Gemini sale to highlight performance and breeding advancements

July 30, 2021 by gemadmin

Gemini sale to highlight performance and breeding advancements

30th July 2021

Selection of Gemini Prime Lambs high performance flock rams.

The 23rd annual on-property Gemini Prime Lamb Sires spring sale will offer a draft of rams highlighting the breeding advancements and many improvements the stud has introduced in recent years.

120 White Suffolk rams and 20 Suffolk rams are up for auction at the Wednesday 20 October sale, including 15 specially selected rams with unique attributes and stud ram potential.

For stud principal Craig Mitchell, the stud’s 23rd sale represents another step forward in showcasing the successful breeding and performance recording program the stud operates.

“We focus on the top end of performance with emphasis on lambing ease and low birth weights with high growth and positive fat,” he said.

“We’ve always been a very performance-focused stud and we’re now focusing on traits like lean meat yield and intermuscular fat through DNA testing.”

Gemini introduced DNA testing six years ago but has intensified the program over the past few years to further improve meat-eating traits whilst maintaining the stud’s performance benchmarks for all other traits, including lower birth weight and high growth.

“I think we’re improving every year because of our performance recording and DNA testing,” Craig said.

“We’ve focused on improving birthweights, lamb survival, our ASVBs, and also structure; the rams have to be structurally correct, robust and strong to get the maximum number of live lambs on the ground.”

For the first time, Gemini Prime Lambs will be offering a new line of American Suffolk genetics the stud has used in their embryo transfer program. The two ET Suffolk sires present with different performance traits and will add value to Suffolk breeders looking to advance their flocks.

Selected progeny of the ET sires will feature in this year’s line-up of sale rams. “These Suffolk rams present a very different bloodline and a different style of sheep,” Craig said. “We look forward to presenting those rams in a few months”.

Progeny by Gemini 170470, one of the leading performance White Suffolk rams in Australia is also a sale highlight. Gemini Prime Lamb sold 170470 to Bundarra Downs but has retained this sire’s semen and expects strong interest in his sons.

Buyers can be assured of the Gemini’s health status with all rams’ brucellosis accredited and MN3 and vaccinated for Johne’s disease. “We’re very particular about the health status of our sheep. We’re basically a quarantine farm – only sheep with the same health status come on our property,” Craig said.

The auction will be on-property at Werneth, Wednesday October 20 and online through AuctionsPlus.

For sale updates and the latest news, visit www.geminiprimelamb.com.au or the Gemini Prime Lamb Facebook page.

Gemini lifts top to $7000

October 26, 2018 by gemadmin

Gemini lifts top to $7000

Courtesy of
Ian Turner
October 2018

Pictured with the $7000 top priced ram at the Gemini sale are GTSM auctioneer Myles Pfitzner, Chloe, Craig and Emily Mitchell and purchaser Greg Funke (2nd right), Bundara Downs, Western Flat, SA.

SALE SUMMARY

WHITE SUFFOLK RAMS

	2018	2017
Offered	102	74
Sold	91	74
Top	$7000	$6000
Average	$1360	$1604

POLL DORSET RAMS

	2018	2017
Offered	20	12
Sold	1	9
Top	$800	$1300
Average	$800	$989

SUFFOLK RAMS

	2018	2017
Offered	11	8
Sold	4	8
Top	$1000	$2000
Average	$850	$1513

OVERALL

	2018	2017
Offered	133	94
Sold	96	91
Top	$7000	$6000
Average	$1333	$1501

Agents: GTSM

Auctioneer: Myles Pfitzner (GTSM)

The emotional trauma over the past 12 months through losing co-principal, wife and mother Rosalie in a level crossing accident not long after last year’s outstanding Gemini spring ram sale still weighed heavily on the minds of Craig Mitchell and daughters Emily and Chloe at the staging of their 20th annual three breed ram sale on Friday. The big crowd that included many fellow stud breeders who attended in support helped ease emotions.

Craig said that the tragic event certainly had some effect on the preparation of the rams, but the buyers present still appreciated the quality of the White Suffolks on offer in particular, producing a very solid overall result, with 96 rams averaging $1333.

The highlight was the $7000 top price for the lot 8 White Suffolk ram, Gemini 170470 paid by Steve and Greg Funke, Bundara Downs stud, Western Flat, SA. It was sired by Gemini 160103, the high indexing sire that was used as a ram lamb and has already had sons sell to $20,000.

