The group of 10 breeders are coming together for the first Tasmanian commercial multi-breed ram sale in more than 30 years.

Evanstoke Hampshire Down breeder Barry Evans said by the breeders joining together it allowed them a greater chance of a sale. 

“Some of the lesser well-known breeds will be represented... ones that aren’t well represented in the prime lamb industry. We are trying to promote those and expose them to buyers,” Mr Evans said. 

He said both the lack of numbers in the breed and lack of exposure to more prominent buyers was making it difficult to be a small breeder. 

“The bigger breeders have the numbers out there, and they can produce hundreds or rams… I’ve only got one in this sale, that’s all I’ve got. I can't sell that to the big breeders. They’d laugh at me. 

Mr Evans said breeding smaller breeds allowed for unique genetics.

“Our animals have wonderful qualities, some of the old English breeds such as the Suffolk or Hampshire Down have a wonderful meat eating taste. If you could have access to these breeds you would never eat another mass produced one,” he said.

Wattle Ridge Poll Dorsets’ Paul Catterall said the event had been in discussion for a number of years. 

“We sell our sheep privately basically, and we thought it might have been a good idea particularly for people to be able to come to one venue and look at different breeds of rams,” he said. 

“It’s really hard to compete against the bigger sales.”

Suffolk and White Suffolk breeder Carmen Cresswell said due to being smaller breeders they didn't have the volume to run successful individual sales. 

“As a group, if we are all there, it makes it worthwhile for everyone. It gives the buyer the chance to look at breed they haven’t looked at before,” she said. 

The sale will take place at the Longford Show Grounds on December 14 at 2pm. Inspections will start from 11.30am. The event is sponsored by Elders. For more information visit the Facebook Page, Tasmanian Commercial Multi-Breed Ram Sale.