Buyers from across Australia snapped up superior rams and ewes at the South Australian White Suffolk Foundation Breeders sale yesterday, held at the Illoura stud, Moorlands.
Bundara Downs, Bordertown, presented stock for the first time at the annual sale alongside Illoura, Anna Villa and Wingamin.
Each stud offered four rams for of which nine cleared to a top of $6000, averaging $3667.
The top ram was bought by Bronte Gregurke, Teakle Hill White Suffolks, Tumby Bay via phone connection.
The 147-kilogram Wingamin ram carried a champion pedigree, with post weaning values of 16.20 weight, -0.90 fat and 1.50 eye muscle depth.
Wingamin’s Deb Shillabeer, Karoonda, said it was a smart ram with plenty of length and muscle.
The sale attracted several interstate buyers from the eastern states and GR&DJ Binghalmk, Ibespon Stud, Katanning, WA, purchased one Anna Villa ram for $3000.
In the ewe selection, 50 of 80 sold to $600 three times, averaging $362.
Three ewes went to a $600 top, two of which also came from Wingamin and were bought by R&CS Rudiger, Elton Downs, Karoonda.
Chris Rudiger picked up four rams averaging $1587 and said as a relatively new stud, they were looking for ewes that had good structure, were correct on feet, and “appealed to the eye”.
Illoura also recieved $600 for a 16-month old ewe, bought by Yendara White Suffolks, Macarthur, Victoria, who bought to introduce new genetics to their expanding stud numbers.
Yendara bidder Sara Morgan, bought 19 ewes averaging $345, looking for early maturity and carcase attributes.
Ms Morgan did meet some swift competition from AC&HK Davis, Bonnie Doon, Monak, NSW, who bought 15 sheep, which included one Anna Villa ram for $3000 and a range of ewes to $450, averaging $332.
Other volume buyers included AMP Farms Trust, Tungkillo, with six ewes averaging $350, and RT RG&KA Martin, Emu, Vic, bought one Bundara ram for $300 and four ewes averaging $350.
Anna Villa stud principal Anthony Ferguson, Weetulta, said it was a ‘buyers dream’ for one of the best line ups of ewes the sale has had with their consistent type and presentation.
New vendor Steve Funke, Bandura Downs, said the sheep were all presented as if it was a one vendor sale with not much variance in the quality, structure and frame of the sheep.
Host Allan Piggott, Illoura, said it was a bit quieter than usual, so it was a great sale for the purchases.
Landmark stud stock auctioneer Richard Miller said it was good to see some repeat and new buyers at the sale.
“The small buying gallery saw value for money.on a run of very well presented, industry focused sheep from four of the leading White Suffolk studs in the state.”
Landmark and Elders conducted the sale with Mr Miller and Elders Tom Penna as auctioneers.