Like its sire its figures were also impressive, including 17.8 for Pwwt, 2.5 for Pemd, 0.2 for Pfat and 217 on the Carcase Plus index.

Steve Funke said, “The ram really appealed from his initial presence and structure, plus he was by a proven successful sire. It has very good breed type and balance all round and his figures complement his appearance.”

The underbidder was Warren Thompson, Hedingham stud, Wickepin, WA who then compensated by purchasing G170117Tw, another G160103 son with a 212 C+ index for $2500. Clive, Deb and Caitlin Shillabeer, Wingamin stud, Karoonda, SA also picked up another G160103 son with a 224 C+ index, also for $2500, while the fourth ram to go to stud duties, G170065Tw, sired by Bundara Downs 122261 went to repeat buyers, Hobson Farming, Banjanda stud, Weatherboard, Vic.

The balance of the 12 specially selected rams went commercially and like last year’s very strong sale, those who got in early gained the rewards. The best example was Rodney Beach, Birragurra. Buying through HF Richardson Geelong’s Matt Scully, he was able to purchase lots 1 and 6 for just $1500. He then added two more White Suffolks before lot 30 at $1200 and $1000 and later added the top two Suffolk rams at $1000 and $800, his six rams averaging a great value $1167 in very astute buying.

Tony Noble, Fairholme Pastoral Co, Warncoort and his son in law Brent Harwood are long term Gemini supporters. Tony chooses the higher performing rams on offer and is prepared to pay for them, knowing they pay dividends with faster growing and better-quality lambs.

By also jumping in at the earliest opportunity, his five purchases were secured for an average of just $1480, including two at $1000 each with one of these being lot 5, G170023 with a Pwwt EBV of 20 and a C+ index of 221.

Brent took their combined purchasing up to eight rams by selecting three top rams at an average of just $1000 for his family account, BG & JA Harwood, Irrewarra.

Also, a strong repeat buyer, Gordon Brown, Junray Pty Ltd, Bannockburn twice went to the $2400 top price for commercial White Suffolk rams, while purchasing six of the best at an $1850 average. Both these top rams were sired by Leith 150828, his first progeny for Gemini after being purchased primarily for his combination of positive fat and tremendous muscling. Gordon’s six purchases averaged 2.75 for muscle and +0.41 for fat.

Also purchasing six top rams each were Bryan Hepburn, Bryara, Moriac (paying to $2000 and averaging $1317) and Paul Trainer, Rumler Trainer and buying through Landmark Ballarat averaged $900. Two of these six were Suffolks offered at the end of the sale. Patrick Smith, Pretty Lane, Dereel went to $1500 and averaged $1100 to also be prominent.

However, the biggest volume buyer this year was Doug Laidlaw, Dweal Pty Ltd, Tatyoon. Demonstrating the value on offer if patient, he purchased eight rams, going to $1000 once and averaging just $825. He made his first purchase at lot 70 and such was the depth of quality in this offering these eight rams averaged 14.09 for Pwwt, 2.53 for Pemd and 196.12 on C+ index. He was able to achieve this in this sale because there was a tapering of demand in the latter third of the sale as orders were filled, with 11 of the 102 White Suffolk rams passed in at auction.

The addition of 28 more rams than last spring, to ensure buyers on all budgets could purchase, plus a buoyant summer ram lamb sale were strong contributing factors in demand not being sustained to the end.

Consequently only one of the 20 high indexing Poll Dorsets that followed sold at auction and just four of the 11 Suffolk rams sold at auction to $1000 and at an $850 average.

With many spring lambing ewes amongst those left in the region, there is likely to be late demand for the good selection Gemini still has for sale once producers have worked out ewe numbers and ram number needs.

Craig Mitchell said post sale in summary, “Overall it was a strong sale with a big crowd which was very pleasing. There is definitely a buying trend towards the better performing sheep which was evident in this sale, but overall we are very happy with the result.”

Prominent buyers at the Gemini ram sale, Rodney Beach, Birregurra (six rams ave $1167) and Tony Noble, Warncoort (five rams ave $1480) are pictured with Gemini’s Emily Mitchell.

