Farm Weekly article on SheepMaster National Sale Nov 2022

A record-breaking ram selling season

IF last year’s ram selling season was one to remember then this year’s was just as exciting and buoyant.

Even with sheep markets easing in the past 10 months from their record highs, producers still showed they had faith in the sheep industry bidding strongly at ram sales to create another record year for stud breeders.

While there were some big sales throughout the season, none where bigger than last

week’s SheepMaster ram sale at Elleker, when two rams from the breed’s parent stud, Garnett SheepMaster, sold for $110,000 and $105,000 to top prices for the season and also sit as the top-priced rams sold at auction in WA since 1991.

But it wasn’t only the top prices which were impressive at this sale, so too was the average of $10,159 for the 93 rams offered and sold, which now ranks as the best average achieved by a stud at an

on-property ram sale in WA, surpassing the record the stud set last year by $2261.

All up this season ram sales averaged $1853 and grossed more than $27.435 million across all breeds to again set a new benchmark for WA ram sales for a second consecutive year.

This year’s average was up $92 on last year’s average while the gross was up more than $1.875m following on from last year’s large rise of

more than $5.6m.

But it wasn’t only the dollar figures which were up this year, the clearance remained at 93 per cent, the same as last year, while the number of rams offered and sold increased by 289 head.

The full report for the National SheepMaster ram sale starts on page 76 while the full wrap up on this year’s outstanding ram selling season starts on page 82 in this week’s Farm Weekly.

❒ Prices at ram sales this year hit a 31-year high when this SheepMaster ram from the breed’s parent stud, Garnett SheepMaster, Elleker, sold for the season’s high of $110,000 at last week’s National SheepMaster Ram Sale at Elleker, to Orrie Cowie Genetics, Warooka, South Australia. With the ram were Elders State general manager Nick Fazekas (left), Garnett SheepMaster parent stud principals Neil Garnett and Alison Bannan, Brian ‘Bud’ and Susi Prater, Elleker, Elders South Australia stud stock representative Alistair Keller, buyer John Dalla, Orrie Cowie Genetics, Elders Minlaton, South Australia, branch manager Adam Pitt and Elders auctioneer Nathan King. A second SheepMaster ram sold at the same fixture for $105,000 through AuctionsPlus to a buyer from Merton, Victoria and a third ram sold for $45,000 to Graham and Susan Coddington, Coddington SheepMasters, Brewarrina, New South Wales.

Left: Nick Fazekas, Elders State general manager with Neil Garnett, Founding Breeder, Alison Bannan, Bud & Susi Prater, Studmaster, John Dalla, Orrie Cowie Genetics, SA with his record priced lot one and Nathan King, Elders stud stock auctioneer.

Neil Garnett with Geraldine and Brian Faithfull, former Elders auctioneer, one of Australia’s most successful and respected auctioneers.

Left: Neil Garnett, SheepMaster Founding Breeder, Simon Quilty, global livestock analyst and Harold Sealy, Director of Livestock and Agriculture, Minerva Foods Australia.

$110,000 for Garnett SheepMaster ram

By WENDY GOULD

RECORDS tumbled as rams sold to five Australian States under the hammer of Elders and including through AuctionsPlus at the annual National SheepMaster ram sale at Elleker via Albany last week.

The final fixture on the WA sheep seedstock calendar raced straight to the top of the honour board, recording the State’s best and second best ram prices and top average for the season by a long shot.

Known as the small cattle sheep breed, the results obtained were more in line

with recent Eastern States’ bull sales with top prices of $110,000 and $105,000 and 20 rams selling for $10,000 or more giving an average of $10,159 and gross of $944,800 for 93 rams offered and sold at auction.

This year all 93 rams came from the Garnett SheepMaster parent flock, bred and prepared by Neil Garnett, his partner Alison Bannan, her brother Brian ‘Bud’ Prater and his wife Susi, at their Elleker-based White Dog Lane farm.

