A LIFT in clearance and the presence of both regular and new buyers left the Shillabeer framily, Wingamin White Suffolks, Karoonda, happy after their 23rd annual on-property auction.
The sale topped at $2100, with 97 of 113 rams selling for an average of $1078. While the average was similar to last year, the clearance rate rose almost 20 per cent.
Securing the top price ram was Jamie Withers, Nalpa Station, Wellington, who said the staion would use the $2100 White Suffolk to breed its own rams, which would then be put over their Merino ewe flock.
"We've been regular clients of the Shillabeer's in the past and I thought that ram was beautifully balanced with plenty of growth, typical of what we'd expect from Wingamin," he said.
The August 2018-drop ram had a Carcase Plus index of 220, and figures of 17.5 post-weaning weight, -0.1PW fat depth and a 2.9 PW eye muscle depth.
It was sired by new outcross sire Warburn 160048, which was bought for $16,000 by Wingamin in shares with Prestige Farm White Suffolk Stud, Montana, USA.
Bidding also reached $2000 for lot 2, an April 2018-drop ram bought by SD&AM Webb, Balaklava.
The April 2018-drop ram had a C+ index of 209, and figures of 16.5 PWWT, -0.2 PFAT and a 2.3 PEMD.
The Mid North client bought seven rams in total to $2000, averaging $1486.
Regular volume buyer John Farley, Peake, filled his sheet once again taking 22 rams all to $800.
BJ&BG Pfeiffer, Parrakie, bought eight rams to $1500, averaging $1200, while NM&JN White, Cooke Plains, took eight to $900, averaging $838.
AWP MacAllan, Red Creek, bought six rams to $1900, averaging $1567, with HJ&PD Ferguson, Walpeup, Vic, taking six to $1200, averaging $900, and Yarrabah Props, Bordertown, buying six to $1100, averaging $1017.
Stud principal Clive Shillabeer said they were pleased to see regular clients and a handful of new faces, with buyers travelling from as far as the Mid North and Walpeup in the Victorian Mallee.
"We were very happy with the sale result today considering the seasonal conditions we've had in the past two years," he said.
"We've had to a bit more hand feeding during that time."
Elders southern region livestock manager Laryn Gogel said the Wingamin lineup impressed with its type and depth of "big-framed, carcase machine rams".
"Knowing where we were last year and knowing how we haven't really expanded our ewe flocks, I thought it was a very good sale result," he said.
"We haven't got any more ewes out in the paddocks, so we've obviously seen a little more confidence with the way the lamb prices have been going. Clients have been rewarded there so confidence has come into play."
Elders conducted the sale, with Mr Gogel the auctioneer.
