SALE SUMMARY
2019 2018
Offered 128 100
Sold 128 100
Top $2200 $2200
Av $1279 $1250
MALLEE White Sufffolk stud Elton Downs has continued its rapid ascension in the on-property sales calendar with a higher average and more rams sold than 2018 at its third annual ram sale last Friday at Karoonda.
The Rudiger family has been able to rapidly grow its numbers in a short time with the purchase of two studs, Leawarra at Willunga in 2016 and then the Churchill stud, Wirrega in October last year.
This depth of quality shone out with a total clearance of 128 rams for a $1279 average.
Buyers came from the Mid North, Mallee, Kangaroo Island and Upper South East.
The sale's $2200 top price - equaling last year's result- came at lot 8 for an August 2018 drop son of Ashmore 200 which was born a triplet.
AA&AG Florance, Kingscote, paid the top money for the Churchill-bred ram which had a good balance of figures including a 0.28 birth weight, post weaning weight of 16.1, eye muscle depth of 2.4 and 143.5 Terminal Carcase Production Index.
It was one of the KI buyers three buys.
Lot 3, made the sale's second highest price of $2100, selling to Bergan Park, Keith.
Three buyers bought 10 or more rams each helping underpin the sale's success.
Majula Farms Pty Ltd, Balaklava, were the biggest of these with 15 rams averaging $1313.
GM&JL Obst, Wanbi, secured 11 rams averaging $1127 and Willis Farm Trust, Tarlee, took home 10 rams averaging $1180.
Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber described it as a "fantastic sale" with buyers appreciating the top quality of the rams which averaged 92 kilograms, with minimal preparation.
He said the stud had embraced the new TCP figure with the majority more than 140.
"It was great support for great people with really good sheep ," he said.
"There were buyers from many different areas including some old clients of Leawarra and some Churchill clients- it was a good mix."
Spence Dix & Co was the selling agent.