A structurally outstanding and elite performance offering of 259 Detpa Grove White Suffolk rams & and ewes were offered by the Pipkorn family at their 35th annual on-property production sale at Jeparit, Victoria on Thursday 12th October.
The stud offered 69 stud ewes, 28 stud rams, 35 specially selected rams and 119 flock rams for competition, with 206 head finding new homes at auction. Stud rams sold to a $12,500 top, specially selected rams topped at $3250, flock rams topped at $2200, and stud ewes sold to a $2000 top.
The outstanding quality on offer was duly recognised by commercial and stud producers from across the country, with 55 registered bidders in the sale shed, plus significant further competition on Auctions Plus, especially on the stud drafts.
While the 80% clearance was back on last year’s terrific result, the still strong competition produced and very solid result, especially in the current industry and economic circumstances.
Stud Principal David Pipkorn said “While the sale fell short of what we hoped for, the result is what we expected. That is the auction system: we breed and present for sale the best we can and hand over to the market to determine the sale prices. We are grateful to the loyalty of our clientele and enjoy their successes throughout the year.“
Stud ewes
The 69 strong stud ewe offering commenced the sale, with 46 finding new homes in four states: from across Victoria, as well as in South Australia, Tasmania and (WA) Western Australia, and averaging $1137.
It was the May drop lot 8 ewe, DG220253Tr that sold for the $2000 top, going to Paul Day & family, Sunnybanks Farming, Penguin, Tasmania, bidding through Auction Plus. She was sired by DG.210533 (Used as a lamb and sold last year for $20,000). An outstanding structured ewe supported by a great set of performance data.
It was another Tasmanian, Maurice Baldock, operating through Nutrien Devonport, who kick started the sale, purchasing DG220523Tw, a late May drop ewe, sired by DG NOBLE 180374Qu for $1800.
He quickly followed by also purchasing lots 3 sired by DG REGAL 200477 for $1000, and then lot 12 for $1500. Overall, Mr Baldock bought six stud ewes for a $1017 average.
Other prominent volume buyers included regular Victorian supporters of Detpa Grove: Ellie McDonald, Dadswells Bridge, who purchased four stud ewes to $1,600 and averaging $1,100
Tim and Marianne Ferguson of the Hopetoun based Mallee Park stud, bought five great value ewes for an average of $880, topping at $1,000.
Stud rams
If competition in the stud ewe offering was a little stifled toward the end, it lifted several notches for the line-up of the 28 outstanding stud rams.
The bids came in thick and fast, both in the sale shed and online. The draft saw them all clear to the sale top of $12,500 and averaged an impressive $4466.
Ultimately, the $12,500 top priced stud ram was Lot 92, DG.220811Tr, sired by DG REGAL 200477, & out of dam, DG.200079.
This late August dropper, with low birth weight and with high growth EBVs, was purchased by Boonaroo stud principals, Shane and Jodie Foster, Casterton, bidding via AuctionsPlus.
The $10,000 second highest priced White Suffolk stud ram, DG.220128, a May dropper, was also sired by DG REGAL. (Pictured)
This ram had it all: lower birth weight, excellent growth, muscling and fat EBVs, culminating in a great index together with outstanding visual traits, especially hindquarter muscling and precise legs and feet. Offered at lot 79, he sold for $10,000 to Andrew and Caroline McLauchlan of Valma stud, Whitemore, Tas, also via AuctionsPlus.
Roger Wilkinson, Camborn stud at Pooncarie has regularly purchased the very best lots at previous Detpa Grove sales, but struck it lucky this year, securing two outstanding young sires at an average of just $8000. The first was lot 80, DG 220368Tw, sired by DG NOBLE 180374Qu, and out of dam DG180519Tw, he was the third highest priced ram at $9000.
This ram’s full brother had sold for $14,000 to the Jorgenson family, Mertex stud at a previous Detpa Grove sale, but the fact that Roger’s purchase did not reach that precedent, it was not a reflection on his quality. It was just two lots later that Roger, bidding through Elders Mildura, successfully bid $7000 for DG220489Tw in Lot 82.
This May drop ram was sired by DG Regal 200477, with his proven dam already having produced a stud ram that fetched $10,000 in a previous sale.
Lots 88 and 89 were also destined for NSW. Paul Routley, of Almondvale Poll & White Suffolk studs and buying through(via) Nutrien’s Wagga Wagga branch, paid $7500 for DG220030 at lot 88. This stud ram showed himself in the auction ring to be a real current industry sheep, with low birth weight and high end IMF figures amongst balanced performance data across all traits.
Karu Pastoral Co took home DG220420, at lot 89 for $7000, buying through Nutrien Goulburn.
DG220790Tw, offered as lot 93 was destined for a new home a little, selling for $5000 to Lachy & Lou Day, Days Whiteface stud at Bordertown, SA, buying via Elders Naracoorte.
Detpa Grove principal, David Pipkorn, said of his stud rams: “They have been prepared exactly the same for a number of years so comparisons for buyers can be consistent across our sales.” “All rams this year went on grain for just a few weeks prior to the season break but the commercial rams were finished solely on grass for the 4 months leading up to our auction.”
There are several regular and very astute commercial producers who are prepared to operate on the stud and specially selected rams, where values permit. This year was no exception Melissa and Glenn Nuske of Pinnaroo, SA was one such buying account.
While inspecting the stud rams on offer prior to auction, Glenn said, “We come here every year. In 2021, we took home five Detpa Grove rams, this year we’ll probably take two. We’ve found they produce quick growth lambs, and they weigh out really well. They drop around March and are on our truck to JBS at Bordertown by early September”.
While the couple had initially planned to take home two rams, they went home with three, buying two out of the stud rams and one specially selected ram.
Specially selected rams
The commercial support continued strongly, especially through the specially selected draft, while demand on the day tapered off near the end of the flock ram draft. 34 of the 35 specially selected rams sold to a top of $2600 and averaged $1812, while the flock rams sold to $2200 and averaged $1151.
Volume buyers of the specially selected rams included the Schmidt Family Trust, through Elders Hamilton, and the Stanislawksi Trust, Casterton
The Schmidt Family Trust bought five specially selected rams all at $2000, while Nick Stanislawksi bought six rams, to a top of $2,000 and averaged $1850.
Flock rams
Some of the most significant flock ram volume buyers included JR and MJ Kilpatrick, AWN Stawell, WG & DBM Fennescey, Elders Roseworthy and Lake Kemi Kemi, PPH&S Narracorte
JR and MJ Kilpatrick bought seven flock rams for an average of $1200 while WG & DBM Fennescey bought six flock rams for an average of $1083.
Lake Kemi Kemi was the volume buyer selecting 20 flock rams at great value averaging $1,010 and paying to a top of $1,200
Commenting on the sale overall, auctioneer Ross Milne, the Elders stud stock manager for Victoria Riverina, said:
“It was a very good, solid sale. We got a good clearance and the commercial guys and the stud guys still got good value for money, especially given the current economic climate”.