Spring ram buying guide: Technology puts Gemini up with stars

August 15, 2017 by gemadmin

Spring ram buying guide: Technology puts Gemini up with stars

Courtesy of
KATE DOWLER, The Weekly Times

August 15, 2017 11:30pm

WITH a focus on performance and animal health, Werneth stud sheep breeders Craig and Rosalie Mitchell have worked up from a humble start to selling 200 rams a year.
The White Suffolk, Suffolk and Poll Dorset breeders are big believers in performance recording and are using DNA testing and electronic identification to accelerate the genetic gain of their flock.

But older comparison and marketing tools — such as showing — remain an avenue to put the stud’s name, Gemini, out there.

As Craig puts it, he and Rosalie “weren’t fortunate enough to inherit a farm”.

“We leased blocks to start with, we even leased house blocks around Geelong until we were able to lease a bigger place,” he said.

After buying land at Inverleigh, which then rapidly increased in value, they were able to buy a 170ha property at Werneth, 12 years ago, where they run the three studs.

“For many young people who want to get into farming it can be very hard, we were fortunate in the timing of when we bought land,” he said.

Craig started the stud 28 years ago.

Daughters Emily, 18, and Chloe, 17, have recently become more involved and have taken an interest in the Suffolks.

Spring ram buying guide

Gemini has been involved with performance recording and used LambPlan “since its inception”.

“I’m a firm believer in performance recording; it plays a big part in what we do, along with structure,” he said.

“You can have the best figures but if the ram can’t walk, you’ve got problems.”

Craig said in all three breeds he had a focus on structure, lambing ease, high growth rates and higher yielding capabilities.

Or, as he puts, the traits that make up “functional and highly productive sheep”.

He is also using the latest DNA technology to chase breeding objectives — through prior involvement in Sheep CRC Projects — and is using EID to its potential.

“There will be more and more opportunities to get carcass feedback in future, so I am a big believer in using EID,” Craig said.

He has used the technology for six years and has his laptop hooked up to the “wand”, or electronic tag reader, in the woolshed to scan each animal as he classes it.

“It instantly brings up all that animal’s pedigree, EBV data and I can make a decision then and there, looking a the animal in front of me,” he said.

“I don’t have to go back to the office and sort through paper to find the information, it is all right in front of me.

“It has produced huge gains in efficiency, using EID has saved me a week’s work per year, and it is more accurate.”

His clients are also starting to use EID to trace their ewes’ performance and bloodlines.

DNA testing is also helping Craig better track performance.

“We are using DNA tests, too, to get a snapshot of where we are at, but as the price for the tests comes down we will use it more,” he said.

He said it could be used to more rapidly improve lean meat yield, intramuscular fat and shear force.

Craig said he was looking forward to processors being able to give producers more direct feedback on their animal’s meat eating quality.

“What we are getting back now is probably going to be insignificant compared to what we will get in five to 10 years,” he said.

And, in his view, weeding out under-performing stock could only be a positive move.

“I don’t have a problem with whether we get paid for it (meat quality) or not, or if the producers not doing the job right get penalised,” he said.

“At the moment a lot of people (producers) are probably getting rewarded for lambs that are not that great and they probably don’t deserve to be. We have to produce a great quality product consistently to compete against other meats; we need to make sure we are in a position to do that and that the consumer has an enjoyable eating experience with lamb, consistently.”

Gemini has 400 breeding ewes. The focus is White Suffolks, but there are also 20 Suffolk ewes and 50 Poll Dorset breeders.

The Suffolk interest came from a family friend, Murray Dolman, who had a Suffolk stud.

Gemini sells 200 sale rams at two on-property sales, in October and February.

Showing is still part of the stud’s marketing efforts.

“It doesn’t hurt to compare your sheep (visually) to other people’s,” Craig said.

“But we don’t produce sheep for the show, our sheep are all the one type.”

Despite this, Gemini has won champion ribbons at every major Victorian show and Adelaide — a competitive arena for White Suffolks.

Craig is upbeat about the industry, but worries about consolidation of processors.

“We all need to survive and have a piece of the pie, we want everybody to be viable so there is plenty of competition.”

Gemini cements credentials as industry leader

March 2, 2017 by gemadmin

Gemini cements credentials as industry leader

Courtesy of
Ian Turner
March 2017

Gemini principal Craig Mitchell moves one pen of the top young White Suffolk ram lambs around the sale ring, while GTSM’s Maz Glasser & Miles Pfitzner and HF Richardson’s Colin Beal control the bidding from the dais.

A terrific result at Craig, Rosalie, Emily and Chloe Mitchell’s 6th Annual Gemini Summer White Suffolk ram sale clearly demonstrated their ranking within the prime lamb industry as one of the elite genetic suppliers.

