*177 of 200 ewes to $2100, av $854
BUNDARA Downs White Suffolk and Poll Dorset stud attracted five-state bidding to its biennial mated ewe sale on Friday at Western Flat, SA.
In an 89 per cent clearance, the Funke family sold 177 of 200 ewes offered to $2100 for an $854 average.
The 146 scanned in-lamb White Suffolk ewes and ewe lambs averaged $900, while in the debut offering of Poll Dorsets, 31 of 45 averaged $637.
The 155 White Suffolks were offered first, commencing with 20 April to June 2017-drop ewe lambs, all SIL to top sires.
The $2100 sale-topper, BD 179891T3w, sired by Woolumbool 173980, was bought by Helen Morgan, Millswyn stud, Katandra.
The lot 11 ewe impressed on phenotype as well as its extreme performance including Lambplan figures of +11.25 for weaning weight, +17.67 for post-weaning weight and a Carcase Plus index of 210.65.
It was in-lamb with twins sired by Woolumbool 173980.
The mid parent predicted estimated breeding values of the progeny topped out at an equal highest C+ index for the entire catalogue of 219.
Ms Morgan bid through Elders stud stock’s Tom Penna, securing 16 White Suffolks, averaging $1119.
The underbidder on the top price ewe lamb was Damien Hawker, Omad stud, Kaniva. He went on to buy four ewe lambs averaging $1050.
For the first time the sale was live-streamed through AuctionsPlus.
The Turvey family, Omeo Pastoral Co, Thallon, Qld, was the highest volume buyer, successfully bidding on 21 White Suffolks, averaging $721, through AuctionsPlus.
WA buyers were particularly strong, buying through Landmark stud stock’s Roy Addis, Katanning.
The $2000 second-highest price ewe – lot 70 – was knocked down to Collyn Garnett, Gnowangerup, WA, who bought the ewe for Brenton Addis, Gnowangerup.
Elders Broken Hill, NSW, manager Ben Finch was also a strong bidder, operating for Tandalea-Eaglehawk stud.
After buying the top price ram lamb earlier in the year at the inaugural Bundara Downs summer ram lamb sale, he added 12 top White Suffolk ewes averaging $1079.
Locally, Mark and Stefan Grossman, Koonawarra stud, Angaston, SA, secured four White Suffolks from $700 to $1250 and then added eight Poll Dorsets averaging $600.
Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall, who auctioneered jointly with Elders’ new South East livestock manager Laryn Gogel, described the offering as outstanding.