*43 of 70 rams and ewes sold to $15,500, av $4235
A PENGUIN, Tasmania, stud has sold the top-priced ram at the online Elite White Suffolk and Suffolk Sale.
Sunnybanks stud principal Paul Day sold the ram to Hillside White Suffolks and Poll Dorset stud, Sutherland, for $15,500.
"The ram is a true White Suffolk type and has overall correctness," Mr Day said.
"We do a lot of AI; this ram was home-bred, from a Sunnybanks sire and it's working for us."
Sunnybanks 200116 was described as having a tremendous carcase and great White Suffolk type.
The top-priced ram was by Sunnybanks-180031 and out of Sunnybanks-180029.
An August 2020-drop ram, he had a terminal carcase production index of 135.92 per cent
He had figures of a birthweight of 0.44 kilograms, a post-weaning weight of 15.81kg, a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 2.45 millimetres and a post-weaning fat depth of -0.03mm.
The ram had a lean meat yield of 4.28pc and an intramuscular fat score of -1.14.
Sunnybanks also sold the top-priced White Suffolk ewe at $2600.
Buyer of the ram, Tillside stud principal Rod Batters, Sutherland, said the ram was a good type of animal.
"He walks well and has a good carcase," Mr Batters said.
"We are just breeding flock rams, he'll be used to improve what we have got."
While he said he would have liked to have done a visual inspection of the ram, "you can tell a bit by just looking at the videos".
It was the first time he had bought from Sunnybanks.
"We bought a Faraday Park ram last year, same place, but different name," he said.
Event chair Shane Baker said Tasmanian studs were able to reach a wider audience.
Mr Baker said the helmsman sale was buyer friendly and vendors would have been happy with the result.
"People have had to become accustomed to the Auctions Plus format," he said.
"They are prepared to work with it and trust the visual appraisals they get."
He said the sheep presented very well.
While he expected some rams to sell for more, buyers were prepared to pay extra for the animals they wanted.
The top-priced Suffolk ram was sold by Sayla Park, Kilmore, to Bunderra Suffolk stud, Kyneton, for $4250.
Bunderra stud principal Sarah Correa said she was seeking an addtional bloodline for her flock.
"He will bring a bit of "oomph", especially in the rear end," Ms Correa said.
Other sales included:
Fairburn, Porcupine Ridge, two of three to $3250, av $2875.
Omad, Kaniva, two of three to $4000, av $4000.
Ramsay Park, Minlaton, SA, two of two to $7500, av $5250.
Rangeview, Pipers River, Tas, two of three to $15,000 av $11,750.
Rocdell, Bigga, NSW, one of two to $5500.
Smithston, Glencoe, NSW, three of three to $9250, av $5833.
Somerset, Cavendish, two of three to $4500 (twice) av $3750.
Sunnybanks, Penguin, Tas, three of three to $15,000 av $10,583.
Wakeleigh, Cavendish, two of two to $3250, av $2875.
Suffolk rams
Blue Diamond, Wymah, NSW, two of two to $2500, av $2500.
Blue Rock, Romsey, one of two, to $4000.
Closeup, Finlay, NSW, two of two to $2500, av $2500.
Deppeler, Derrinallum, one of one to $2500.
Hopea, Dadswells Bridge, two of three, to $4000, av $3500.
Kurrali, Neilrex, NSW, two of two to $2500, av $2500.
Sayla Park, Kilmore, two of two, to $4250, av $3625.
Warra-J, Penola, SA, three of three to $3000, av $2666.
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
