Mertex White Suffolk ram average leaps to $1728
TOP RAM: Top priced ram at Mertex sale at $4100 with stud principal Tim Jorgensen, Antwerp. Photo courtesy West Wimmera Advocate.
Original article by Alastair Dowie 28 Sep 2020, Stock & Land
*85 of 85 White Suffolk rams sold to $4100, av $1728
*9 of 10 Texel rams sold to $2000, av $1255
*37 of 40 Texel/White Suffolk rams sold to $2800, av $1681
*15 of 15 White Suffolk ewes sold to $1000, av $793
A ‘cracking’ result was how Mertex stud principal Tim Jorgenson, Antwerp, described his 2nd annual on-property sale.
He said the strong competition saw a total clearance of 85 White Suffolk rams at an average of $1728, which was more than $430 above the 2019 sale.
“It was better than we could have ever have expected,” he said.
Mr Jorgenson thanked all the bidders and under bidders for making it such a strong and competitive sale “and I look forward to hearing your results”.
He said the buying group included regular and repeat buyers as well as a number of new clients.
This year the impact of coronavirus restrictions on buyers and interstate travel, meant that the sale was also on AuctionsPlus. Mr Jorgenson said the online platform had been a successful addition with 29 rams being sold online as well as “plenty of activity”.
The offering of White Suffolk rams was topped at $4100 for lot 6 bought by the Pomanda White Suffolk Stud at Naracoorte, SA.
The August-drop ram weighed 125.5 kilograms and was bought via AuctionsPlus.
The sire was by a Mertex sire 180470, the reserve champion ram at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show. The ram had figures of 14.8 kilogram post weaning weight (PWWT), -0.5 millimetres post weaning fat depth (PFAT), 1.7mm post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD) and 142 terminal carcase production (TCP) index.
A volume buyer with the purchase of 12 rams was Nutrien Ag Naracoorte also via AuctionsPlus. The top of their purchases was $2900 for lot seven an August-drop ram weighing 124.5kg.
The ram had figures of 14.6 PWWT, -0.3 PFAT, 1.4 PEMD and TCP of 136.
Top priced Texel ram at $2000 was SR & KJ Chaston, Benayeo, for lot 87.
The July-drop ram weighed 123kg and had figures of 8.7 PWWT, -1.1 PFAT, 1.4 PEMD and a TCP of 130.5.
The Texel/White Suffolk ram offering saw volume buyer of the Texels was a Westech Ag Kyle Livestock, Kaniva account. Eight rams went to the purchaser to a top of $2800 and average of $2325.
The top lot was 109 a July-drop ram was by Texel sire 170122 – champion ram at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2018 – with figures of 8.5 weaning weight (WWT) 12.4 PWWT, -1.2 PFAT, 1 PEMD and TCP of 135.1.
Top priced White Suffolk ewe was bought by Shepherds Hut White Suffolk Stud at Muntham near Casterton for $1000. The same buyer purchased lot 144 for $900.
Eight White Suffolk ewes went to Kookaburra Park White Suffolks, Caramut. The account paid to a top of $900 on two occasions.
Emu Park White Suffolk, Kaniva, purchased five White Suffolk ewes top a top of $950 – twice.
The sale was conducted by Rodwells Horsham, DMD Horsham, DMD Nhill and AuctionsPlus.
