SUFFOLKS were strongly sought after at the Mount Pleasant Suffolk Sale.
The multi-vendor sale, combining studs Belmont Props, Springton, and Curlew Valley Suffolks, Saddelworth, sold 64 out of 83 Suffolk rams, all 10 Suffolk stud ewes and the complete run of 20 Border Leicesters.
The sale top price of $2000 was paid twice for two Belmont Props rams.
The first, lot 6, was a 15.5-month-old twin ram with a Carcase Plus index of 168.8.
It also ranked an Australian Sheep Breeding Values as a 0.38 for bodyweight, 12.4 on post weaning weight, fat of -0.8 and eye muscle depth of 0.3.
Buyer Deon Cocks, Northdale Props, Meningie, was impressed by the post weaning weight and shape of the ram.
He said they have bought at the sale most years, and picked up a second ram from Curlew Valley stud, averaging $1750, with the rams to be joined with Merino ewes for first-cross lambs.
Belmont principal Neil Kroehne said the ram was part of this year’s Adelaide Show team.
It was sired by a Bowen ram that had bred exceptionally well for the stud.
“It’s really made us,” he said.
“We’ve used (the sire) for three years, and this will probably be its last year but we’ve got some fairy impressive lambs from it for next year’s sale.”
The Bowen ram also sired the Belmont sire’s progeny group at Adelaide Show, which came fourth in the class.
This ram’s dam was from a Burwood ewe, bought at the stud’s dispersal, which was flushed to an Allendale ram.
The second top price ram was bought by Fiona and Daniel Habermann, Habermann Hohe, Bethany.
It was a 16-month-old twin, with 159C+, 0.38BWT, 7.3WWT, and 10.8PWWT, also from the Bowen sire.
Mr Habermann said this was the first Suffolks they had bought.
Traditionally he has bred White Suffolks rams with Border Leicester/Merino ewes, but wanted to try the Suffolks to see the impact on the fleece.
The Habermanns bought a second ram, averaging $1500.
The rams will be joined with Belmont first-cross ewes.
All 34 of the Belmont Suffolk ram offering sold, at an average $1175.
The full offering of 20 Belmont Border Leicesters also sold, to a top of $1500.
It was paid by G&JR Koopman, Tungkillo, for a 13.5-month-old twin ram from a Johnno’s sire.
The sale also offered three stud ewes from Curlew Valley and seven from Belmont which were all bought to $1200, paid for a 15-month-old ewe with one-month-old ewe lambs at foot.
Buyer Brody O’Day, Orroroo, took home seven of the ewes – two from Curlew Valley and five from Belmont – as the foundation for his yet to be named Suffolk stud.
Mr Kroehn said the decision to sell the ewe and lambs was last minute but turned out to be a good decision.
He was also happy with the entire sale.
“It’s a best ever sale for us,” he said.
“I felt we had them looking the best we can.”
Mr Kroehn said they showed at Adelaide for the first time ever, as well as Gawler Show, and were happy with how the sheep presented there, which was back up by a good sale.
He said there were also a number of new buyers present.
The Curlew Valley Suffolk ram offering sold 30 of the 50 offered, at an average $892 and reached a top of $1100, paid for twin brothers by Rose Ross, Warrenda Props, Lyndoch.
The 13-month-old rams were sired by a Telpara ram, with one measuring 165.6C+ 0.38BW, 12.7PWWT, -0.7fat, 0EMD, as well as a trade value of $108.2 and a lamb eating quality score of 123.1.
The other ram had 0.36BWT, 11.7WWT, -0.6fat, -0.2PEMD, 162.7C+, 122.4LEQ, and trade value of $108.
Ms Ross said the rams presented as very even and the “type” she likes.
Warrenda Props bought 14 Suffolk rams in total.
Curlew Valley principal Rachel Churgwin said she thought the sale performed well.
“It shows there is confidence in the prime lamb industry,” she said.
“It’s good to see people are starting to use Lambplan genetics when making selections.”
Volume buyer was Altus Pastoral, Lameroo, which bought 10 Border Leicesters to $1150, and seven Suffolk rams to $1000.
There was also strong support from Hefford Nominees, through Elders Murray Bridge, which bought 12 Suffolks to $1250.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark with Elders stud stock’s Tony Wetherall wielding the gavel.