Twelve months ago at the corresponding fixture 59 of the 79 rams offered were from the parent stud with

the remainder provided via AuctionsPlus from four New South Wales SheepMaster studs.

The result then, again through Elders, was a top price of $90,000, at the time the highest price paid in WA for a WA bred ram of any breed since 1991, a gross of $497,300 and an average of $6812, outcomes that paled by comparison this year.

For SheepMaster founder and parent stud co-director Neil Garnett, it was further vindication that the breeding pathway he adopted almost 30 years ago and the full shedding breed he set about creating (with collaboration)

to satisfy his vision was “the right one”.

With a well attended presale sundowner, ram viewing and meat industry expert Simon Quilty, Global AgriTrends Australian managing director, Wangaratta, Victoria as guest speaker the afternoon/ evening the day before the scene was set for success.

And by the call of sale-o on Friday there were 31 registered buyers all making a statement that the SheepMaster breed was also “the right one” for them.

Leading the charge was South Australian buyer John Dalla, Orrie Cowie Genetics,

❒ With the $110,000 top-priced Garnett SheepMaster ram sold at the National SheepMaster Ram Sale at Elleker via Albany last week, were Elders auctioneer Nathan King (left), Elders State general manager Nick Fazekas, Garnett SheepMaster parent stud principal Neil Garnett, Elleker, Alistair Keller, Elders Stud Stock, South Australia, buyer John Dalla, Orrie Cowie Genetics, Warooka, SA and Elders Minlaton branch manager Adam Pitt, SA.

Warooka, bidding through Alistair Keller, Elders Stud Stock, SA and he made it clear from the outset he would not be beaten on the rams of his choice.

Lot one was the first on their list, an August 21 drop Regent family ram with a tonne of sire appeal, length of body, great structure and silky soft clean skin which weighed in at 110.5kg, with eye muscle area (EMA) of 45.9mm and 5.4mm fat.

Mr Dalla said to him Tag Y538, described as the most complete, modern sire the stud had produced, was the best ram in the catalogue.

“He is very structurally correct, stylish, athletic, looks great on the move and is a perfect shedder,” Mr Dalla said.

“As an August drop, he is just a baby but has a big weight and terrific EMA to weight ratio for a youngster.

“And he has a super soft hair and skin, a mark of a good shedder and of superior eating quality.”

As the fourth ranked blade shearer in the world and co-principal of Orrie Cowie Merino and Poll Merino stud, skin and surface is something Mr Dalla knows a thing or two about.

“We are certainly staying with our stud Merinos, just diversifying into SheepMasters as well,” he said.

“This has been driven by shearer and labour issues for our clients.

“We looked at all the shedding breeds and believe SheepMaster is the best for type and to truly shed clean.

“They will run on separate properties to our Merinos, especially on tougher country and properties where we do not have any shearing infrastructure.”

Mr Dalla bought 500

SheepMaster ewes earlier this year from three breeders in WA and New South Wales as the foundation for his stud, the first registered SheepMaster stud in South Australia and will join them in three weeks’ time.

As outlined in the catalogue, semen rights in tag Y538 and lots two and three, are retained by Garnett SheepMaster but through negotiation semen can be offered on a 50:50 share basis, something Mr Dalla said they would be following up on.

Adding to the Orrie Cowie Genetics sire battery were another five rams purchased at the sale, giving a total outlay on the day of $181,600 and $33,058 average for six rams.

This included SheepMaster syndicate ram Y364, a May 21 drop sire in lot 59 weighing 112.5kg, with

40.2mm EMA and 12.9mm fat at $19,000, a May drop Monarch special stud sire in lot 10 weighing 131.5kg, with 45.5mm EMA and 7.1mm fat at $18,500, an April drop Regent special stud sire in lot 20 weighing 109kg, 44.5mm EMA and 5.8mm fat for $16,200 and a February 21 Apollo special stud sire in lot eight weighing 122.5kg with 45.5mm EMA at $14,500.

The day’s second top price of $105,000 was achieved for the second ram sold, a May 21 Statesman special stud semen sire described as a classic sire with exceptional correctness and balance and in which semen rights were also retained.

