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The many sales successes at the Prentice family's Kurralea Poll Dorset, White Suffolk and Suffolk ram sale are the headline stories, but the success of their clients is their primary focus and consequently the reason why the Kurralea headlines have continued over several decades.
This season has been far from kind to not only the Prentices, but also many of their clients. However, they have continued with the difficult task of not only lambing down large numbers of ewes from their three studs, but also growing out the upcoming sale rams so they can be both presentable and perform to the predictable levels of the past.
From a breeding perspective, Kurralea has always striven to produce sheep that combine elite performance and structural excellence; bigger framed than many, but well-muscled rams that do the job in wide ranging environments, allowing them to meet any of the multiple market weight choices.
It is this latter point that enables clients the flexibility to successfully and efficiently target different carcase weights and grid specifications.
James Baldry, Wallendbeen, openly endorsed the Kurralea quality when he said, "One of the benefits of Kurralea is the obvious genetic depth within the stud which assures consistency of performance and robustness of their rams, giving us even lines of marketable lambs that can be sold in the 18 to 28 kilogram carcase weight range."
"Having rams with good length and depth not only ensures greater feed conversion efficiency, but also having the ideal 2 to 3 condition score, even when taken through to heavy weights of 26 to 27kg carcase weight is a real bonus."
The 2019 Kurralea annual ram sale will see around 250 rams from the three breeds on offer on Tuesday September 24, commencing at 12.30pm EST.
There is some exciting progeny from industry leading sires coming up in this offering.
The Prentice family has spared no expense in seeking out the best sires they can source that match their breeding objectives and type, to continue the genetic improvement within the stud. The latest include Poll Dorsets, Ulandi Park 170151Tw in partnership with Janmac for the $18,000 top price, plus UP 170476 outright for $9000 at their sale last year. Both exceeded 200 for Carcase Plus index on Lambplan.
The White Suffolks will include more descendants from Anden 'Cruiser' 150277Tw, the $68,000 all meat sheep breeds record priced ram, plus more from Kurralea's hugely successful Wheetelande family lines.
It will also be the third year Suffolk rams from Lucy's relatively new Suffolk flock will be offered.