THE 26th annual Detpa Grove White Suffolk sale at Jeparit produced another great result for the Pipkorn family, with a big increase in their top price to $23,000 – their highest price since 2005 when they set the breed's $36,000 auction record price.
The 79 stud ewes, 26 stud rams and 151 flock rams on offer certainly displayed wonderful breed type, body length, muscling, substance and balanced EBVs at the top end of the industry.
The success of Detpa Grove's newest genetic infusion of Burwood 110959ET, purchased in 2012 for $21,000 in conjunction with the Anden stud, is a perfect example. This sire's first 14 Detpa Grove stud ram progeny, including the $23,000 sale topper, averaged $8107.
The sale topping ram, DG 130674, was a September 2013-drop, purchased by Peter and Julie Button, Ramsay Park stud, Minlaton, SA, via phone connection with Ian Pfeiffer, who was in attendance.
Its LambPlan figures included a post weaning weight of 16.64, post eye muscle depth of 2.75 and a CarcasePlus index of 218.
The underbidder was the Ferguson family, Anna Villa stud, Weetulta, also on Yorke Peninsula, SA, and connected via AuctionsPlus.
However they did not miss out, paying $9500 for the first stud ram offered, DG 130148ET.
The sale's second-highest price of $13,000 was paid by the Gilmore family, Baringa stud, Oberon, NSW, also operating via AuctionsPlus.
Semen shares were taken up by the Bundara Downs (SA) and Westleigh (Vic) studs. This was for DG 130207ET – one of three full ET brothers in the sale.
AML Agriculture, through Landmark Warrnambool, paid $7000 for one, while Clive and Deb Shillabeer, Wingamin stud, Karoonda, SA, who were underbidders on DG 130207, purchased the other at $8500.
Regular Detpa Grove supporters, Weidemann Pastoral Co, Rupanyup, picked up two top rams for their Sunnydale stud.
DG 130652, a late August-dropper with power, substance and balance and figures that supported that appearance, culminating in a 212 CarcasePlus index was another bargain at just $6000.
They then paid $8000 for another August-drop ram, DG 130421, catalogued late in the draft that had been used in the Detpa Grove stud as a ram lamb.
The stud ewes achieved a good result from limited demand, av $684 – up $170 on last year.
The top of $1700 was $700 higher than last year and went to Duncan Young, Oakwood White Suffolks, Balhannah, SA. This was for DG 130007, a twin daughter of DG 110059, having exceptional and balanced figures culminating in a CarcasePlus index of 210.
Mr Young was also the top volume buyer from the seven active ewe bidders, purchasing 15 ewes av $797.
Robert and Joff Sporn, Murrayville, were the strongest bidders in the flock ram offering, purchasing 10 rams to $2000, av $1625.
