THE Baker family's Southern Pastures stud bowed out in style last week, as the family dispersed its well-known Southdown, Texel and Aussie Downs flocks at Simpson.

A large crowd - many of whom were there out of respect for the late Geoff Baker, who founded the stud and died in March, aged 82 - saw the complete clearance of 255 ewes.

Many new Southdown studs took the opportunity to get into the breed. In all, 173 joined Southdown stud ewes sold, for an average of $1071.

Their unjoined sisters, 55 of them, averaged $518, while 24 Aussie Downs - a cross between the Southdown and Texels - averaged $479 and three Texels averaged $383.

In the small ram offering, six older sires averaged $2167, and younger rams made $1571 on balance. Only two rams were passed in.

The top prices were $3500 for a Southdown ewe and $4000 for a ram, paid by Ross Cowley of Southern Downs, Cobden.

Mr Cowley said he liked the temperament and bloodlines of his purchases.

"I think Geoff and his stud will be remembered by the fact that he was always for the benefit of the breed.

"It didn't matter who owned the sheep, he would always focus on the breed and improving it," he said.

The dispersal was also a significant day for the Dehnert family of Fernhill Southdown stud at Ballan.

Graeme Dehnert, his sister Lynette and their mother Jessie bought 52 ewes in all, to expand their Southdown flock.

Mr Dehnert said his father, Bert, and Geoff Baker had been great friends in sheep breeding.

Bert died when Mr Dehnert was 11 and Mr Baker was, from then on, "like a father figure" to the young boy.

"We used to talk on the phone every Sunday night for many years, and he taught me a great deal," Mr Dehnert said.

"His stud was one of the best going, so this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to get more of these bloodlines."

Mr Baker's sons, John and Peter, both dairy farmers, said they were very pleased the dispersal had gone so well.

"We hope that the people who bought the sheep get as much pleasure out of them as our Dad did," Peter said.

John said the decision to disperse the stud was difficult, as it was the end of an era.

But, he said, the family was glad to see the sheep go to individuals who shared Geoff's passion.

Peter said his father's memory had been a virtual catalogue of all the stud sheep.

"He lived for his sheep, and cattle too; he was a very good stockman," he said.