A LARGE gallery featuring 58 registered bidders helped the Donnan family, Anden White Suffolks and Ultra Whites and Kerangie Suffolk stud, achieve a $91 lift in the average price at their Woomelang, Vic, auction on Thursday last week.
Across the 225 rams and ewes offered, 197 sold to $6500 and averaged $1506. In the White Suffolks, all 21 stud rams sold to the sale's top price, averaging $2548, all 80 flock rams averaged $1575 and topped at $2000 twice, while 17 of 23 stud ewes sold to $2000, averaging $924.
Fifteen Suffolk rams were offered, with 13 sold to $3500, averaging $1650, while 12 of 14 Suffolk ewes topped at $2300, averaging $1017. In the Ultra Whites, 54 of 72 rams sold to $3200 twice, averaging $1257.
The second ram into the ring, Anden 180001, took the top price honours. Sired by Anden 170045, this powerful and long ram commanded the ring and was supported by outstanding Lambplan figures. These included 12.05 for weaning weight, 18.37 for post-weaning weight, 2.55 for eye muscle depth, a Carcase Plus index of 221.63 and 146.08 on the new Terminal Carcase Production index.
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The sale-topper was snapped up by Nathan Ditchburn, Golden Hill stud, Kukerin, WA, who bid via phone through Nick Cheetham, Cheetara stud, Narembeen, WA.
Mr Cheetham was also bidding for his own stud, and secured the Donnan family's Royal Adelaide Show supreme White Suffolk ram for $6000. Anden 180179, a twin, had a Carcase Plus index of 205.1.
The Hull family, Kattata Well stud, Port Kenny - which bought Anden 'Cruiser' 150277 for a record $68,000 two years ago - picked up the impressive Anden 180045, with a Carcase Plus index of 216.84, for $4000.
G&D Meyer, through HF Richardson, Ballarat, Vic, paid $3250 for A180238, a son of high performance sire Woolumbool 173980, while the Prentice family, Kurralea stud, Ariah Park, NSW, was able to get their pick, Anden 180101 with a Carcase Plus index of 213.21, for $3000. The Prentices also paid $3250 for a Suffolk ram later in the sale.
Repeat buyer Wirrinourt Pastoral Co bought two of the White Suffolk stud draft at $2000 each, before securing 12 from the flock ram draft, again paying to $2000 twice, and averaging $1758 for those 12.
Two volume buyers made their mark on the Ultra White offering. Saxilby Park Pastoral selected 14 rams, paying to $1800 and averaging $1029, while the Rae family, Warrawee Pastoral bought nine to $1800, averaging $1489.
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The top price of $3200 was paid twice, firstly by Khan White Dorpers, Goodooga, NSW, which finished with two averaging $2650, and Bronte Mawson, Australis White Dorpers, Strathalbyn.
The top price Suffolk ram, Anden 180501Tw by Pamellen 150074, had a Carcase Plus index of 188.42, and went to the Funke family, Bundara Downs, Bordertown.
G&H McKenzie, through Elders Ballarat, was the volume buyer, with six Suffolks to $1400, averaging $1233.
In the ewe offering, D&B Grosser, Oakdale stud, Serviceton, Vic, bought the $2300 top price Suffolk - Kerangie 180490 with a Carcase Plus index of 188.51.
Anden and Kerangie senior principal Andrew Donnan was delighted with the support from those who bid on their sheep, especially their many long and loyal commercial lamb producer clients.
Elders conducted the sale, with Ross Milne and Aaron Zwar at the rostrum.
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