Locally-bred White Dorper rams are continuing to prove a popular choice, even in drought-affected conditions, judging by the results of the Etiwanda Ram Sale last Thursday.
Etiwanda’s Andrew Mosely told The Cobar Weekly he was pleased with the results of the sale given conditions over the past two years, with almost 90 per cent clearance and an average price of $1,350 paid for the rams.
The top priced ram sold for $5,600 to a South Australian bidder on AuctionsPlus with top end rams also sold to buyers in Victoria and Queensland.
Mr Mosely said numbers were down due
to the drought, with Etiwanda back to about
50 per cent of what they would normally
run.
“There are less ewe numbers around which leaves less demand for rams and obviously people are still feeding and trying to tick over so most of their spare cash is going into that rather than genetic upgrades,” he said.
This year a higher than average number of Etiwanda rams were sold locally.
Landmark Russell’s livestock agent Luke Scales said Etiwanda’s strong reputation was a factor in the results.
“There’s a big demand for short haired White Dorpers in northern Queensland,” he said.
Mr Mosely said preparations for the sale started months ago.
“We started presenting them and feeding them about eight weeks ago to present them in a heavier condition, a better condition than we have in previous years.
“People are starting to see what they can really do and they are happy with what the rams look like.
“I’m getting some really good feedback in terms of what lambs we are producing,” Mr Mosely said.
He said while it can take a while for buyers to see the benefits of the breed, the reputation of the breed is starting to “snowball”.
“People are starting to see some results.
“It takes a while for people to try different blood lines and see what works in their own program,” he said.
Mr Mosely said recent rain in the area has added to the more positive attitudes of buyers.
“Lamb prices are fantastic.
“There is more optimism but people haven’t got the ewe numbers they had say three years ago and cash flow because people have been feeding.”
The Etiwanda on-property sale has proven to be a successful undertaking for the Mosely family for a number of years, which they attribute to being able to show the rams in their authentic state.
“We can run them all together, we can run one big group and buyers can look at them all together.
“If we were taking them somewhere else there would be different feeding regime. It suits us and having the on-property sale and gives people the chance to see them,” Mr Mosely said.
