BIDDERS competed strongly on the 292 White Suffolk, Poll Merino and maternal composite rams offered at the Ella Matta ram sale on Kangaroo Island on Friday, with just two rams unsold at the final fall of the hammer.
Andrew, Tracie and Jamie Heinrich and their staff sold 290 rams to 61 registered bidders, topping at $15,500 and averaging $1399.
All of the 198 White Suffolks offered had Carcase Plus indices of more than 200, while all but eight were at that level on the Lamb Eating Quality index. All but one of the 198 cleared at a $1330 average.
There was a lot of pre-sale interest in the lot 1 White Suffolk ram, EM 170300. It boasted a weaning weight estimated breeding value of 19.1, eye muscle EBV of 3.0 and a worm egg count EBV of -51.8, supported by a Carcase Plus index of 227.1, Lamb 2020 index of 119.2 and Lamb Eating Quality index of 167.6 – all in the top 5 per cent of industry figures. It was sired by EM 150097, a $10,000 private sale ram from two years ago.
Damien Hawker, Omad stud, Kaniva, Vic, secured lot 1 for the sale’s top price of $15,500. In describing his purchase, Mr Hawker said he was particularly impressed by the ram’s sound structure, especially its smooth shoulders and neck extension with enough meat in the back end.
“I am hoping it will breed top commercial industry rams with a great balance of Australian Sheep Breeding Values and meat industry traits in our stud,” Mr Hawker said.
“It is hard to find rams with top figures across the board, and most in the top 1pc like it has, combined with such a balanced and sound phenotype. It is also a genetic outcross for us, meaning we can use it widely within our stud.”
Keith Ladyman and Jill Clark, Kantara stud, Dumbleyung, WA, sent a buying order for lot 2 – EM170064Tw by Bundara Downs 12261 – and paid the second-highest price of $6000 for their chosen sire. It showed exceptional fleshing with an extreme post-weaning weight of 20.3 and Carcase Plus index of 235.3 – the highest in the catalogue.
Fellow WA stud buyer Warren Thompson, Hedingham stud, Wickepin, bought EM170709, an outstanding carcase ram with an eye muscle figure of 2.8, growth EBV of 17.1 and Carcase Plus index of 220.4, for $2500.
Scott Welke, Cascade stud, Esperance, WA, secured impressive and structurally brilliant EM170039ET – with the highest growth EBV in the catalogue of 20.7 and a Carcase Plus index of 222.9 – for the same great value price.
Paul and Margaret Stephens, Victor Harbor, were back again for selective high performing rams and bought three, twice going to $3200 and averaging $2667.
Neighbours Sam and Helen Mumford were again strong bidders at the top end, taking 10 rams from $1000 to $2800, averaging $1490.
At the other end of the price scale and demonstrating the value available was Bill Buttrose, also buying 10 rams but outlaying from $800 to $1200 and averaging just $940. These 10 had an average Carcase Plus index of 208.54.
Dominating the volume buying was Robert Benny, bidding for NR&CA Kolhagen, Maitland. He bought 21 White Suffolk rams, paying to $1300 and averaging $957.
Last year’s biggest volume buyers with 17 rams, Lachlan and Tiffany Bell, Bella Vista, Kingscote, bought 15 White Suffolks and then added two maternal composites. Their 17 rams this year averaged $918.
The $3000 top price in the maternal composite offering that followed was paid by repeat buyers Rick and Annie Morris, Gosse. This was their only composite purchase, adding to their six White Suffolks; their seven rams averaging $1800.
The volume buyer in the composite draft was Kerryn Muntz, buying for Steve Childs, Karatta. She paid from $800 to $2700 and averaged $1225 for eight in the draft.
Thirty-eight of the 39 composites sold, averaging $1058.
The sale concluded with the Poll Merino offering, with strong pre-sale interest prompting the addition of 11 rams to the originally catalogued 44-lot offering. All 55 cleared to a new Ella Matta high of $5200 and averaged $1882.
Leading the way was Glen Tilley, Hillcott Grove Props, Kapunda. He paid both the $5200 top for EM41 and the second-highest price of $4200 for EM106 in his three purchases, averaging $3800. The top ram had a clean fleece weight EBV of 25.5, a worm egg count value of -53.9, positive fat and muscle, and negative micron.
It was in the top 5pc of several Merino Select indices with a Dual Purpose Plus index of 169.2 and Merino Production Plus index of 157.5.
“I selected the top ram for its growth rate, muscling, positive fat for doing ability, wool weight, staple length and the outstanding balanced figures across the board, plus its wool has that much-needed nourishment,” Mr Tilley said.
“With all the information available and the performance levels they have, these Ella Matta rams are true dual-purpose Merinos.”
Bill Walker, Classings Limited, Murray Bridge, paid $3000 for lot 4 – EM142 – on behalf of Alan Stewart, Stockton stud, Bairnsdale, Vic. This ram had a CFW figure of +21.4 and a Dual Purpose Plus index of 165.1.
Mr Walker then went to $4000 on the next ram, EM274, for O’Brien Poll, Kyancutta. This ram’s clean fleece weight EBV was 25.2 and its Dual Purpose Plus index was 150.2.
Simon and Madeline Kelly, Mine Creek Partners, took eight Poll Merinos from $800 to $2200. These added to their eight earlier White Suffolk purchases from $1000 to $1600. Their 16 rams averaged $1388.
Through the Auctions Plus network, Ryan Smart, Keith bought four Poll Merinos to $2300 and averaged $2025, while SR&L Morgan also secured four, averaging $1650.
Landmark and Elders conducted the sale, with Landmark’s Leo Redden and Elders’ Tony Wetherall taking bids.
