Ram sales have traditionally kicked off immediately after Dowerin Field Days in the last week of August, and are in full swing through September, particularly the Merino and Poll Merino sales. Generally British & other non-Merino breeds start selling towards the end of September and push out a bit later. We will cover some of these later breeds in our October edition.
Prior to the season starting, there was much contention as to how the sales would perform. There have been a number of challenges in the sheep and wool sectors in the past few months. We have seen decreased sheep meat values, a sliding wool market, and ongoing issues throughout the whole chain, due to Covid and staff shortages. Ram breeders had every right to feel a tad nervous heading into the selling season.
The biggest challenge, as we go to print, is that sheep values are not at the high levels experienced for the past few years. Processors are lacking capacity due to a lack of labour, a backlog of old season’s lambs and mutton to get through, and reduced live export activity. Interstate buying activity, whilst still happening, has been a lot lower than previous years. One major feedlot at Loxton is still currently helping move a steady flow of store lambs across the border, however, stock agents report only a few other places taking minimal numbers presently.
So how has the first month of the silly season progressed? It would be fair to say that on the whole it has far exceeded expectation and has not followed the trend of meat and wool at all. Most sales we have witnessed have been well above last year’s average price and clearance rates, generally, have also been very good. It appears that growers are full of confidence and believe that the current blip on the radar is simply that, a temporary blip in an otherwise strong and healthy sector. International and domestic demand is still very strong, which is always a positive sign and gives rise to the confidence evident at most of the ram sales attended thus far.
As quality is always king, it is also encouraging to see growers prepared to pay for quality to continue to improve their flocks’ genetics. The meat values of the Merino carcase is a good example, with more than just the drop of wool on a ram’s back being assessed by discerning buyers. With a combination of good genetics and this year’s excellent lambing percentages state-wide, we have also seen additional numbers of lambs on the ground. This presents the opportunity to either keep greater ewe replacement numbers or add more depth in the culling process.
Recent success of Western Australian studs at the July Australian sheep show in Bendigo, taking out a plethora of awards across the board, has helped to lift confidence. At the RABO Western Australian Sheep Show & Ram sale held in Katanning last month, our local West Australian studs showed they are not shy to spend good money on bringing world class genetics to the west for local producers to benefit from. One thing observed from travelling around field days and sales is the overall excellent quality of all the rams presented. It is certainly a real credit to the industry and keeps the WA bred animals at the cutting edge.
The Perth Royal Show offers another great chance to see some quality rams being both judged and sold. There is also the very popular British Breed Ram sale on Saturday 3rd September.
So, congratulations and well done to all involved for the start of the Merino ram selling season. We hope to see you all out and about at the ram sales over the next month or so. As always, Milne Feeds sheep specialists, Wayne Manoni and Brett Blanchet, are more than happy to discuss any sheep (and ram) feeding requirements. For any information you may be chasing, contact either Wayne Manoni 0427 099 002, Brett Blanchett 0429 884 528 or call the office direct on 9351 0726.
