A BETTER clearance rate than last year's sale, and a healthier average, brought a buoyant end to the run of South East ram sales at Ryeview White Suffolks, near Millicent, on October 19.
In the past couple of years, the stud has been infusing proven genetics into its flock, and this year offered the first progeny of Burwood 110629, purchased from the Royal Adelaide Elite Ram Sale in 2012, for $16,000.
Ryeview has a focus on producing easy lambing, quick-growing and structurally sound rams with plenty of length and depth of body and hindquarter.
Of the 74 White Suffolks offered, 36 sold to a small gallery of ten registered buyers from Millicent, Mount Gambier, Tantanoola, Kongorong, Greenways and Mount Burr areas.
A selection Suffolk flock rams and Ryland rams were also offered but met no demand.
First-time buyer Iluka Estate was a strong bidder from the outset, buying the first five rams in the catalogue. It paid the sale high of $1050 thrice, finishing up with 10 rams for an $970 average.
Repeat buyer DM Ferguson, Tantanoola, bought six rams for a $608 average, MT&JP Ridge, Kongorong four for an average of $725 and DJ&M Loxton, Greenways, five for a $700 average.
Elders Stud Stock auctioneer Tom Penna said it was one of the stud's best line-up.
He said the genetics it had introduced would filter through in the next year or two.
Stud principal Michael Osborne was happy with the prices but said a few more buyers would have set the sale up for a great result.
He is looking forward to the next couple of years when they have more of the elite genetics of the Burwood and Waratah progeny on offer.