Elders auctioneer Nathan King fielded bids locally among the buying audience and from Elders stud stock manager Tim Spicer, manning the AuctionsPlus

phone line, and it was an online and first-time buyer from Merton, Victoria, intending to start a SheepMaster stud, who emerged victorious.

The ram’s weight of 119kg matched its Y119 tag and paired with 45.7mm EMA and 12.6mm fat.

Another long-time Merino and Poll Merino breeder and astute judge of sheep flesh Graham and his wife Susan Coddington emerged as the buyers of the third top-priced ram, tag Y074 in lot three for $45,000.

The third of the special stud semen sires, the May 21 drop Statesman son was described as having amazing bone, size, balance and body structure and with a weight of 129.5kg, 44.5mm EMA and 7.7mm fat, it fitted the bill perfectly for the

❏ Continued on page 78

❒ Elders stud stock manager Tim Spicer (left), holds the $105,000 second top-priced ram bought through AuctionsPlus by a buyer from Merton, Victoria, with Garnett SheepMaster parent stud’s Brian ‘Bud’ Prater, Elleker, Elders Albany manager Peter Hassell, Elders auctioneer Nathan King, Elders southern district wool manager Travis King and Garnett SheepMaster parent stud principal Neil Garnett.

Coddington’s newly-formed Coddington SheepMasters.

“We will certainly be sticking with our Coddington Uardry Merino stud, but this is a separate operation to suit our tougher country and where there will be no crutching, shearing or lamb marking,” Mr Coddington said.

The SheepMasters will be headed for their 15,000 hectare Mundiwa station at the junction of the Culgoa and Birrie Rivers at Brewarrina in New South Wales.

“There we need fat cover for doability and good EMAs as we will sell lambs straight off mum at four to five months of age for ease of management.”

Mr Coddington said they had tried several shedding sheep breeds but had been drawn to the SheepMaster for its capacity, shedding ability and good feet and structure.

The couple outlaid a $16,750 average for eight rams which included a May drop Apollo special stud sire in lot 13 weighing 132kg with 46.7mm EMA and 11.2mm fat for $31,000, a June 21 drop SheepMaster syndicate sire in lot 38 which weighed 110kg, with 42.8mm EMA and 11.2mm fat for $21,000 and a May 21 drop SheepMaster syndicate ram in lot 22 weighing 131kg with 46.3mm EMA and 16mm fat at $16,000.

Local buyers who appeared on the top end of the clerking sheets were Tony and Joanna Slattery, Twin Peaks, Gnowellen, who bid to a top of $31,500 for a June 21 drop, Monarch special stud sire in lot nine weighing 127kg, 43.4mm EMA and 6.6mm fat.

The commercial producers who have been SheepMaster clients “since the beginning” are currently running 2300 SheepMaster cross ewes plus a 300 head purebred nucleus ewe flock and finished with three rams for a $15,300 average.

❒ Garnett SheepMaster parent stud’s Brian ‘Bud’ Prater (left), Elleker, co-principal Neil Garnett, with the major volume buyers Richard Sharpe and Bernadette Binnie, Winton Park SheepMasters, Tamworth, New South Wales, buyers of 20 rams including this one at $15,400.

❒ With the $45,000 third top price ram were Garnett SheepMaster parent stud’s Brian ‘Bud’ Prater (left), Elleker, Elders auctioneer Nathan King, Garnett SheepMaster parent stud principal Neil Garnett and buyers Graham and Susan Coddington, Coddington SheepMasters, Brewarrina, New South Wales.

Continued from page 78

The day’s major volume buyers and losing bidders on the top-priced ram, were first time buyers Richard Sharpe and Bernadette Binnie, Winton Park SheepMasters, Tamworth, New South Wales, who accounted for 20 rams, 22 per cent of the total yarding of 93 head for an outlay of $112,600 at a $5630 average.

