Wilkinson stunned by Detpa Grove triplet.

Wilkinson stunned by Detpa Grove triplet.

The Pipkorn family’s 31st annual Detpa Grove White Suffolk sale at Jeparit, Vic, on Thursday last week produced their best ever overall result, with 229 White Suffolk rams and ewes selling to $32,000 and averaging $2067 in a 95 per cent clearance.

The 77 registered bidders included 30 stud breeders from four states, while interest on AuctionsPlus further increased competition.

The 29 catalogued stud rams averaged $6810, with 24 going to registered breeders. The 149 flock rams also sold exceptionally well, topping at $2600 and averaging $1559.

Last year’s top price buyer Roger Wilkinson, Camborn stud, Pooncarie, NSW, again made the biggest impact, snapping up triplet DG 180234 for $32,000.

He outlasted Clive and Deb Shillabeer, Wingamin stud, Karoonda, who were bidding on behalf of the United States’ only registered White Suffolk breeder Gary Heilig, Montana.

Sired by AI sire Warburn 160048, the top price ram captured the eyes of many pre-sale with its balance, excellent type, skin and hair, plus exceptional carcase attributes.

Mr Wilkinson came to the sale intending to by DG 180275 – which he did for $6000 – but upon seeing the sale-topper, decided he “couldn’t let it go”.

“Initially, I was going to bid by phone, but thought I should come down and have a proper look, which is just as well, otherwise I wouldn’t have seen how good (DG 180234) is and probably wouldn’t have gone that far without being here,” he said.

Backing the outstanding phenotype was its equally impressive list of Lambplan figures, highlighted by a weaning weight of 12.5, a post-weaning weight of 19.94, -0.59 fat and eye muscle depth of 2.07, plus the highest Carcase Plus index of 225 and equal-highest Terminal Carcase Production index of 154 in the draft.

Of very similar type and by the same sire, and not far behind on Lambplan figures with a Carcase Plus index of 220 and Terminal Carcase Production index of 153 was DG 180291, which was bought for the sale’s second-highest price of $25,000 by William Peck, Bayview Downs stud, Mundulla.

Denam Carter, Ridge Top stud, Albany, WA, was among four successful WA buyers, and paid $15,000 for DG 180729, which had been used in the stud as a ram lamb.

Fellow WA client John Stephenson, Millinup stud, Porongurup, was one of three buyers who went to $10,000 to get their selection. This was for DG 180154, sired by DG 140300, and with a Carcase Plus index of 214 and Terminal Carcase Production index of 145.

Charles Rowett, North Ulandi stud, Marrabel, also paid $10,000 for his preferred ram, DG 180643, sired by DG 170421 and with Carcase Plus and Terminal Carcase Production indices of 205 and 147. Brett Shepherd, Mullinger Park stud, Kybybolite, paid the same price for a late August-drop triplet, DG 180811, sired by DG 160717.

Leroy and Rohan Hull, Kattata Well stud, Port Kenny, paid $9000 for DG 180629, a 16-month-old sired by DG 160297 with excellent growth-for-age. Backing up that growth were top figures that included 19.75 PWWT, the highest in the catalogue.

GA&R Sambell paid the $2600 top for flock rams for a 215C+ indexing ram, one of three select rams they purchased at a $2433 average.

Peter Irving, Irving Bros, was the sale’s volume ram buyer, with 20 rams to $1800, averaging $1470, adding to the 25 he bought last year.

J&M Kilpatrick through Rodwells Stawell went to $2500 for a stud ram, then added another eight flock rams; averaging $1672 across the nine.

S&G O’Halloran secured eight flock rams to $1400, but also took the first steps towards establishing a stud by buying four stud ewes at $600 each, plus a $3000 stud ram.

Also prominent with eight flock ram purchases was Prospect Rural, paying to $2400 and averaging $1925, while D&L Stewart picked up seven to $1200, averaging $1014.

The sale began with the offering of 59 stud ewes, with 54 sold to $1600 three times, averaging $852.

The Kyle family, Ashley Park stud, Bairnsdale, Vic, paid the $1600 equal top price on two occasions in putting together a line of seven ewes averaging $1143. Paula and Elle McDonald, Hopea stud, Dadswell Bridge, Vic, also went to $1600 for one of six ewes they bought averaging $950.

The volume ewe buyers were Nick and Kate Wadlow, Old Ashrose stud, Hallett, who took 14 to $1000, averaging $686.

Elders Warracknabeal conducted the sale, with Ross Milne and Matt O’Connor the auctioneers.

Courtesy of Ian Turner, Stock Journal