EP stud fights to $68,000 for supreme sire

The August 2015-drop son of Kurralea 130305, was a huge factor in the Donnan family attracting 81 bidders from four states to the sale at Woomelang, but it was the Hull family, Kattata Well, Port Kenny, who became the new owners.

The Hulls, who have named the ram Cruiser, said it was a “complete package”.

It took Elders stud stock auctioneer Ross Milne 90 seconds to describe the sale topper to the gallery when it entered the sale ring, and such was the rapidity of bidding, just 130 seconds to sell it, going from an opening $10,000 bid to the $68,000 knock down price. 

For the first time in many years Anden exhibited sheep at the Hamilton, Vic, Sheepvention and the Royal Adelaide Show – and Anden 150277Tw won the supreme interbreed ram at both.

But the big attraction was not confined to the ram’s outstanding phenotype. Its Lambplan figures indicated huge performance, with a 13.31 weaning weight, 19.98 for post-WWT, -0.81 fat, 1.47 eye muscle depth; combining for a Carcase Plus index of 221.01 and Lamb 2020 index of 116.20. 

Underbidder Anthony Hurst, Seriston stud, Avenue Range, went to $66,000, while John Jamieson, Wattle Park stud, Finley, NSW, stayed in the battle until $57,000.

The sale gives a positive boost to the seedstock sector of the prime lamb industry, one that is experiencing record saleyard prices and an exceptional season.

The record was one of many highlights for the Donnan family, who achieved a huge 75 per cent increase in their sale gross.

Even with the record ram excluded, the sale proceeds were still up 46pc on 2015.

In a total clearance, 193 rams and ewes from the four breeds averaged $2154.

White Suffolk 2015-drop stud ewes from the Anden keeper ewe flock were a special inclusion to the start of the sale, making to $1300 twice and averaging $900.

Kattata Well bought both top price ewes.

The 20 White Suffolk rams, including the record breaker, averaged an unbelievable $10,050. This entire draft had exceptional performance with the average C+ index being 210.05.

In any other sale, the $18,000 second highest price paid for Anden 150346Tw by Shane Baker, Booloola stud, Carisbrook, Vic, would have been a worthy headline.

Sired by Anden 140300, it boasted a C+ index of 225.67 – the highest in the draft.

The Funke family, Bundara Downs, Western Flat, negotiated a share in the $18,000 ram, as well as paying $13,000 for Anden 150060, while Anthony Hurst compensated on missing out on the record breaker with Anden 150325Tw at $10,000.

The 98 White Suffolk flock rams were offered in two drafts, interspersed with the offering from the other breeds, with all clearing to 22 buyers at a $1282 average.

Dominating these drafts were long-term Anden clients Ray and Pat Healy, Mildura, Vic, who bought 37 rams averaging $1150.

They mate these to a large proportion of their 6000 Merino ewes, with lambs turned off by late spring.

A first-time offering of 21 ‘easy-care composite’ rams – White Dorper-Poll Dorset crosses – also attracted strong support, selling to $1600, averaging $1274.