WITH 61 registered bidders from three states jostling to secure their chosen lots, the Funke family, Bundara Downs, Western Flat, lifted their overall sale average by $45 to $1179 at their 21st annual on-property auction on Friday.
Overall, Steve, Ros, Greg and Selina Funke sold 270 of the 322 White Suffolk, Poll Dorset and Suffolk rams on offer, topping at $2200 three times.
The three top price lots were all White Suffolks, with two secured by interstate buyers.
RJ Hage paid $2200 for BD 8577, with a Carcase Plus Index of 211 and an Australian Sheep Breeding Values eye muscle figure of 3.
Stormylodge, Wagga Wagga, NSW, secured BD 8838 – sired by BD 2261 and boasting a Carcase Plus Index of 226 – for the same price.
Rounding out the top price trio, Stuart Kyle, Westech Ag Kyle Livestock, Vic, bought BD 9327Tw, with a Carcase Plus Index of 214, for client Gumlee Park.
Mr Kyle operated on behalf for four clients, taking 14 White Suffolk rams in total. R Crouch & Co, with six rams to $1500, averaging $1283, was the most prominent among them.
The two most dominant buyers were a repeat of last year, headed by Leon and Tim Schwarz, Muston Creek, Hamilton, Vic. They bought 41 White Suffolk and Poll Dorset rams, paying to $1900 and averaging $1415. Included in their 14 Poll Dorsets were all four that made the breed’s $1800 top price.
Ben Stark, Stark Grazing, Naracoorte, was the dominant Poll Dorset ram buyer, with 20 rams to $1700, averaging $1165.
First-time buyer LS Johnson & Son, Naracoorte, bought 10 Poll Dorsets, paying to $1600, averaging $1170.
Nanni Di Giorgio, Lucindale, was selectively strong in his bidding, buying seven Poll Dorsets to $1700 at a healthy average of $1600.
PPHS Naracoorte’s Richard Harvey had a big influence on the overall result, buying for seven clients. Most prominent amongst them was Munga Park, Frances, with 15 averaging $873; Banning Partners, Lucindale, with eight averaging $700; and AJ&PK Schubert, five averaging $1620.
Other volume buyers include Matt Fiebig, Keith, with eight White Suffolks and one Suffolk to $1400, averaging $944; TJ&JL Altus, Bordertown, with eight White Suffolks to $1200, averaging $913; Karwin Nominees, Field, seven White Suffolks to $1800, averaging $1386; and Hyfield Pastoral, Keith, six Poll Dorsets to $1500, averaging $1383.
Other buyers of note included Feder Farming, Lillimur, Vic, six to $1600, averaging $1567; Bennett Farms, six to $1700, averaging $1183, PA&MA Thorpe, Kingston SE, five averaging $920; BA Mewett & JA Wesley, five averaging $880 and KW Exton, five averaging $767.
Continuing a long tradition, the proceeds of lot 19 were donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, with neighbours Kym and Leanne Krause taking the charity ram at $1800 among their five purchases averaging $1380. Through the years, the Funkes have donated more than $20,000 to the RFDS, and Bordertown RFDS president Grid Hubl was on-hand to accept the donation on the charity’s behalf.
The sale was conducted by Elders Bordertown & SAL Naracoorte, with SAL’s Laryn Gogel and Elders’ Ronnie Dix taking bids.
