Top ram heads west in total clearance at Kurralea
Lamb producers looking for the renowned Kurralea type of ram for their operations ensured another successful sale at the Ariah Park stud last week.
The Prentice family offered and sold 300 Poll Dorset and White Suffolk rams at their 29th annual ram sale on Tuesday September 29.
The total line-up averaged $1749, which was on par with the 2025 result in terms of average and clearance.
Volume buyers fuel full clearance for Kurralea sheep studs at Ariah Park
Larger-framed, well-structured rams were sought after at the 29th Kurralea Poll Dorset and White Suffolk ram sale at Ariah Park on Tuesday, September 29.
The Prentice family’s stud achieved a full clearance of all 300 rams, for an overall average of $1749. The 30 stud rams, which were also available for online bidding, reached a high of $10,500, up $500 from last year’s top price, for a White Suffolk ram.
Kurralea rams bred to perform across the country
From Victoria’s Western District’s cooler, higher rainfall country to the hotter, drier conditions of NSW’s mid-west, Kurralea Studs principal Ben Prentice says one of the strengths of the stud’s Poll Dorset and White Suffolk genetics is their ability to perform across a wide range of commercial environments in key sheep breeding regions.
It is a trait underpinned by more than 50 years of breeding at Kurralea, Ariah Park, where structure, growth and commercially relevant performance continue to drive the program.
50 years strong at Kurralea’s annual sale
Selling more than 300 rams to a flurry of new and longstanding clients was a fitting way for Kurralea studs to celebrate two milestone years of ram breeding.
Ben, Lucy and Kim Prentice of Ariah Park held their annual on-property sale on Tuesday 30 September, with results reflecting both confidence in the Kurralea program and the current state of industry.
Milestone marked at Kurralea Studs with full clearance and top rams to Victoria
Buyers chased structurally correct rams at Kurralea Studs’ on-property ram sale at Ariah Park on Tuesday, September 30.
The stud marked a milestone, celebrating 50 years of breeding Poll Dorset rams and 25 years of White Suffolks at this year’s sale, with a full clearance recorded.
All 332 Poll Dorset and White Suffolk stud and flock rams sold to a top price of $10,000 and for an overall average of $1754.
Rams for every environment at Kurralea
Watching rams bred at Kurralea thrive in all different environments, and add value to the operations they enter, still amazes Ben Prentice.
“Year in and year out, getting to sale time and seeing where they end up is a highlight,” he said.
Winter 2025 Newsletter
Celebrating 50 Years of Performance-Driven Genetics
This year marks a special milestone at Kurralea Studs: 50 years of breeding Poll Dorsets and 25 years of White Suffolks. From Jim Prentice’s founding vision to today’s operation, our focus remains clear, performance, structure and consistency that delivers for commercial lamb producers.
Kurralea achieves full clearance, top price hits $13,500
Bidding was strong from start to finish as buyers in the gallery and online ensured a full clearance of 300 rams at the Kurralea Annual On-Property Ram Sale on Tuesday.
And with Lot 17, White Suffolk Kurralea 237-23, selling for a top price of $13,500 at the fall of the hammer, the Prentice Family were thrilled with the results.
New genetics, strong focus on structure at Kurralea
The 2024 Kurralea Annual Ram Sale will showcase a premier draft of functional, easy care, high performing Poll Dorset & White Suffolk genetics; highlighting the passion the Prentice family have in breeding quality sheep.
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