RYEVIEW’S tenth annual on-property ram sale results blew all the Millicent stud’s previous averages out of the water.
Michael and Julie Osborne recently held their most successful ram sale to date, conducted by Elders Millicent.
Clearing 95 from 98 rams across three breeds, 20 registered buyers gathered to form the largest gallery yet at a Ryeview sale and provided very solid bidding all the way through the catalogue.
The 79 White Suffolks sold to a top of $1400 nine times for an average of $1018, pushing the average out to $1018, almost $300 more than the 2016 average.
For as long as the on-property sale has been held, the Osborne family has donated the proceeds of a selected ram to the Millicent Cancer Support Group.
Lot two was this year’s selection and the first to sell as the pick of the pen, to J.C. and P.A. Smith, at $1400.
The ram sired by Burwood 110629 was one of two purchased by the Smith family, each at $1400 through PPHS Naracoorte,
They will mate with first cross ewe lambs on their Poolajelo property.
Long-time clients M.T.and J.P. Ridge through Elders, Mount Gambier, bought nine rams, paying from $1100 to $1400 to average $1211, the Smith family of Mount Muirhead paid from $900 to $1400 for 17 rams to average $1124 through Elders Millicent, Quentin Ridge, through Ray White Keatley Livestock, Mount Gambier bought a selection of seven rams from $900 to $1200 to average $1057 and David de Courcy-Ireland of Mount McIntyre bought seven rams from $700 to $1400 for an average of $1200 through Elders Millicent.
Famazos Pastoral of Murrabinna Station at Kingston bought 12 rams from $600 to $700, to average $641, through Elders Millicent.
Five Suffolk rams from eight offered sold to a top of $900 to average $640, with G. and R.E. Low paying the top money through Elders Millicent for Lot 85 and A.E. Oppermann of Millicent purchased two rams at $600 through Landmark Millicent.
The stud offered a first-time selection of eleven Border Leicester flock rams with good growth and width, selling to a top of $1500 to P.D. and E.T. Scanlon, who bought a second ram at $1400 for an average of $1450 through John Chay & Co.
The remaining nine rams were snapped up by Kirkland Pastoral, Bray, through Elders Millicent at $1400 apiece.
Elders Millicent agent David Little said this was a “terrific sale” and was by far the best held at Ryeview.
“The Osbornes have been in the sheep breeding game for around 30 years and the increase in quality of White Suffolks over the last three years has been excellent,” Mr Little said.
“They have invested in several new sires over that time and those selected traits are just starting to come through now.
“The stud’s reputation is growing, with the biggest turnout ever and increased interest from buyers around the Upper South East, Naracoorte and local areas.”
Stud principal Julie Osborne said she felt overwhelmed at the success of their 2017 sale, with almost every animal selling and prices above expectations.
“It was the best result in the 10 years of the Ryeview on-property sale, making all the hard work worth it,” Ms Osborne said.
