Melashdan Dorper and White Dorper rams hotly contested

Held on property at Tumby Bay, the sale was buoyed by station buyers active in the barn and through AuctionsPlus, with 40 rams sold through the online service.

The sale made an average of $2203 for its 108 rams, an increase on last year's average of $2056, with the offering down just 10 rams.

A total of 35 Dorpers sold on the day to a top of $4000 for Lot 50 and an average of $2760, while White Dorpers made a top of $3400 for Lot 88 with a total of 73 sold to an average of $1937.

Lot 50 was a June-drop, Type 5, twin-born ram, which sold to Luke Mashford, Katalpa Station, NSW.

It has Australian Sheep Breed Values of 1.14 for post-weaning eye muscle depth, 126.47 for maternal carcase production and weighed 87kg.

Melashdan stud principals Gary and Janice Fiegert said they were pleased with the sale's result.

"We couldn't sell many blacks a few years ago, but the standard and quality has improved a lot and now they're topping the sale," Mrs Fiegert said.

"I think Lot 50 was a standout due to being classed and knowing his structure was perfect and he was just a solid, free moving ram.

"He's gone to the Mashfords in station country and because we believe in paddock running our rams they're all perfectly suited to handle stations."

Also a Type 5 ram, Lot 88 topped the White Dorper offering and had ASBVs in the top 20 percent for PEMD at 2.2 and maternal weaning weight at 2.99 in addition to a top 30pc score for MCP at 141.32.

The ram sold to Mount Isabella Agriculture, Mount Isabella, for $3400.

The August-drop ram's twin, Lot 87, was also a trait leader with scores of 2.97 for PEMD, 2.98 for MWWT and 145.36 for MCP.

It sold to the same buyer for $2200.

"Lot 88 was a special little twin ram out of a maiden ewe," Mrs Fiegert said.

"Through our classing with Wicus (Cronje) we've seen a huge improvement and our maiden ewes are just coming up to the next level.

"There's a little drop through August that just excelled and he's part of that."

Volume buyers on the day included Alladawe Farms, Sea Lake, Vic, who picked up 13 Dorper rams, James McClure, Wilcannia, NSW, with nine White Dorpers and two Dorpers and Little Para, Wentowrth, NSW, with nine White Dorpers.

First time Melashdan buyer Wayne Smith, Karoola Station, Pooncarie, NSW, who runs an eight month lambing rotation between two mobs of ewes, took home six rams at the sale, making the 10 hour trip to inspect the rams after previously keeping an eye on the stud online.

Mr Smith said he purchased both Dorpers and White Dorpers at the sale, with no preference between the two.

"We sell meat, not coloured skins and we've got both white and black ewes at home, so we just run them together," he said.

"I just sort of chase a type with a good head masculine head and just a good meat carrying ram.

"In the last five or six years we've been classing our ewes and getting rams to match which has really improved our weaning weights...we thought the Melashdan rams would help keep that on track.

"We're lambing about every four months which means the rams we bought will get used three times a year so its important we're getting the ones that suit us."

BR&C agent Darren Old said the sale was outstanding given the current market conditions.

"A lot of people looking forward to the future and the lambs from these rams won't be sold in this current market, they'll be for next year and there's a bit of confidence about," he said.

"The sheep breeding at Melashdan has improved since we've been coming to the sale and that's really a credit to Gary and Janice for putting in a lot of work.

"The offering is getting better and better each year and I think that's starting to show by the prices and clearance."