Foundation South Australian White Suffolk stud caps decades of breeding with a 249-ram sellout, $2094 average and $17,000 top at its final Illoura sale
Summary
The final Illoura White Suffolk ram sale delivered a memorable send-off for a foundation South Australian stud that announced its dispersal a year earlier. Held at the property, the auction drew buyers from across South Australia and three other states, reflecting strong confidence in the current season and the prime lamb industry. Decades of breeding were rewarded with a total clearance of 249 rams, an average of $2094 and a top price of $17,000. The top-priced ram, an April 2025-drop sire offered at Lot 2, weighed 129.5 kilograms and carried Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 14.90 for weaning weight, 23.99 for post-weaning weight and 3.69 post-eye muscle depth, plus a Terminal Carcase Production index of 170.7 and a Lamb Eating Quality Index of 163.4. It headed to the She-Oak Lodge White Suffolk stud, which traces to Illoura bloodlines from almost a decade ago. The second-top ram made $10,000 to the Harry's Well stud at Loxton; the Lot 1 ram weighed 123.5kg with a TCP index of 172.0. Other studs were active, with a $3000 sire going to Woomelang, Victoria, and a $6600 ram crossing to a Western Australian operation at Boyup Brook. Volume buyers secured lines at averages from $1426 to $2969. A day earlier, the stud's final ewe dispersal sold 196 of 243 ewes to average $1071 and a top of $3400. The joint Elders and Nutrien sale marked a fitting finale.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Rams cleared | 249 |
| Ram sale average | $2094 |
| Top ram price | $17,000 |
| Second-top ram price | $10,000 |
| Top ram weight | 129.5 kg |
| Ewes sold | 196 of 243 |
| Ewe sale average | $1071 |
| Top ewe price | $3400 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many rams sold at the final Illoura White Suffolk sale and at what average?
All 249 rams sold for a total clearance, achieving an average of $2094. The top price reached $17,000.
What was the top price and where did the top ram go?
The top-priced ram made $17,000 and was secured for the She-Oak Lodge White Suffolk stud at Mount Hope on the Eyre Peninsula. That stud was founded on Illoura bloodlines almost a decade ago.
What were the top ram's breeding values?
The Lot 2, April 2025-drop ram weighed 129.5 kilograms and carried Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 14.90 for weaning weight and 23.99 for post-weaning weight. It also recorded a Terminal Carcase Production index of 170.7 and a Lamb Eating Quality Index of 163.4.
How much did the second-highest ram sell for?
The second-top ram made $10,000 and went to the Harry's Well stud at Loxton. The Lot 1 ram weighed 123.5 kilograms and had a Terminal Carcase Production index of 172.0.
Did buyers travel from interstate?
Yes. Buyers came from every part of South Australia and three other states. A ram sold for $6600 to a Western Australian operation at Boyup Brook, and a $3000 sire went to Woomelang in Victoria.
What happened at the ewe dispersal sale?
Held the day before the ram sale, the final ewe dispersal sold 196 of 243 ewes offered to average $1071. The top-priced ewe made $3400 and went to a Victorian stud at Kaniva.
Who conducted the Illoura sale?
The auction was a joint Elders and Nutrien sale. Volume buyers secured lines at averages ranging from $1426 to $2969.
