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RuralLife Jimmy Leigh Sales 027 405 6941 oro 03 349 5975 Rolleston 1George Holmes Rd Amberley 90 Carters Rd Power Farming <strong>Canterbury</strong> ‘It’snot often you come across aram like this’ By DAVID HILL The Stevensonfamily of Cheviot has paid arecord price at their own onfarm ram sale. Markand Jo Stevenson, who farminpartnership withMark’s parents,Ian andTrish,paid a whopping $17,500 at the onfarm ram saleatTheGums PartnershipfarmatCheviot last week. The price is believed to be a recordfor aNew Zealandbred Dorset Downram. It was paidfor atwotooth offered by Colinand LizSmith, of Bankhead StudatCust, near Oxford. The two studs havejoined forces for theironfarm ramsale for severalyears. Ian Stevensonsays the ram purchase represents an investment. “In order for us to continue to deliverleading terminal sires to our clientsweneedtoensure we are delivering ageneticpackage thatpositions them to have a profitablelambproduction componenttotheir business,’’ he says. ‘‘This ramisagutsy, meaty ram,backed up by great growth breeding values. It is notoften you comeacross aram like this fella.” He saidfarmerswill be able to maketheirown assessment, with thisram’sprogeny likelytobeon offer at The Gums ramsale in 2021. ❛ This ram is agutsy, meaty ram, backed up by great growth breeding values.❜ —Ian Stevenson MarkStevensonsays despite forkingout aheftysum, the family ‘‘endedupon the right sideofthe ledger’’. In all,164 rams were soldatan averageof$1503,which is a recordaverageprice for The Gumsonfarmram sale. ‘‘There wasgood support acrossall the breeds offeredby The Gums,with average prices strong across the board.’’ He says40ofthe 44 quarterbreds sold, with atop price of $5000 and an average of $1905.Sixtytwoofthe 77 halfbredssold,with an average price of $1473 and atop price of $3600. Six of the10PollMerinos sold for an average$1450, withatop price of $2500,while 39 of the 42 Dorset Down rams soldfor an averageof$<strong>12</strong>17,withatop price of $2000, and17ofthe 22 South Dorset Downs sold foran averageof$1135,withatop price of $2000. “Thecontinued support for the stud’s genetics wasgreat,” MarkStevenson said. Buyers travelled from throughout the South Island and thelower<strong>North</strong>Island, reflecting the positiveoutlook in thesheepsector,with longterm fine woolcontracts ‘‘offering pricestability and underpinning producers’ confidence’’, he says. “Wehaverelationshipswith some clientsgoingbackover 40 years.’’ He says The Gums’finewool rams wereoffered forauction with ‘‘footrotresistance breedingvalues’’. ‘‘This is theculmination of seven years of work by theNew Zealandfinewool sector, with thebreeding value nowinits final stagesoffull commercialisation.’’ Record price ... Cheviot farmers, from left, Ted, Jo, Mark, Ian and Trish Stevenson paid $17,500 for a twotooth Dorset Down ram bred by Liz and Colin Smith, of Cust, at right. PHOTO: SUPPLIED 65 Main <strong>North</strong>Rd, Woodend PH: 03 3<strong>12</strong>7927|www.canterburyhonda.co.nz TRX500FM2 ONLY $14,778 EX GST •5speed manual transmission •Front diff-lock •Solid rear axle •Heavy duty carry racks •Proven500cc power-plant •Electronicmulti-functiondashunctiondash •Powersteering •TraxLok 4WDdrive system Bike price shown excludes GST. Available while stocks last at participating Honda dealers.