AN $11,000 Australian record price for a Suffolk ram lamb was one of a hat trick of national records set at the Glencraig Suffolk dispersal at Williams last week.
The big crowd endured scorching conditions to farewell one of the breed's true gentlemen Donald Cochrane who is exiting the industry after selling his farm at Darkan and deciding to end a 20-year passion for stud sheep breeding.
The yarding carried extensive Australian Sheep Breeding Values and the figures proved a valuable asset as buyers reconciled the genetics and performance with young stock that had come through a tough season.
While the yarding was dotted with some top sheep no-one expected prices to reach such heights.
Glencraig also set a $3100 national ewe price record, and sold a ewe lamb for $2200 which was another national record price for its category.
The result was all the more spectacular because of the close connection between the top prices and top LambPlan performance figures across the generations.
Most of WA's Suffolk fraternity turned out for the sale and 38 buyers registered.
Two interstate bidders took everyone by surprise, including veteran Landmark auctioneer John Wirth, who admitted he felt a little red-faced after he called for a paltry $600 opening bid on the record priced ram lamb.
From there Duncan Young, Oakbank stud, South Australia, and Landmark's Breeding representative Roy Addis, relaying telephone bids from Phil Button, Ramsay Park stud, Minlaton, SA, advanced the bidding in erratic giant leaps.
For onlookers there was no doubt Mr Young would be successful after earlier paying the $3100 top ewe price for the ram's mother Glencraig 1063/12 and repeating his enormous bidding power which demolished all opposition at the Wheatfields White Suffolk dispersal in SA recently.
The ram lamb, Glencraig 406/15, traced back to a Coleford great grandsire and had an exceptional set of LambPlan figures showing a 202.3 CarcasePlus index and individual ASBV components of 0.6 birthweight (BWT), 10.1 weaning weight (WWT), 16.5 post weaning weight (PWWT), 15.5 yearling weight (YWT), 0.1 fat and 1.8 eye muscle depth (EMD).
Mr Young, a relative newcomer to the Suffolk breed, started his stud about five years ago but had previous stud cattle breeding experience and has founded a White Suffolk stud.
He was no stranger to the Glencraig bloodlines saying for the past three years he had access to the stud's top ewes to flush and transported chilled embryos back to SA for implanting.
Among the ewes he had flushed was Glencraig 1063/12 and with proven progeny already on the ground he was keen to continue the bloodline.
The ewe, one of the star lots, traced back to a Wendenlea grandsire and had been shown without success at the Wagin Woolorama.
Last week it had its day in the sun when the same pair of interstate bidders clashed to create the $3100 national Suffolk ewe price record.
The ewe had a 177.3 CP index with 0.4 BWT, 8.5 WWT, 13.3 PWWT, 13.0 YWT, -0.2 fat and 0.5 EMD.
The ewe had been one of 21 Glencraig ewes flushed that season and had gone on to produce the record breaking ram lamb after a late natural, hence the mid-August birth date for much of the lamb offering.
Mr Young said he liked the Glencraig stock because they were probably the best muscled Suffolks in Australia and that was what he was chasing.
After using the genetics for the past three years he was confident he knew how they would breed.
His Suffolk enterprise consisted of two studs, Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills which held a nucleus of 130 top ewes, and Double 8, a growing 600 head Suffolk ewe venture that produced stock for the Chinese export market on his Victorian property in the Western Districts at Poolaijelo.
Mr Young paid $1800, $1600 and $1100 for 2014-drop ewes as well as $3000 for a Glencraig sire and spent $27,750 on his outing.
Included in his selection was Glencraig's grand old breeding dam 977/11, the mother of the $2200 record price ewe lamb Glencraig 412/15 which again sparked a tussle between Oakbank and Ramsay Park.
This time Ramsay Park was successful.
The August-drop lamb was a full sister to the $7300 Suffolk ram sold by Glencraig at Northam last year and had another set of outstanding ASBVs showing 0.5 BWT, 9.0 WWT, 14.3 PWWT, -0.7 fat and 1.8 EMD and a 194.3CP index.
Ramsay Park also bought the $1800 second top price ram lamb and paid the $1200 top price for one of three semen packages on offer comprising 30 straws of Glencraig Logon semen.
Local breeders struggled to get a look-in on the top price sheep but WA breed society president Ross Lane, Wongan Hills, got the ewe of his choice in Glencraig 308/14.
The ewe with a 189.2 CP index sold for $2000 and had a rare combination of ASBV figures that suggested it was suited for Wheatbelt hardships showing 2.1 EMD and a higher 0.4 fat.
The ewe also had 0.4 BWT, 7.7 WWT, 12.7 PWWT.
Elders stud stock representative Nathan King acting for Bill Tiganis, Lefteris View stud, Mulgrave, Victoria, bought four ewes and a ewe lamb for up to $600 and Elders Wagin branch manager Gordon Smith held a buying order from young Victorian breeder Ellie McDonald, Hopea stud, Dadswell, and was successful on nine ewes including some at $800 (2011-drop) and $650 (2010-drop).
While the day contained highlights that would be the envy of any stud, Mr Cochrane told Farm Weekly one his greatest highlights during 20 years of breeding Suffolks was selling his first team of rams at the Darkan sale.
"I didn't think I could do that when I first started," he said.
Mr Cochrane said the record prices were also one of his most satisfying achievements but the cream on top was selling so many of his sheep to young breeders.
"It is amazing to have this many breeders show this respect and support and it is pleasing to know that so many studs will benefit from my genetics," he said.
In a genuine act of encouragement, Mr Cochrane offered a group of five of his oldest and best proven ewes in a raffle open only to young Suffolk breeders under 30 years of age.
"They may only produce one lamb but they are sheep they could never afford to buy," he said.
They were won by Mikala Evans, Thomas O'Neill and Tom Starcevich.
The sale was also supported by the WA College of Agriculture, Narrogin, which was defeated on many top ewes but still managed to take home four ewes including a 2013-drop for $750.
The Esperance Farm Training Centre bought two ewes, after starting a stud in September and other young breeders were the backbone of the sale.
Among them was Mr Starcevich, Brimlo Farm, Salmon Gums, who started his stud in 2013 and bought 12 ewes for up to $500.
Kirrie Suffolks, Boddington, and Alibri stud, Wagin, also picked up ewes.
The sale will be remembered for its great contrasts.
The past year had been one of sheer seasonal hardship and was reflected in the stock with some lots in light condition and overlooked by buyers.
With Border Leicesters not enjoying the same popularity of recent years, Mr Cochrane's Louden Park offering was more difficult to quit.
Only 10 of the 32 ewes sold with noted prime lamb producer Darren Harper, Bruce Rock, buying six of his seven ewes for $150 a head.
The others went to Colin Holmes, Coljac Farms stud, Hyden, for similar money.