that can hold our positions and move us forward,” Mr Hausler said.

People can visit www.janmac.com.au or Janmac’s Facebook page for more information.

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The entire October, 30, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!