THE Pipkorn family, Detpa Grove White Suffolks at Jeparit, Vic, received strong support from far and wide at their eighth biennial mated ewe sale on Tuesday last week.
In the breakdown 75 sold to buyers from five states and the United States, averaging $575.
The highlight was the demand for the first four lots of elite ewes, selected from the heart of the Detpa Grove breeding flock in a pick-of-the pair format.
Each lot contained two ewes that had been used or selected to go into the Detpa Grove elite ET program as donor females.
The successful buyer for each of the four lots could take home their selection of the two ewes, with the other being retained in Detpa Grove’s breeding program. This was an obvious attraction, with these four ewes selling to a Detpa Grove record ewe price of $3500, averaging $2712.
The $3500 top-price was for DG120625Tw, one of two outstanding options in pen one, bought by Bruce Buswell, Matilda Downs stud, Mount Barker, WA.
Mr Buswell said he had plenty of success with Detpa Grove genetics in the past, paying to an equal top of $16,000 for rams in 2012 and also picking up a top ram last year.
His buying did not stop with the record ewe – he went on to become the biggest volume buyer, taking 10 more.
While these star lots were a highlight, the value throughout the rest of the sale was exceptionally good.
The 10 made to $800 averaging $400. His total of 11 averaged $682.
Gary Heilig, Prestige Farm, Montana, US, made a successful venture into White Suffolks at Detpa Grove’s 2007 mated ewe sale when he paid the previous Detpa Grove ewe record of $3300. He has more recently invested in the ram Wingamin Trifecta 112462, the Bendigo, Hamilton and Adelaide champion ram of 2012.
Trifecta’s breeders Clive, Deb and Caitlin Shillabeer, Karoonda, travelled to the sale on Gary’s behalf and bought two of the elite lots. Lot two (DG130315Tw) made $3000, and lot four (DG110153Tri) made $2250. The two will most likely remain in Australia and be flushed, with the embryos being sent over to Prestige Farm.
Paul Routley, Almondvale stud, Urana, NSW, was the successful bidder on lot three of the pick-of-the-pair lots, bidding to $2100 for DG120055Tw. Like Mr Buswell, he was also a prominent volume buyer, taking 10 averaging $645. Again, after the top lot, the rest were at great value.
A Tasmanian and Victorian buyer took 10 each.
The Tasmanian, Will Milroy, Pipers River, is starting a White Suffolk stud with his purchases.
He paid to $1800, which was the highest price outside of the four star lots, and averaged $665 for his 10. His impact on the sale result went beyond this, because he bid on all four of the star lots and was underbidder on two of them.
Jake Last, formerly from Tas, where he had a White Suffolk stud but now based at Colac, Vic, was the other 10-ewe buyer. Restarting his involvement with the breed, he operated solely in the value-buying area, averaging just $320.
Damian Hawker, Omad stud, Kaniva, Vic, selected the highest quality he could, taking seven select ewes averaging $600, including one at $1400 – the second-highest price outside the four star lots.
Stuart Staude and Nick Lawrence, Pinnacle stud, Bordertown, led SA buying with six averaging $408.
Peter Angus, Maroola stud, Mallala, averaged $600 for two ewes.
Courtesy of Ian Turner, Stockandland.com.au