After many years of receiving less than value for their high performance rams, the last two years of summer and spring sales have seen that turn around, justly rewarding the Mitchells for their years of hard work and dedicated breeding.

The offering of 72 2016 drop ram lambs saw 69 sell to a top of $1750 and achieve a very solid average of $1115.

This on-property sale at Werneth was instigated primarily to cater for the many spring lambing prime lamb producers in their district west of Geelong, many of whom are still unsure of their ram requirements in October when Gemini’s annual spring ram sale is held.

Combined with the last spring sale, this sale result has seen Gemini clear 153 White Suffolk rams at auction to a $4500 top and average $1297 in the last 5 months.

Every ram lamb offered was way ahead of breed and industry averages on Lambplan for performance, especially growth and muscling. Their verifiable performance levels played a significant role in the strength of bidding they attracted, with more breeders now aware of their quality and the results they produce in clients’ paddocks. Last year 57 sold to $1150 and averaged $780, so this result produced a significant lift.

Garvald Vale Partnership, Byaduk and registered through sale managers GTSM paid the $1750 top price for one of seven rams they purchased at a $1257 average to also be the equal highest volume buyer. They first discovered the Gemini quality in spring 2015 when they purchased eight rams, and were back for a further ten last spring sale. Their top purchase in this sale was G 160042Tw; sired by Galaxy Park 120367 it had a Carcase Plus index of 208.89.

Dweal Pty Ltd, buying through TB White & Son, Ballarat was the other high volume buyer in the sale, successfully bidding on seven rams to $1500 and at a $1271 average. Two other clients of TB White & Sons, Ballarat came in as the next most prominent buyers with six rams each; this agency being the purchasing agent for 23 rams.

Bungeeltap Pty Ltd paid to $1650 twice which was the second top price and achieved the highest buying average price of $1542 as they selectively chose very top end performance rams. Three of their six rams were over 200 on the C+ index and the other three just under it.

Langi Willi Pty Ltd was the other buying account purchasing six rams. They paid to $1250 and averaged $1075, operating a rung below the top bidders in price, but arguably lost little in performance levels such was the depth of quality in this offering.

Three of the 25 registered bidders purchased five rams each.

EM & PG Schenscher, through Landmark Naracoorte, SA made it a two state buying list when they purchased five to $1400 and averaged $1120.

N & S Lubke, buying through joint sale agents Charles Stewart & Co’s Colac branch went to $1350 and averaged $950 for their five purchases, while Amanda Manifold, Milangil Pastoral Co Pty Ltd and bidding through the other joint sale agent H F Richardson & Co, Geelong secured their five purchases at great value, paying to $1200 and averaging $860.

GTSM’s Miles Pfitzner again refereed the bidding in his professional and exuberant style which went a long way towards producing this top sale result.

Gemini’s successful consolidation

March 15, 2016 by gemadmin

Gemini’s successful consolidation

Courtesy of
Ian Turner
March 2016

60 highest quality White Suffolk 2015 drop rams were on offer from the Mitchell family’s Gemini Prime Lamb Sires last Tuesday, with 57 averaging $780.

Despite the industry leading genetics they have always had on offer, Craig and Rosalie Mitchell and family’s results at their last three Gemini Prime Lamb Sires’ sales have at last reflected that quality.

Last Wednesday, 3rd February, they sold 57 Gemini White Suffolk ram lambs to a top of $1150, and averaged a solid $780 in a 95% clearance. This consolidates the results at their 2015 summer sale when 56 averaged $747, and follows on from their superb spring sale last October when 78 flock rams averaged $1259.

All the rams on offer were June 2015 drops, being exceptionally well grown, even in quality and type, and were supported by industry leading Lambplan figures. This included an average Carcase Plus index of 193.73, 12% above the average for all terminal sires.

Competition from the 14 registered bidders was solid throughout and buyers found their select lots no matter where they were in the catalogue. Ten rams sold for $1000 or better, with half of these being the first six lots, but three also being in the last eight lots. While the demand was good, with the result being solid and consistent with last year’s summer sale, it still gave excellent value to buyers, especially considering the current healthy state of the prime lamb industry. Every registered bidder was successful in purchasing from one to ten rams.

