WHITE Suffolk stud Elton Downs has once again smashed its on-property records by selling an increased offering at a higher average price during its fourth annual ram sale at Karoonda on Friday.
The Rudiger family were "absolutely gobsmacked" to sell all 170 rams on offer - 42 more than last year's offering - to a new top price of $2900 and averaging $1694 - a $415 increase on the 2019 sale.
"We were a bit blown away by it all," stud principal Chris Rudiger said.
"It was raining on the day, which may have helped enthusiasm, and it was great to see both return clients and many new faces among the crowd.
"But a lot went home empty handed so we plan to offer a lot more rams next year to try and continue to give as many buyers as many options as possible."
There was 54 buyers registered for the sale, spanning from the Mid North to the Mallee to the South East, Kangaroo Island and one from Vic, with 38 going home with rams, which were mainly June to August 2019-drops.
The $2900 top price ram at lot 10 was bought by return client MF&MC Freund & Son, Coonalpyn, who took home three averaging $2467.
The top White Suffolk was by home-bred sire ED181302, and weighed 115.5 kilograms.
It had a birthweight figure of 0.35, post-weaning weight of 16.3, PW fat of 0.1 and PW eye muscle depth of 2.3, while it ranked 143.7 on the Terminal Carcase Production index.
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The sale's $2600 second-highest price ram at lot 25 was also bought by a return client - Bergan Park, Keith.
It was sired by Illoura 17657, weighing 120.5kg and recording figures of 0.3BWT, 13.8PWWT, -0.5PWfat, 2.2PWEMD and 140.6TCP.
Bergan Park bought five rams at the top end, averaging $2140.
Also going strong for their selections and buying in bulk were new client CLRS Trading Trust, Riverton, who went home with 16 rams to $2500, averaging $1925, while Majula Trust, Balaklava, returned to buy 14 rams to $2100, averaging $1671.
Willis Farm Trust, Tarlee, bought 11 rams to $2100, averaging $1955; while Longtrail Farms, Parilla, bought 10 rams to $2100, averaging $1810.
A number of buyers went home with eight rams, including new client TW&EN Mackereth, Naracoorte, to $2000, averaging $1713; Arcoona, Lameroo, to $1900, averaging $1525; and Panmura Props, Keith, to $2000, averaging $1550; while seven rams went to new client DM&JK Muster, Pinnaroo, averaging $1371, and Parilla Premuim Potatoes, Parilla, averaged $1400.
Auctioneer Luke Schrieber from Spence Dix & Co, who conducted the sale, said the depth of quality in the line-up was "truly incredible" and therefore sold accordingly.
"The Rudigers are sticklers for structural correctness and the line-up was strong down to the back of the catalogue," he said.
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