Leahcim White Suffolks draws stud and commercial buyers from four states

The Michael Family's Leahcim White Suffolk sale continues to go from strength to strength, with Friday's auction at Snowtown drawing buyers from four states.

It was the stud's 38^th annual on-property sale, with a full clearance of 140 rams achieved.

The average was up by $335 on last year at $1564. Also up was the top price at $8000, compared to 2024's $5000.

The highest price ram was knocked down to Chris Rudiger, of the Elton Downs White Suffolk stud at Karoonda.

Mr Rudiger was a first-time buyer at Leahcim and he said the strong data backing up their rams drew him to the sale.

It was the data on the top-priced ram that really impressed.

"The ram is a good type, with good White Suffolk features, and for a ram to have that along with the data it's got as well, I just thought it stood up really well," Mr Rudiger said.

The ram was in the top one per cent for terminal carcase production, dress percentage and lamb eating quality, and in the top 5pc for weaning weight, post-weaning weight, eye muscle depth and intramuscular fat.

Elton Downs was one of five White Suffolk studs buying at the sale.

Lachy Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, bought the opening lot for $5000.

Like the top-priced ram, lot one was in the top 1pc for terminal carcase production, dress percentage and lamb eating quality, and in the top 5pc for weaning weight, post-weaning weight, eye muscle depth and intramuscular fat.

Anthony Ferguson, Anna Villa, Weetulta, bought one ram at $3200.

Buying lot 3 jointly for $6000 were the Donnan Family Farming Trust, of the Anden stud, Woomelang, Victoria, and the Funke family, Bundara Downs, Western Flat.

The Anden stud also bought another ram for the joint-second highest price of $7000. It was in the top 1pc for intramuscular fat, dress percentage and eating quality, and top 5pc for a range of other traits including terminal carcase production and post-weaning weight.

Buying the other ram that made $7000 was Scott Welke, Westwood, Esperance, Western Australia.

The volume buyer on the day was the Martin family, Swan Hill, Victoria, taking 25 Leahcim rams across the border and averaging $872.

Leahcim's Alistair Michael said it was an exciting time to be in the sheep sector.

"There's plenty of confidence around the lamb industry," he said.

Mr Michael was pleased with how the sale went overall.

"It was a really great commercial sale as well as having good stud interest," he said.

"People could still buy in that $800 to $1500 range, which is still very much value buying."

The sale was conducted by Nutrien with Gordon Wood auctioneering.

"The line-up was fantastic," Mr Wood said.

"There were a lot of studs looking at the rams and that gives an indication of what's on offer."

Mr Wood said station and pastoral orders helped achieve the full clearance of 140 rams.

"It was a strong sale but we still sold a lot of rams in that $800 to $1200 range," he said.