SALE SUMMARY
White Suffolks 2016 2015
Offered 105 100
Sold 86 76
Top $1600 $1200
Av $834 $817
A NEW era for the Duenclin White Suffolk and Prime SAMM stud was heralded with an increased clearance rate and increased average at their Perponda on-property auction last week.
The stud’s main sale was previously held at the Huxtable family’s Kaniva, Vic, property before the Border Leicester stud was dispersed, with Clinton continuing the operation in the Mallee.
Mr Huxtable was “absolutely rapt” with the result of the sale – the first held at Perponda since 2013.
“I didn’t expect to sell that many rams let alone get those sort of prices given our move from Kaniva,” he said.
“We decided we weren’t getting out of sheep and would continue to breed White Suffolks and SAMMs, so we’ve kept the sale going up here.”
There was a good buyer response, with new and existing clients lifting the White Suffolk clearance rate by four per cent on last year.
Overall, 85 of 106 White Suffolks sold to $1600, averaging $834, while 12 of 26 Prime SAMMs sold to $1300, averaging $850.
Topping the pick-of-the-pen sale were the first three lots, two of which were bought by Peter Leedham, Kalyan, at $1600.
Mr Leedham liked the size and early growth of the two 16-month-old rams, which will be joined to self-replacing Merino ewes.
Both rams were sired by Sunnybanks 5-13.
Lot 1 had a 15.3 kilogram post weaning weight, -0.6 post-weaning fat, 0.2mm post-weaning eye muscle depth, and rated 111 on the lamb 20/20 index.
Lot 4 had a 15kg pww, -1.1 pfat, 0.1mm pwemd and rated 110.9 on the lamb 20/20 index.
The other $1600 ram was bought by BJ&BG Pfeiffer, Parrakie, who took home four overall, averaging $1425.
GW&JM Flohr, Lameroo, were the sale’s volume buyers, with 24 White Suffolks to $900, averaging $717.
Rich Farming, Goroke, Vic, bought 12 rams to $900, averaging $775, while DC Symonds, Karoonda, took five to $1000, averaging $920.
The two $1300 top price Prime SAMMS were bought by JJ&JG&HE Huxtable, Geranium.
Mr Huxtable said the stud had some clear breeding goals moving forward.
“We want to keep the length and keep the muscle, and maintain good growth rates,” he said.