It was a "buyers' market" at Newbold's 77th annual on-property sale at Gawler River on Thursday, with a number of new and repeat clients getting value for money in a quality offering of Poll Dorset and White Suffolk sires.
In the breakdown, all 12 Poll Dorset stud rams sold to $3000, averaging $2233, while 57 of 98 flock rams sold to $2000 twice, averaging $1293. Nine of 18 Poll Dorset ewes also sold to a top of $650, averaging $589.
In the White Suffolks, four of six stud rams sold, topping at $2400 and averaging $2100. Of the flock rams, 38 out of 72 sold, topping at $2000 and averaging $1155.
Topping the sale was a May 2020-drop Poll Dorset ram sired by Kurralea 140.18, knocked down at $3000 to Mulcahy Nelson Livestock, Tatura, Vic, who was bidding using AuctionsPlus and bought one other Poll Dorset sire at $1700.
The sale-topper sported Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 0.3 for bodyweight, 9.8 for weaning weight, 15.3 post-weaning weight, PW fat of -0.7, eye muscle depth of 2.1, a Lamb Eating Quality index of 137 and a Terminal Carcase Production index of 142.5.
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The top price White Suffolk was a twin, sired by Ella Matta 100-18 with figures including 0.3BWT, 12WWT, 17.5PWWT, 0.1Pfat, 2.7EMD, a LEQ index of 157.1 and TCP index of 154.1.
It was secured by D&J MacDonald, Porcupine Ridge, Vic, through AuctionsPlus.
This was Newbold's second year of using AuctionsPlus, which paid dividends, with 15 Poll Dorset sires, two Poll Dorset ewes, and seven White Suffolk rams knocked down to online bidders.
Two of these online bidders bought in bulk - BK&KM Donaldson, Agery, who secured eight Poll Dorset sires to $2000, averaging $1225, and GDA&LM McCallum & Sons, Edillilie, who bought six White Suffolks to $1400 twice, averaging $1100.
Other volume buyers included loyal clients WB&SJ Hurn, Angaston, who took home 14 Poll Dorsets to $2400, averaging $1636, and two White Suffolks at $2000 and $1400, while fellow long-term buyers Scottswell Partners, Keith, bought nine Poll Dorsets to a top of $2200, to average $1844.
Plueckhahn Holdings Trust, Manoora, bought six Poll Dorsets to $1400 twice, averaging $1233, as well as a White Suffolk at $1400, while AG Brooks, Tanunda, bought five Poll Dorsets to $1200, averaging $960, and two White Suffolks at $1000.
Newbold stud principal Bill Close said the sale lacked a few volume buyers who were usually in attendance.
"We have some regular clients who attended the Jamestown market instead, (which was held on the same day)," he said.
"The lack of being able to show sheep have had some effect on the demand on the stud ram side of things, but I thought our stud line up was one of the most even and best we've had for a long time.
"There was strength and consistency all the way through, we had exceptionally good figured sheep with good growth - the average weight for the flock rams was roundabout 100 kilograms, that's a pretty good weight for a flock ram.
Newbold has been in the stud industry for 77 years, they know what they're doing here and the genetics continue to perform.
- TONY WETHERALL
"Things just didn't quite click, I don't think our sale was a reflection of the lamb industry at the moment, and that was disappointing."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, with Leo Redden and Tony Wetherall on the rostrum.
Mr Wetherall said the quality of the sheep on offer was impressive.
"The line-up was good, the figures were good, the presentation was good, the sale just lacked a few buyers who were here last year," he said.
"There was a good depth of quality right throughout the offering though. Newbold has been in the stud industry for 77 years, they know what they're doing here and the genetics continue to perform."
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