SALE SUMMARY
OFFERED 268
SOLD 95
TOP $5000
AVERAGE $950
THE first stage of an iconic White Suffolk stud's dispersal sale is complete, with mated ewe's reaching a top of $5000 on Monday.
Buyers and spectators poured into Aylesbury Farm's barn at Karoonda in hope of securing a piece of history, after stud owners Andrew and Deb Krieg decided they were ready for a change.
Founded by Hedley Krieg in the 1980s, Aylesbury Farm is a White Suffolk foundation stud at just flock number 17.
It was started at Roseworthy before Hedley's son Andrew relocated to Karoonda with his wife Deb, where they lived on farm and raised their four children, Brett, Alex, Evie and Maya.
Forty years on, the Krieg family are ready for a new chapter, dispersing the stud and selling the property in the coming months.
"The stud was my father's passion, he started it and it was something he and I could do together," Andrew said.
"Then for the last 20 or so years, Deb and I have been at the helm doing it together which has been amazing.
"But we're ready for a fresh start.
"Sheep wear your body out and are really hard on you, so while we're still young we want to tackle a new opportunity."
With Deb working as a marriage celebrant, Andrew also owning an earthworks business, and their teenage children starting their own chapters, Andrew said it was the perfect time.
"We're still going to run a few sheep and have a little experiment on the side," he said.
"There are other opportunities in the industry we can take a look at when the time's right as well.
"I don't think we'll ever be completely out of ag, but it's nice to change direction."
Topping Monday's sale was 2018-drop AF8148, bought by Woolumbool stud principal Phil Clothier, for $5000.
The ewe was a trait leader for post-weaning weight, post-weaning eye muscle depth and terminal carcase production, with values of 17.2, 3.95 and 158.36 respectively.
Mr Clothier said he was looking for something with a genetic difference to his present flock.
"I also purchased a second ewe at Lot 86 and both fit the parameters I was after as well as having a high enough lamb eating quality index for me to be interested in them," he said.
Although he was not expecting to spend as much as he did, he was pleased with his purchases.
Mr Clothier said Aylesbury Farm's sheep were true to Suffolk type.
"They fit nicely into our flock and the genetic outcross means there's potential to breed a future sire for us," he said.
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Lot 174 AF8133 was also knocked down at an impressive sum, sold to Tim Jorgenson, Mertex, Antwerp, Vic for $4200.
The ewe had a post-weaning weight index of 17.47 and a terminal carcase production index of 152.79 and was one of six purchased by Mr Jorgenson.
Yendora, MacArthur, Vic, was the volume buyer on the day, taking home 14 ewes to an average of $943.
Nutrien stud stock manager Gordon Wood said at no point did he expect to sell a ewe for $5000 and was pleasantly surprised with that result.
"It was very much a buyer's market, so people were able to get their first picks for the most part but there was healthy competition for some of the higher priced ewes," he said.
"At one point there were 21 bidders on AuctionsPlus, with bids coming in from all over Australia, which shows the quality and reputation the stud upholds."
Nutrien were the duty agents on the day, with Mr Wood and Richard Miller sharing auctioneering duties.
The stud will hold its ram sale in September this year, with the location and exact date still to be determined.
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