Leaning to sires suitable for a self replacing ewe flock more than terminal traits, their team included a $15,400 May 21 drop Duke special stud sire weighing 136kg, with EMA of 52mm and 12.6mm fat and a SheepMaster syndicate sire at $13,200.

The couple bought ewes earlier this year and say the SheepMaster will fit well with their move to regenerative agriculture.

“It’s about kilos per hectare produced and being non seasonal joiners means three lambings in two years adds to their viability and efficiency,” Mr Sharpe said.

“You can take one good ram and join him across several matings.”

“We believe the SheepMaster is superior for its temperament, its mothering ability and it is a true shedder,” added Ms Binnie.

“Flystrike has been a huge issue in our area with all this wet weather, we’ve just had 250mm in five weeks.

“The other fantastic thing with this breed is the support provided by Neil (Garnett) and Andrew (Hodgson – Elders shedding sheep specialist, Perth) who have visited us and shared their considerable sheep knowledge to help us plan our strategy.”

Aaron Nicholls, Nicholls Family Trust, Ferny Hill, Gundagai, New South Wales, was another volume buyer who averaged $9938 for a draft of eight sires which included a May drop, Duke special stud sire ‘with an excellent skin’ weighing 120kg, 44mm EMA and 7.4mm fat.

Closer to home, Geoff Crabb bid to $22,000 for a single ram for Battle Force, Walkaway, and Trevor Flugge, TS & LE Flugge, Busselton, bought two rams at $15,500 and $9000, while Mayvale SheepMaster stud, Taralga, NSW, bid to a $16,500 top and $8220 average for five rams.

Messages to consistently come through were that buyers wanted easy-care sheep that would shed truly to mitigate against shearing, labour and management woes, that exercised genuine fertility and maternal traits, with growth rates that would allow early lamb turn-off and younger matings and which had some

respect for fences and there was an obvious groundswell of satisfaction in the Garnett SheepMaster product.

Stud principal Neil Garnett said it was a major team effort and they had been overwhelmed with the support shown by both stud and commercial producers from around Australia.

❒ Master of ceremonies and Minerva Foods Australia, director livestock and agriculture Harold Sealy (left), Perth, with guest speaker Global AgriTrends Australian managing director Simon Quilty, Wangaratta, Victoria and Garnett SheepMaster parent stud principal Neil Garnett.

❒ Some of the most active buyers were New South Wales visitors Ben Nicholls (left), Tottenham and Aaron Nicholls, Nicholls Family Trust, Ferny Hill, Gundagai, who nished with eight rams at a $9938 average. With them is Delta Agribusiness livestock manager, Cameron Rosser, Young, NSW.

“This has been a project 30 years in the making and to see it all coming together is fantastic,” Mr Garnett said.

“These sheep have been bred on the south coast in some of the wettest and toughest conditions for sheep, but you can see our emphasis on 100 per cent shedding, bodyweight and good structure and that is what people are appreciating.”

With almost an if they’ll shed here, they’ll shed anywhere mindset Mr Garnett said it was the Damara in the SheepMaster’s background that gave the edge to the silky smooth skins coming through and also provided maternal aspects.

“Like cattle, unless they are producing a calf or lambs they are a dead weight,” he said.

“My dad always said the three most important things in sheep breeding are fertility, fertility and fertility and I haven’t been able to prove him wrong yet.

“We are really looking at the dollar return in production from every ewe.”

Speaking after the sale, Elders auctioneer Nathan King said it had been a huge result for all concerned.

“It was great to see the number of registrations and people in attendance, including many who had travelled from the Eastern States,” Mr King said.

“The depth of quality was certainly there with plenty of

mobility, stretch and length of body in the rams and a maternal focus through the flock.

“And the very clean, smooth soft skins met people’s expectations that these types of sheep will shed clean.”

More private sale and guest speaker coverage next week.

STUD STOCK SALES CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

To book your advertising contact Jodie Rintoul: 0439 640 178, Kane Chat eld: 0429 963 513 or Kyah Peeti: 0427 411 900

Thank you to all who have advertised and booked space for their upcoming sales. We will continue to add your sales to the list as the season continues.

