White Suffolks studs from across Australia once again headed to Detpa Grove stud near Jeparit, Victoria, last week, looking for the best genetics the breed has to offer.
Across the annual on-property sale 150 White Suffolk rams topped at $9000 twice and averaged $1840.
This included an impressive 20 rams sold for stud duties, demonstrating the wide-spread impact Detpa Grove has on the breed, for an average of $4825.
Detpa Grove principal David Pipkorn said the sale generally fell in line with the seasonal conditions, with plenty of buyers able to go away with some bargains, and yet rams selling to five states.
Hitting the top price first was just the second ram offered, Lot 72, DG.230116.
The May-drop sire was by Felix 11239, a ram that has over 1000 progeny and is in the top 1 per cent of the breed for Lamb Eating Quality Index, Intramuscular Fat and Shearforce on Lambplan.
DG.230116 had some impressive figures himself, including a Birthweight of 0.18, Post-Weaning Weight of 18 and Post-Weaning Eye Muscle Depth of 3.12.
He was purchased by Wakeleigh White Suffolks from Cavendish, Victoria, who also picked up a second stud sire at $3500 in DG.230226. (the top indexing ram of the catalogue at 168)
Mr Pipkorn thought DG.230116 was a standout and has kept a quarter interest for stud use. “The ram really has overall figures balance, thickness, correct structure, breed type and depth of hindquarter,” he said.
Also making $9000 was Lot 93, DG.230273, a May-drop twin ram by DG.220182, purchased by Ronobri White Suffolks, Lockington, Victoria.
“I’m really pleased the genetics are going to progressive studs and will have a long-term impact on the breed,” Mr Pipkorn added.
A number of stud rams were sold to Western Australia, including the second highest priced ram, Lot 94, DG.230376, purchased for $8000 by Amanda Stephens & Simon Brandenburg, Carnamah, WA.
The Shillabeer family from Wingamin White Suffolks at Karoonda, South Australia, were the other volume buyers in the stud section, paying to $7500 for DG.230153, an embryo transfer son of a Wingamin ewe which was sashed Champion at the 2022 Royal Adelaide Show.
They also selected the first ram of the auction, paying $3000 for DG.230403.
In the flock offering, 130 rams averaged $1324, with the top price of $2800 paid twice by the same buyer in Tippet Farms, near Horsham Vic
“We had a good spread of people buying four or more rams, with Greg McGurk operating through Elders Wycheproof, Vic, buying 22 Rams and PPH&S at Naracoorte, SA, operating for a number of clients and picking up another large draft,” Mr Pipkorn said.
Detpa Grove also sold 25 stud ewes for an average of $1100.
The volume buyer, picking up 12 ewes via AuctionsPlus, was the Scott family from Valley Vista stud at Coolac, NSW, who paid $1600 and averaged $1247 to kick off their new White Suffolk stud.
“It was a great opportunity for the breeders in attendance to capitalise on these elite genetics,” Mr Pipkorn said.
“We had a good representation online again, and quite a few buyers in the ewes were looking for particular bloodlines specific to their need. At near base price, some would clear out their bottom end ewes and replace with these purchases to increase overall flock quality quickly.”
Top price in the ewe section was $1800 for DG.230082, a ewe with an impressive Total Carcase Production index of 161, and purchased online – again by Amy Stevens and Simon Brandenburg, WA.
By Jamie-Lee Oldfield
