White Suffolk Ewes Sell to $1000

Mated White Suffolk stud ewes sold to $1000 and 86 averaged $528 at the Bundara Downs inaugural stud ewe sale at Western Flat, SA, on March 23.

The Funke family’s 19 year old White Suffolk stud conducts an annual spring ram sale and this was the first time they had offered stud ewes.

In addition to pedigree information, the comprehensive catalogue contained performance data on the sale sheep, the joining sires, and predicted EBVs on the lambs in utero as well as the number of lambs each ewe was carrying.

A sale highlight was the outstanding run of 2011 drop ewes that drew strong competition with 14 selling to a top of $1000 and averaging $636. This top price was paid by Lachie and Kylie McCrae, Somerset stud, Hamilton, Vic.

Buyers came from the Eyre Peninsula through to western Victoria with three volume buyers accounting for more than half the sales.

Ian and Sarah James, Iona stud, Henty, Vic, a regular buyer of Bundara Downs rams, paid an average $500 for 16 ewes.

New stud breeder Rohan Hull, Streaky Bay, SA, who bought the Kattata Well stud 12 months ago, expanded his breeding flock with 15 ewes at an average $510.

The other volume buyer was T Jorgensen from Nhill, Vic, who took home 14 ewes to a a $750 high.

Bundara Downs co-principal Steve Funke said he was delighted high profile studs were operating and it was a great opportunity to get Bundara Downs genetics out into the industry and the ewe sale could become a biennial event.

Agent was Elders with Laryn Gogel the auctioneer.

From Geoff Phillips 0411 413 599