❐ Commercial producers Joanna and Tony Slattery, Twin Peaks, Gnowellen, looked through the lineup before the sale where they later paid up to $31,500 for a ram, the fourth highest price on the day and highest price paid by a WA buyer. The ram, one of three they bought, was a June 21 drop, Monarch special stud sire weighing 127kg with 43.4mm EMA and 6.6mm fat.

❐ Catching up before the start of the sale were Garnett SheepMaster’s Susi Prater (left), Elleker and Alison Bannan (right) with volume buyer of 20 rams to a top of $15,400 Bernadette Binnie, Winton Park SheepMasters, Tamworth, New South Wales.

‘Super shedders’ on display at sundowner

By WENDY GOULD

A SUNDOWNER function at White Dog Lane farm, Elleker via Albany, home to the Garnett SheepMaster stud, proved a memorable prelude last Thursday to its annual ram sale the following day (where rams sold to a WA 2022 season top of $110,000).

Stud co-principals Neil Garnett, his partner Alison Bannan, her brother Brian 'Bud' Prater and his wife Susi Prater welcomed visitors from throughout WA and across Australia, some of them relishing seeing sunshine after weeks of rain and floodwaters in the Eastern States.

Under the setting sun, visitors were able to view the 'super shedder' SheepMasters on display, hear the latest on international sheep meat market trends and impacts from guest speaker, Meat & Livestock Exchange director Simon Quilty, sample product from local Yilgarnia Wines and enjoy swapping their own sheep industry experiences with like minded producers.

❐ Garnett SheepMaster co-director Alison Bannan (left), Albany, with Mathew and Leanne Milward, Malleedawn SheepMasters, Denbarker and SheepMaster business adviser Brian Aitken and his wife Jean, City Beach.

❐ Elders State general manager Nick Fazekas (left), chatted with sundowner co-hosts Susi and Brian ‘Bud’ Prater at their White Dog Lane farm, Elleker via Albany.

❐ Paula (left) and Andrew Hodgson, Elders shedding sheep specialist, Perth, with retired stud stock auctioneer Brian Faithfull (left), Dale and Graham and Susan Coddington, Coddington SheepMasters, Brewarrina, New South Wales.

❐ Retired stud stock auctioneer Brian Faithfull (left), Dale, with Preston Clarke, attending his last stud ram sale with Elders before retirement and commercial SheepMaster producer Trevor Flugge, Busselton.

❐ SheepMaster group chairman Tim Clarke (left), Perth, with Mogumber Plains stud principals Liz and Peter Williams, Mogumber and Richard Sharpe and Bernadette Binnie, Winton Park SheepMasters, Tamworth, NSW.

❐ Matt (left) and Chrissie French, Nimmitabel, New South Wales, told Elders area manager south Matt Ericsson and Eneabba-based SheepMaster breeder Ian Elliott about conditions at home, having just had 475mm rainfall in 2.5 days.

❐ Commercial producers Joanna and Tony Slattery, Gnowellen, have been SheepMaster clients “since the beginning” and marked their selections in their catalogue.

❐ Shane Sales (left), Albany and his son Zac Sales, who works at Garnett SheepMaster stud, Elleker, with seven month old SheepMaster ewe Penny, a triplet which was hand raised after being rescued from oodwaters.

❐ Looking over the sale rams on display were New South Wales buyers Ben Nicholls (left), Tottenham, Aaron Nicholls, Gundagai and Delta Agribusiness livestock manager, Cameron Rosser, Young.

❐ Sisters-in-law Helen McCann (left), Torbay and Susi Prater, White Dog Lane, Elleker, with Susi’s neighbour Mike Repacholi.

❐ Elders State general manager Nick Fazekas (left) with Alex and Marni Jones, Gairdner, who started into SheepMasters three years ago.

❐ Neil (left) and Mark Berry, Cowra, NSW, with Mark’s sister Brenda Berry, Tingledale via Denmark and Elders territory sales manager David Lindberg, Albany.