Paxton stud defies seasonal challenges with lift in averages – Ram Sale 2024

Stock Journal, September 27 2024 – link to article

Buyers may have been shivering in the stands but bidding soon heated up at Paxton White Suffolk and Poll Dorset stud's seventh annual twilight auction on Wednesday.
The sale high of $2000 paid for both the top Poll Dorset and White Suffolk at the Western Flat sale- mirrored the highs seen in 2023.
The average on both breeds was up on last year’s sale- bucking the likely trend of terminal ram sales this season.

Martin and Kirsty Harvey and their children Will, Zoe and Lilly notched up a total clearance of their 100 White Suffolks with plenty of length for a $1244 average- up $56.
The biggest lift in average- more than $300- came when 77 of the 94 well-grown Poll Dorsets which went through the ring found homes for a $1313 average.

 

Plenty of buyers came armed with similar budgets of $1400-$1800 and found themselves in bidding duels although there were still more than 10 per cent of the catalogue sold at the $800 base price.
Brecon Props, Keith, secured 12 Poll Dorsets to $1600, averaging $1350 for these while ER&SD Shand, Langkoop put together a big order with 11 Poll Dorsets to $1800 and
averaging $1473 for these. The Shands also bought seven White Suffolks to a $1700 high.

The top priced Poll Dorset came at lot 16 for a May 2023 drop which was born a single sold to Binalong, Keith. It was by home bred sire Paxton 20037.
The Mallee was particularly strong on the White Suffolk offering led by Oakalari, Pinnaroo, who secured seven top end rams for a $1714 average.
One of these was the lot 5 highest priced White Suffolk- a late April 2023 drop which was sired by $16,000 ram, Days 21089.
Also heading north to Parilla Premium Potatoes, Parilla, were 14 rams to $1300 for a $1021 average, while DM&JK Muster, Pinnaroo, put together 11 rams to $1500 for a $1064 average.

Another long-time supporter NJ&MJ Watson, Lucindale, bid through the catalogue for their 10 White Suffolks averaging $1400 for them and paying to $1700.
Mr Harvey said he felt like they & dodged a bullet& having such a successful sale and said they were grateful to have such strong support from PPHS and other local agents.
He said passing in a few of their Poll Dorset rams was just a sign of the times with several clients selling mobs of ewes due to the dry season.
It is hard going for everyone at the moment so to clear nearly 80 (Poll Dorset) rams with a healthy average, we are happy with that, he said.

PPHS director Robin Steen said the Harvey family had done an outstanding job presenting the rams in a challenging season, especially in their sandy country
They put a lot of work into it for what they get out of it sometimes but they would be happy with that, he said.
Mr Steen said people were always willing to pay up for the good rams.
They were not necessarily looking for figures but when they had a good structure and good type ram away the bidding would go, he said.
You are getting paid for your lambs carcase more and more and apart from about six weeks last year if you had a 22,23, 24 25 kilogram lamb you were still getting at least $120 whereas a little store lamb was $5-$15.
The sale was conducted by PPHS with auctioneers Josh Manser and Jono Spence.