This season’s sales indicate how farmers are future proofing flocks 

North Island ram sales have finished, while South Island sales are due to end next month.

Prices and clearances have been approximately on par with last year’s sales.

Several emerging trends in sheep genetics attracted particular interest.

Farmers are increasingly prioritising resistance to facial eczema, as performance of FE resistant rams in the saleyard has grown stronger year on year. Adapting to global warming and boosting environmental strategies, as well as tending to animal health, is motivating farmers to protect against FE, particularly in the North Island.

As more farmers rationalise meat production over wool, self-shedding breeds are also becoming more popular. Prices for self-shedding rams in this year’s sales were up between 15 and 20 per cent on last year.

Others are focusing on rams that will produce early maturing lambs, seeking to make the most of the returns available early in the season.

In general, clients offering rams for sale have been happy with the outcomes this season, and with a growing proportion of ram sales operating as hybrid live-streaming auctions, integrating onsite sales with the online platform bidr, sales are increasingly reaching a nationwide gallery of buyers.

Callum Stewart, PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics Manager