Mertex White Suffolk sale tops $7000 at Antwerp as 200 lots clear
Summary
The Mertex Texel and White Suffolk stud cleared 200 rams and ewes at its on-property sale at Antwerp, with buyers from five states making purchases from the 209 lots offered. The cross-bred draft of 28 Texel and White Suffolk rams recorded the highest average of the day at $2507.
In the main drafts, 109 White Suffolk rams cleared for an average of $1751 while 21 Texel rams averaged $1828. Fifteen of the 22 East Friesian, Texel and White Suffolk rams offered sold for an average of $1340. In the ewe sections, 18 of 20 White Suffolk ewes averaged $822 and nine Texel ewes averaged $1044.
The top-priced lot of the sale was a White Suffolk, lot 4, Mertex 250486, which made $7000 to first-time buyers Banjanda stud, Waubra. Sired by Felix 230417, the 124.5-kilogram ram recorded a birth weight of 0.47 kilograms, a weaning weight of 13.9 kilograms, a post-weaning weight of 22.49 kilograms and a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 4.48 millimetres, with a lean meat yield of 5.84 per cent.
Texel rams peaked at $5400 for lot 111, Mertex 250118, a 116-kilogram ram purchased by another first-time buyer at Blayney, New South Wales, who took two rams. The stud has bred Texels for 30 years and offered ewes for the first time at this sale.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Lots offered | 209 |
| Rams and ewes cleared | 200 |
| Top price, a White Suffolk | $7000 |
| White Suffolk rams sold, average | 109 at $1751 |
| Texel rams sold, average | 21 at $1828 |
| Texel and White Suffolk cross rams, average | 28 at $2507 |
| Texel ram top price | $5400 |
| White Suffolk ewes sold, average | 18 of 20 at $822 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Mertex sale top at?
The sale topped at $7000 for lot 4, a White Suffolk, bought by first-time buyers Banjanda stud, Waubra. Texel rams peaked separately at $5400. In total 200 rams and ewes cleared from 209 lots offered.
What did each draft average?
The 28 Texel and White Suffolk cross rams recorded the highest average at $2507. The 109 White Suffolk rams averaged $1751 and the 21 Texel rams $1828. Fifteen of 22 East Friesian, Texel and White Suffolk rams averaged $1340.
What figures did the top-priced ram record?
The 124.5-kilogram White Suffolk recorded a birth weight of 0.47 kilograms, a weaning weight of 13.9 kilograms and a post-weaning weight of 22.49 kilograms. Its post-weaning eye muscle depth was 4.48 millimetres and its lean meat yield 5.84 per cent. It was sired by Felix 230417.
What topped the Texel section?
Lot 111, Mertex 250118, topped the Texels at $5400. The 116-kilogram ram recorded a birth weight of 0.42 kilograms, a weaning weight of 9.34 kilograms, a post-weaning weight of 13.42 kilograms and a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 2.91 millimetres. It went to a first-time buyer at Blayney, New South Wales, who took two rams.
What did the ewes make?
In the ewe sections, 18 of 20 White Suffolk ewes sold for an average of $822. Nine Texel ewes averaged $1044. It was the first time the stud had offered ewes at the sale.
Where did buyers come from?
Buyers came from five different states. The sale included a mix of new and returning clients eager to buy foundation and crossbred sheep.
How long has the stud bred Texels?
The stud has 30 years of Texel breeding behind it. It offers both Texel and White Suffolk genetics alongside crossbred drafts.
