Dorper sheep
BELLEVUE Dorpers and White Dorpers sold to stud and commercial producers from across the country at the fifth annual Bellevue Sale held on Monday.
Top-priced Dorper ram was purchased by the Hutchings family, Eventine Dorpers, Tenterfield, NSW, for $4400.
Greg Hickmott, Heatherleigh White Dorpers, Warra, bought the top-priced White Dorper ram for $4500.
David, Robbie and Sophie Curtis, Bellevue, Millmerran, believed the sale went extremely well considering the dry weather and downturn in the lamb market.
"The buyers are becoming more discerning and have a greater knowledge about the breed due to the Dorper training and education programs and the typing system that identifies superior animals and removes animals with cull faults," Mr Curtis said.
"Prime lamb breeders have recognised the Dorper qualities of being a low maintenance, fertile and hardy breed.
"Breeders are prepared to invest in good rams understanding the value of producing early maturing top quality carcase prime lamb.
"The breed has matured to the stage now where ram buyers can purchase top quality rams for between $800 to $1200 that have Lambplan Performance data including birth weight, growth and eye muscle depth.
"We now have sires at Bellevue with an eye muscle depth of 50mm.
"We are maintaining intra muscular fat for superior eating quality and maintaining softness and wetness in the ewes for hardiness and milking.
"The most satisfying part is seeing repeat buyers support our sale and providing us with feedback on how they are performing.
"We are strongly focused on the commercial lamb market and fortunately for the Dorper breed the same sheep that win in the show ring are the same sheep that perform in the paddock.
Volume buyers at the sale were Doug Mack, Earlwood, Glenmorgan, taking home 12 rams for the average price of $1058.
C Maller, Glenora Downs, Wallumbilla, put together a draft of eight rams for an average price of $1137.
Stewart Free, Clifton, also bought eight rams for the average price of $887.
Jock Burws, Brickwood Management, bought five rams for an average price of $1180.
Agents: Landmark and Elders.
Source: farmonline.com.au