Shirlee Downs Prime SAMM tops multi-breed sale at $2300

A Quairading-bred Prime SAMM ram topped the Squiers family’s annual Shirlee Downs and Dongadilling Poll Dorset, SAMM and White Suffolk Ram Sale that presented a quality line-up of meat sheep breeds. The sale, conducted by Elders in conjunction with Nutrien Livestock on September 13, offered 83 White Suffolk rams, 36 Prime SAMM rams, 84 Shirlee Downs Poll rams and 39 Dongadilling Poll Dorset rams. White Suffolk The catalogue of 83 Shirlee Downs White Suffok rams sold to a top of $2000 and average price of $1070 for the 80 that sold on the fall of the hammer. The equal $2000 top-priced rams both sold to Hyden-based Stockdale Enterprises principals Chris and Sheryl James, who have been loyal repeat buyers for 13 years. “We selected for good balanced LambPlan figures, including growth rates and eye muscle depth,” Mr James said. “The White Suffolk rams run over Nepowie blood Poll Merino ewes in our crossbreeding program of about 1000 breeders.” The couple’s first top-pick, offered as lot 5, was Shirlee Downs 318, that carried LambPlan figures of 0.45 PWT, 10.1 WWT, 15.8 PWWT, -0.3 PFAT. 2.2 PEMD, and a Lamb Eating Quality index of 137.3. Their other equal sale topper, SD 291 TW had similar LambPlan figures, including a boost in the LEQ index at 141.6. In total, Mr James secured three rams for an average price of $1966, while he anticipated filling the balance of his livestock trailer with Poll Dorset rams. The volume White Suffolk ram buyer was Tammin-based account BM Stokes, securing a total of 15 rams to a top of $1400 and average price of $1003. Also making an impact was Tenterden-based account Watterson Estate that secured six rams to a top of $1900 and average price of $1483. Prime SAMM The catalgoue of 36 Prime SAMM rams sold to a top of $2300 and average price of $1054. The sale topper, Shirlee Downs 945, was secured by repeat buyer David Cornish of Wandering, who bought a total of four rams for an average price of $1750. “We run a pure Prime SAMM flock of 1000 self-replacing breeder,” he said. “They finish with just the right fat content as lambs and keep their lambs tooth for up to 14 months.” Mr Cornish said Prime SAMMs were a very hardy breed and could “eat anything”. “We feedlot finish lambs at about 50kg that dress at 22kg,” he said. His 21 micron top-pick SD 945 recored Lambplan figures of 0.44 BWT, 3.4 WWT, 4.6 PWWT, 0.0 PFAT, and of 1.0 PEMD. There was a good spread of buyers on the Prime SAMM rams, including Brookton account Glenwal that secured five rams to a top of $2100 and average price of $1500. Shirlee Downs Poll Dorset The Shirlee Downs Poll Dorset catalogue offered 84 rams, with 69 sold to a top of $2200 and average price of $1201. The sale topper, SD 52 was secured by Mr James, who loaded up five rams for an average price of $1940, with room left for a few Dongadilling PD rams. Mr James’ top-pick recorded LambPlan figures of 0.23 BWT, 9.4 WWT, 15.4 PWWT, 0.1 PFAT, 2.7 PEMD, and a LEQ of 146.5. Taking four SD Poll Dorset rams off the top-order was Tenterden-based Waterson Estate that bought to a top of $1800 and average price of $1375. Also favouring the SD rams was Boyup Brook-based Yarrabin Enterprises account that secured eight rams to a top of $2100 and average price of $1137. Volume buyer of Poll Dorset rams in both the SD and Dongadilling catalogues was Williams-based Lynford Farms Merino sheep manager David Whitting who secured 11 SD rams and six Dongadilling rams for a total of 17 to a top of $1250 and average price of $991. Mr Whitting said Lynford Farms had increased joining numbers to about 10,000 breeders with lambs finished in the feedlot at about 55kg. Dongadilling Poll Dorset The Dongadilling PD catalogue offered 39 and sold 30 rams to a top of $1900 and average price of $1055/head. The equal $1900 sale toppers both sold to Lake Grace-based account GA & LD Marshall, that also secured another ram for $1300 and three Shirlee Downs PD for an average price of $1416. The sale toppers had very equal LambPlan figures with Dongadilling 2 recording a 0.57 BWT, 9.5 WWT, 15 PWWT, -0.3 PFAT, 3.0 PEMD and a LEQ index of 141.3.