Lamb price records have been tumbling all winter, but it was Detpa Grove progeny which reached new highs earlier this year.
A pen of Detpa Grove sired White Suffolk lambs out of Merino ewes dressing an estimated 43kg sold to Thomas Foods International at the end of May for what was then a record $410/head.
Detpa Grove principal David Pipkorn said the lambs were just sired by some of the solid performance rams placed that year yet were positioned in the top 20% of the industry.
“It is pleasing to see clients that bit the bullet and did feed sheep are now being rewarded with strong lamb prices…and those prices look like they’re here to stay” he said.
The Jeparit, Victoria stud, has been experiencing the dire seasonal conditions like many other sheep producing areas in the south of the country.
However, things are now starting to turn around and David has been impressed with his flock’s ability to perform so well on so little.
“It is a great indication that high performance genetics stack up when conditions are tight,” he said. “The muscling, growth and moderate fat levels of the rams have kept them in good stead.”
David added that while growth and muscle were king in the prime lamb game, he was consistently monitoring fat levels and ensuring eating qualities are of a high standard for industry.
“Some people may be moving to shedding animals, but they tend to be throwing the growth rate out with the wool,” he said.
“By maintaining high growth, we will end up playing a role like we do in the Merino industry, with White Suffolk rams going over shedding ewes to breed prime lambs that maximise profitability.”
One ram that will no doubt maximise profitability for his buyer is Detpa Grove 240715, an industry leading ram that will be offered in the stud’s on-property spring sale this year.
A twin out of a ewe lamb, DG.240715 has standout Australian Sheep Breeding Values including every selection index being in the top five percent of the LambPlan analysis which now combines all breeds into the one comparison.
This ram has a Terminal Carcase Production index of 180 – putting him in the top 10 rams in the country – combining a post weaning weight of 20 and post weaning eye muscle depth of 5.4
David said, “the ram is just built to make money for any buyer”.
Detpa Grove has retained the three-quarter brother at stud who was used as a ram lamb and already has impressive progeny on the ground.
That ram, Detpa Grove LEGEND 240725ET now 12 months old has progeny that were “consistently outstanding”, David said.
“This consistency is not surprising given his impeccable maternal line of 10 successive generations of donors or ET progeny.”
Last spring Detpa Grove sold 130 White Suffolk flock rams to a top of $2800 twice and averaged $1324 – outstanding value at very affordable rates.
A further 20 rams sold for stud duties at an average of $4825, with rams selling to five states.
This year, Detpa Grove will offer 250 White Suffolks at their 37th annual on-property sale, including stud ewes, stud rams and flock rams.
David said this year’s sale represented some of the leading high-performance genetics in the industry, and despite the “tight” season, the rams will present in their usual excellent condition.
“We’ve maintained ram numbers to give new people an opportunity to get in on these genetics given demand could be lack lustre this year,” he said.
“There is no excuse for using poor quality rams this year, high performance sires can be affordable to everyone.”
Inspections will start on-property at Detpa Grove – 961 Lorquon Road, Jeparit, Victoria – from 10am on Thursday October 9, with ewes being offered from 11.30am and rams at 1pm.
The Pipkorn family welcome valued clients, friends and supporters to their Annual On-Property Sale
