Strong demand sees She-Oak Lodge near-total clearance at Mount Hope

She-Oak Lodge Suffolk and White Suffolk studs enjoyed a near-total clearance at their annual on-property sale at Mount Hope, with 118 of the 119 rams offered selling to a top of $2600.

All 60 Suffolks cleared to average $1575 and top at $2600 for Lot 11, while 55 of the 59 White Suffolks sold to $2200, averaging $1294.

This brought the overall sale average to $1440, with 37 registered bidders competing, up from $1098 last year.

Lake Hamilton Station, Sheringa, secured the $2600 Suffolk top-priced ram, Lot 11, a July 2024-drop weighing 126 kilograms, with figures of 14.9 post weaning weight, -0.5 pfat, 45 eye muscle depth and a total carcase production index of 130.7.

Lake Hamilton's Lisa Boot said the ram's growth stood out.

"He had the best post weaning weight of the Suffolks in the catalogue, which shows the genetic potential of his offspring," she said.

"That's a big thing for us - growth rate, sound structure and balance.

"We run about 700 to 1000 Merino ewes, and he'll go across them.

"We've been buying from She-Oak Lodge for 10 years and it was a really good result again this year."

The top White Suffolk ram, Lot 62, was bought by Kaira, Wirrulla, for $2200.

Weighing 130kg, it had figures of 15.7 post weaning weight, -0.4 pfat, 50.3 eye muscle depth and a TCP index of 140.3.

Kaira owner Troy Olsen said the ram ticked all the boxes.

"His figures, structure and size all stood out, and not just in the top lot - the whole draft was very even," he said.

"We normally just run Merinos, but with the season and the meat game, we're putting a few more ewes over White Suffolks.

"We've been buying here for nearly a decade and it was a very good sale."

Volume buyers included PF, DM and RM Watson, Wirrulla (10 Suffolks), Kaira, Wirrulla (7 White Suffolks), Woolawae Downs, Wangary (6), Straus and Partners, Edillilie (6) and Kym Tree, Wudinna (6).

Stud principal Tom Millard said the result exceeded expectations.

"Given the season with a lack of rain and a lot of ewes being sold off, to have virtually a total clearance was outstanding," he said.

"We had strong support from both new and repeat buyers, and it was very pleasing to see our averages lift."

EP Livestock agent and auctioneer Ben Dohnt said the offering was "very consistent from top to bottom".

"You could cast a net over the whole catalogue - there wasn't much between the top and the bottom, both in the Suffolks and the White Suffolks," he said.

"There was good competition from across Eyre Peninsula and beyond, with buyers operating to strong, steady budgets."

The sale was conducted by EP Livestock.