*Total clearance of 213 ewes sold to $8000, av $2186
A HEALTHY crowd attended the most recent Waratah White Suffolks mated ewe dispersal sale on Friday, which saw some astonishing results.
The sale's top ewe, Lot 49, 200556, sold for $8000 to Lachy Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, SA, becoming the Australian record price for a White Suffolk ewe.
The record price was the cherry on top of a great day of sales for stud principals Debbie and Steve Milne, but also tinged with sadness as they have decided to disperse the stud flock and concentrate on their Richmond Hill Agribusiness.
"It was an amazing day, and a vindication of our breeding program over the years, so we've got mixed emotions that you have a dispersal sale but can't be helped but be pleased with the results," Ms Milne said.
The sale averaged $2186, with a total clearance, which Ms Milne was over the moon with.
"They came out pretty well and, when we joined them we had a good percentage to their artificial insemination, which was around 80 per cent," she said.
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Lot 49's dam was also on offer on the day, Lot 162, 180130, which sold for $3000, also to Days Whiteface.
Mr Day said he was impressed by the top ewe's data before the sale and had been a past staunch supporter of the Waratah White Suffolk stud.
"I had three or four ewes already selected on the data before I got here and for me, it's important that I look at those ewes before the sale," he said.
"Lot 49 just really stood out for me as special when I looked at it.
"My old footy number is 49 too, so it must be great."
The ewe recorded Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 0.23 for birth weight (BWT), 11.6 for weaning weight (WWT), 18.2 post-weaning weight (PWT), and 2.6 for eye muscle depth (EMD).
Mr Day said she would be a great addition to his operation.
"This ewe will lamb down this year, and will be a good addition to our embryo transfer program next January," he said.
Another good sale was Lot 46, 200503, sold for $6500 to Joel Donnan, Anden, Woomelang.
Mr Donnan said he was impressed by the ewe's statistics of 0.33 BWT, 11.9 WWT, 18.2 PWT and 2.3 EMD.
"We have a good line of sheep where this ewe will blend in well and breed some good lambs," he said.
"We intended to look at the top end of the sale for our purchases which was the same with many others here today, so it was real competitive but congratulations to Debbie and Steve for a good result."
A number of volume buyers were competitive throughout the sale as well, with AnnaVilla Tipparra Springs, Weetulta, SA notably purchasing Lot 4, HraF 419258, for $5500, while Stormy Lodge, Wagga Wagga, NSW, and Glenella, Guyra, NSW, bought several lots.
A number of AuctionsPlus bidders based in Armidale, NSW, and Esperance, WA, also showed interest.
Elders Victorian/Riverina stud stock manager Ross Milne said the sale passed expectations.
"To average over $2000 for their ewes with the buyers represented across Australia was an outstanding result," he said.
"I think you'll find both a lot of studs who were here knew that this is their last chance to acquire use out of a very good, solid White Suffolk program."
The stud will complete the final stage of its dispersal with the sale of 2021-drop rams and ewes in October.
