SALE SUMMARY
2017 2015
Offered 83 75
Sold 68 75
Top $3600 (x2) $3500
Av $957 $575
DETPA Grove White Suffolk stud’s eighth biennial mated ewe sale soared to a $3600 stud record twice at Jeparit, Vic, on Tuesday last week.
Clive, Deb and Caitlin Shillabeer, Wingamin stud, Karoonda, outbid 20 registered bidders from four states to secure both ewes from the Pipkorn family.
The first – lot 3, DG 130167 – was bought in partnership with Gary Heilig, Prestige Farm, Montana, United States.
The daughter of Wingamin 112462 was among the ‘pick of the pairs’ offering.
This was an opportunity for buyers to select from two elite ewes, with the other lot returned to Detpa Grove’s flock.
The sale-topper was mated to the $68,000 Australian record price meat sheep ram, Anden Cruiser 150277.
Mr Heilig first bought from Detpa Grove in 2007 when he paid $3300, and then paid $3000 and $2200 at the last sale in 2015.
After lambing down, his buys are flushed in an embryo transfer program with the embryos exported.
Wingamin bought the other $3600 ewe, DG150803, in its own right.
The triplet-born ewe was also mated to Anden Cruiser 150277 and had been scanned to have at least twins.
Will Peck, Bayview Downs stud, Mundulla, was the underbidder on both top ewes.
He later bought four to $1600 for a $1225 average.
In the breakdown, 68 outstanding, scanned in-lamb ewes averaged $957 – 66 per cent higher than the 2015 sale. Unsurprisingly, ewes mated to Cruiser were keenly sought, with 15 averaging $1460.
The largest buyer was new stud breeder Stuart McLeod, Nagambie, Vic, who bought 13 ewes to $800 for a $631 average.
“I thought I might as well start with the best,” he said.
Will Milroy, Rangeview stud, Pipers River, Tas, bought seven, paying to $2600 and averaging $1271.
Ellie McDonald, Hopea stud, Dadswells Bridge, Vic, picked up six ewes, paying to $1200 and averaging $650.
The Grossman family, Koonawarra stud, Angaston, bought three ewes to $1300.
Peter Angus, Maroola stud, Mallala, and Stuart Staude, Riddock stud, Bordertown, both averaged $1200 for the two ewes they each bought.
Stud principal David Pipkorn was pleased with the result. “We were naturally very happy with the top end, but it was also good to see both new and repeat clients still able to get quality at value,” he said.
