SALE SUMMARY
2017
Offered 70
Sold 44
Top $1800 (x2)
Av $1122
BUYERS bid strongly at Ashmore White Suffolk stud’s inaugural sale at Farrell Flat, but the auction lacked a few more bidders to make it a success.
The Fischer family, Wasleys, bought a large number of Wheetelande ewes and two top rams in the rebuild after the disastrous Pinery fire in 2015.
So after Bob and Idrienne Neill dispersed their Wheetelande stud, the Fischers were keen to continue to offer local clients these bloodlines.
In that quest they presented an excellent lineup of 70 high-quality White Suffolk rams with terrific conformation, skins and wool, plus outstanding performance figures – with the average Carcase Plus Index figure of 200.
In mixed blessings, the buyers present certainly appreciated the quality on offer and competed strongly, bidding up to $1800 and averaging $1122.
The only problem was there were not enough of them, with only 44 of the rams finding new homes.
It was an opportunity missed for those that considered attending but decided not to.
Long-time Wheetelande client Merv Robinson, Jamestown, accompanied by his grandson Henry, paid the $1800 top price twice.
Both June 2016-drops had top performance figures and were sons of Wheetelande 127064 – the reserve junior champion ram from the 2013 Royal Adelaide Show.
Their Carcase Plus indices were 209 and 210 and they also had two of the highest Lamb Eating Quality ratings in the catalogue at 140 and 139.
“They had length where it matters, good skins and hindquarters and they were of Wheetelande bloodlines,” Mr Robinson said.
Butterick Brothers was another Elders Jamestown and ex-Wheetelande client and bought three top rams to $1600, averaging $1267.
The biggest volume client was Fletcher International Exports, Dubbo, NSW, with Landmark’s Peter Marschall doing the bidding.
He successfully bid to $1500 and averaged $1183 for 12 rams.
Elders Roseworthy agent Paul Kilby was kept busy with 10 rams for two accounts.
Burge Estates, Tanunda, bought three to $1000, while JH, KM&PH Neal averaged $1086 for seven rams, paying to $1400.
Dane and Natalie Sommerville, Windjera Ag, buying through Elders Jamestown, bought six rams at a $850 average.
Stud principal Troy Fischer believed the rams they put up matched in well with Wheetelande’s previous offerings.
“We had no expectations of the outcome, but were prepared to have a crack,” he said.
“We were very pleased to be able to present high index rams of this quality and the support they attracted from the gallery that was present.”
Elders and Landmark conducted the sale, with Tom Penna the auctioneer.