Demand exceeds supply at Kattata Well

The 40 registered bidders competed on a line-up of 120 rams, matching last year's $3000 top price. The sale average of $1221 was $41 back on last year.

Mark Hoffrichter, Maramville, Ceduna, paid the $3000 top for KW180258. This well-balanced son of Kurralea 231 had figures to back up its impressive phenotype, including 18.4 for post-weaning weight, -1.1 for PW fat and 1.0 for PW eye muscle depth, culminating in a Carcase Plus index of 207 and 144 on the new Terminal Carcase Production Index, ranking the ram in the top 25 per cent nationally.

Also prominent on the top lots was Ricky Skinner, Skinner Bros, Karkoo, who paid to $2800 and averaged $2200 for three rams. He found his top purchase - KW180566, a September-drop by Farrer 19 that had the equal-highest TCP index in the catalogue of 151 - just 15 lots from the end of the catalogue.

Ryan Boot, Boot Family Trust, Lock, bought another of the three equal-highest TCP indexed rams in his four purchases, paying to $2400 and averaging $2025.

Nathan Hebberman, Hebberman Bros, Poochera, had the highest average of $2133 after buying three rams to $2600, while Butch Dunn, AC&JL Dunn Family Trust, Ceduna, went to the equal-second-highest price of $2800 in securing four at a $1975 average. The top ram for both these buyers were Farrer 99 sons.

The volume buyer was again Gary and Bernie Crettenden, GJ&DJ Crettenden, Cummins. They took 17 rams, paying to $1900 and averaging $1147. This included the other equal-highest ranking TCP indexed ram, bought for just $1000.

Related reading: Top White Suffolk hits $2000 at Galaxy Park

While the top-end competition was strong, there was also plenty of value with almost half the catalogue selling for $1000 or less.

Making the most of that value was Elders' Paul Kilby, Streaky Bay, who bought 12 rams at $600 each for DM&JL Gazzola, Streaky Bay.

Several buyers took home five rams - John and Luke Kelsh, Streaky Bay, bought five to $2000, averaging $1140, Vince Tomney, Tootla Well, Streaky Bay, bid to $1300 and averaged $880, Tim Hammat, Oakley Partners, Spalding, paid to $1000, averaging $820, and Jeff Biggs, Westwud, Wudinna, averaged $740 and paid to $800.

Also among the volume buyers were Rodney Hammat, Woodleigh Hills, Spalding, with four to $2000, averaging $1750, Ian and Johnny Montgomery, Benbutter, four to $1500, averaging $1300, and Peter and Nicole Roe, Streaky Bay, with four to $1600, averaging $1250.

Each year, the Hull family donate the proceeds from their lot 45 ram to the Cancer Council, in memory of their great mate, the late Brenton Joyce. Elders Streaky Bay's Darryl Johnson - whose son is married to Mr Joyce's daughter Shannon - bought the ram for $1300

The Hull family were delighted with the overall sale support, and reported another 30 rams were sold from private selections after the sale.

"We were certainly a bit nervous before the sale, but credit to the agents (Quality Livestock and EP Livestock) who did an awesome job in attracting the demand and of course, we are very thankful to all the buyers who came and competed for our rams," stud co-principal Leroy Hull said.

Related reading: White Suffolk-cross boosts growth and returns

Fellow co-principal Rohan Hull said the number of return clients was a vote of confidence in their breeding program.

"We are very happy with the rams we are breeding - long, stretchy sheep with good shape and muscling, having ease of lambing and fast growth to enable clients to get their lambs off quickly to the butcher," Rohan said.

Eyre Peninsula Livestock auctioneer Ben Dickenson described the outcome as a "very good result"

"It is no secret that the Hulls have been prepared to invest heavily in top quality genetics from across the country, and that was evident today as there was quality right through this catalogue, from lot 1 to lot 120," he said.

Quality Livestock auctioneer David Whittenbury said Kattata Well clients could be confident their purchases were going to "add to the profitability of their bottom line".

"The rams have depth and capacity, round muscle pattern and good fat cover through those primal cuts, which is where the money is made," he said.

"The bidding was strong right through the sale, which is testament to the depth and quality of the genetics and the level of investment the Hulls have made."