Gordon Last, Garvald Vale Partnership, Byaduk discovered the quality on offer at the 2015 Gemini spring sale when he purchased eight rams at a $1456 average. He was delighted to be able to follow that up in this summer sale, purchasing a further 10 rams, paying to $1000 and averaging $725, less than half his spring sale average which he still considered great value. Interestingly, it was the last ram in the catalogue that he thought to be the best one on offer and bid the $1000 necessary to get him. With figures of 15.10 for growth, -0.50 for fat and 2.40 for eye muscle depth, culminating in a Carcase Plus index of 204.38, he had strong supporting data for that claim.

James Meek, Meek Farming Trust, Shelford purchased just two rams, but went further than any of the other bidders in paying the sale’s $1150 top price for Gemini 150119 at lot 4. This was the highest indexed ram in the catalogue with figures of 16.70 for post weaning weight, -0.30 for fat, 1.90 for eye muscle depth and a C+ index of 206.02. Their other purchase was at $1000, averaging $1075 for their two rams.

Alan Wishart, representing Burnbrae Pastoral, Inverleigh was also strong, paying the equal second top price of $1050 in purchasing four rams at a $963 average.

Amanda Manifold, Milangil Pastoral Co. Pty Ltd, Camperdown also went to $1050 for one of eight rams she purchased, but with her other purchases being of even greater value, her buying average was just $775.

Also purchasing eight rams and paying to $1000 while averaging $819, was Scott Dennis, Birregurra.

Murray Johns, Bellbrae gained some of the best value considering the evenness of the catalogue, averaging just $633 for six rams.

Also prominent by purchasing four rams each were Neil Gough representing IC Read Trust, Camperdown (ave $925), Malcolm Little, Birregurra (ave $813), Andrew Tucker, Anakie (ave $650), and Vince O’Loughlan, Woorndoo (ave $613).

Sale agents: HF Richardson, Charles Stewart and Glasser Total Sale Management with Miles Pfitzner (GTSM) doing the auctioneering.

To highlight the great quality and value at the Mitchell family’s summer White Suffolk ram sale, these 4 ram lambs (7 to 8 months old) sold for an average of just $812.50 to Malcolm Little, Birregurra, Vic.

Sizzling reward for quality at Gemini

October 30, 2015 by gemadmin

Sizzling reward for quality at Gemini

Courtesy of
Ian Turner
October 2015

Pictured with the $3600 top priced White Suffolk ram at the Gemini sale are purchaser Anthony Ferguson, Anna Villa stud, Weetulta, SA, auctioneer Miles Pfitzner (GTSM) and Gemini’s Chloe, Emily and Craig Mitchell, Werneth.

SALE SUMMARY

WHITE SUFFOLK STUD RAMS

	2015	2014
Offered	4	4
Sold	4	4
Top	$3600	$6250
Average	$2725	$3283

WHITE SUFFOLK FLOCK RAMS

	2015	2014
Offered	78	89
Sold	78	49
Top	$2200	$1200
Average	$1259	$901

SUFFOLK RAMS

	2015	2014
Offered	2	2
Sold	2	1
Top	$2000	$625
Average	$1850	$625

Agents: Glasser Total Sale Management, HF Richardson, Charles Stewart

Auctioneer: Miles Pfitzner (GTSM)

One of the big secrets in the prime lamb industry is out. The quality of genetics being produced and presented by the Mitchell family’s Gemini stud at Werneth, Vic was at last recognised by more prime lamb producers and produced a sizzling spring sale result after years of undervalued sales.

Five buyers new to Gemini had a huge influence on the result, bidding strongly from the start to the end and collectively purchasing 56% of the 82 White Suffolk and two Suffolk rams sold in a total clearance.

As a result there was a 67% increase in rams sold in comparison with this sale last year and a 48% increase in sale average from $901 up to $1330.

Craig, Rosalie, Emily and Chloe Mitchell had penned a magnificent quality draft of rams for buyer competition through Geelong based sale agents HF Richardson and Charles Stewart, with Glasser Total Sale Management’s Miles Pfitzner auctioneering the bidding in a very professional manner, extracting warranted industry level value for the rams.

“Whether you look at them visually or at their outstanding performance figures across the board on Lambplan, these rams compare more than favourably with the best anywhere in the country,” Miles Pfitzner said.

