By Jan-Hendrik de Villiers
Konsortium-Merino’s 106th auction, held on 20 February on Gawie van Heerden’s farm Dombietersfontein near Victoria West in the Northern Cape, once again offered exceptional breeding material.
The most expensive ram was auctioned off at a price of R25 000 to Matt Philps of Hofmeyr.
According to Madelaine van Heerden, spokesperson for Konsortium, this ram is an exceptionally good ram and deserved the highest price. “He has very good figures, a very nice deep body and it’s a polled ram. Polled rams are becoming increasingly popular at our auctions.”
A total of 188 rams were sold on the live auction at an average price of R10 194, with 131 sold at an average price of R6 103 during the silent auction. Van Heerden said the fact that the live auction’s average price reached almost R11 000 was incredible. She believes the live auction’s success is due to better breeding stock and fairer prices.
Although the projection for the auction was 450 rams, 319 young two-tooth rams were ultimately auctioned. According to Van Heerden, this was due to deaths and the selection process.
Vleissentraal Port Elizabeth hosted the auction, with Jakkie Nel as auctioneer.