Secrets don’t remain so for long and through recent contacts with people of influence in the processing, advisory and breeding sectors; word has obviously spread on the Gemini quality. No doubt the Mitchell family’s involvement as hosts of a Lamb Industry Forum in August with Nathan Scott from Achieve Ag Solutions and Ben Verrall from Australian Lamb Co Pty Ltd was important; while the huge success of the Wheetlande stud at Adelaide in September, topping the Elite ram sale at $22,000 for a ram and establishing a new breed record of $4750 for their supreme ewe, both sired by Gemini 120207, was another catalyst. The Australian Lamb Co was more than happy to sponsor the delicious lamb lunch at this sale, with Ben Verrall and Angus Lloyd present to witness first-hand the quality being sold.

Stud support extended to four rams. Anthony Ferguson, Anna Villa stud, Weetulta, SA made the trip well worthwhile by purchasing two rams; G140351Tw for the sale’s top price of $3600 and G140123 for $2000. Both had exceptional performance figures culminating in Carcase Plus indices of 201.51 and 204.69 respectively.

G140317, one of the winning interbreed lamb production pair at Hamilton this year commenced the sale and sold for $3300 to the SA based Bundara Downs and Illoura studs in partnership, with Bundara Downs principal Steve Funke bidding via phone connection. Ian Kyle, Ashley Park stud, Bairnsdale also paid $2000 for G140045 and later purchased both Suffolk rams offered by Emily and Chloe Mitchell for $2000 and $1700. The four White Suffolk stud rams averaged $2725.

Crawford Dowling Ballarat agent, John McKinnon operated strongly from the beginning on behalf of client Oaklands View. He was the biggest volume buyer in the sale with 13 rams, including seven from the 17 specially selected rams presented by Gemini. The wisdom of being prepared to bid early was well rewarded. All 13 he purchased were in the first half of the catalogue, yet he averaged $1319, marginally below the overall average for the White Suffolk draft. He paid from $800 to $1700.

Another of the new clients having a big impact was Kurt Nesseler, Glenample Pty Ltd, Princetown. He bid to the $2200 top for rams going to commercial clients in purchasing 12 rams at a $1642 average, a price he felt more than acceptable for rams of this quality. A reflection of that quality was the last pen of three White Suffolks that he purchased for $1500 each. These had an average Carcase Plus index of 200.8.

Gordon Last, Garvald Vale Partnership, Hamilton came with no buying intentions, but rather to observe the quality on offer, but was so impressed he went home with eight of the best performers, paying from $1300 to $1700 and averaging $1456.

James and Rebeca Hamilton, Bradfield Hills, Maldon operated on a lower budget yet were still successful in purchasing nine rams from $900 to $1100 and at a $989 average.

Regular clients who were pushed to higher levels than anticipated because of the bidding strength of these new buyers included Tony Noble and son in law Brent Harwood, Fairholme Pastoral Co, Birragurra. They were willing to take on the bidding challenge and purchased four from $1400 to $2000 and at a $1750 average. They have always chased the best performers and been prepared to pay to get them, indicating they had been getting them cheaply in the past.

David Bain, Woorndoo was another repeat client who competed strongly and bid on many lots before securing eight rams from $800 to $1300 and at a $1031 average.

“While we were pushed to pay more than anticipated, I’d have to say the worst ram I purchased today is better than the best I’ve been able to purchase elsewhere,” David said post sale.

The Mitchells were extremely pleased with the result and in an emotional post sale thank you to all who purchased; Craig Mitchell made special mention of regular clients who have been getting such good results with their lambs.

Pictured with the $3300 second priced ram at the Gemini sale purchased by the Bundara Downs and Illoura studs, SA are Mitchell family members Chloe, Emily, Rosalie and Craig Mitchell, Werneth, Vic.

Emily and Chloe Mitchell are with Ian Kyle, Ashley Park stud, Bairnsdale, Vic holding the $2000 Suffolk ram he purchased from the girls’ Gemini Suffolk stud.

Three new Gemini buyers who had a big impact on the sale result, Kurt Nesseler, ‘Glenample’, Princetown, 12 rams; John McKinnon, Crawford Dowling Ballarat and buying for ‘Oakland View’, 13 rams; Gordon Last, Garvald Vale Partnership, Byeduk, 8 rams, are with GTSM auctioneer Miles Pfitzner and Gemini’s Emily Mitchell.

Gemini principal Craig Mitchell is pictured post sale with purchasers Anthony Ferguson, Anna Villa stud, Weetulta, two stud rams including $3600 top; and James and Rebecca Hamilton, Bradford Hills, Maldon, Vic who purchased nine rams.