A great Wheatbelt sale that achieved a great result across all breeds
It was yet again another cracking sale at the Cheetham family's South Kumminin-based Cheetara stud last Thursday when a broad range of genetics representing four breeds achieved an extremely positive result.
More than 55 registered bidders, as well as supporters and onlookers filled the Cheetham's selling shed, ready with bid cards in hand to invest in the Cheetara genetics, creating an upbeat atmosphere and plenty of competition.
Growth, structure and carcase composition were all traits displayed in the rams that presented exceptionally even and consistent on sale day.
The line-up was also offered with impressive Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) to support them which reflected Nick and Gina Cheetham's commitment to their stud and breeding program.
The positivity and uplift in the sheep market was evident throughout the sale which was well-supported across the UltraWhite, White Suffolk, Suffolk and Poll Dorset breeds from lot one through to the final lot.
Considering the stud offered almost 40 more rams than its 2024 sale, there were no problems finding them new homes for the extra rams and by the end, 320 rams of the 327 rams offered had sold under the hammer to an average of $1425, which was up by $154 from last year.
The Cheetham family offered 288 rams in 2024 and 259 sold under the hammer at an average price of $1271.
Elders auctioneer and WA stud stock manager, Nathan King, kicked off the auctioneering and was assisted throughout the sale by Elders Narembeen livestock representative Riley Stasinowsky and Elders, Muchea auctioneer Graeme Curry.
Mr King said it was a great sale that achieved a great result across all breeds.
"The rams presented spot-on with consistent figures throughout, particularly for early growth and eye muscle depth," Mr King said.
"The quality of the line-up was reflected right through the catalogue which meant competition was there from start to finish.
"There were lots of registrations from new faces and returning clients which was great to see and this help ensure the good competition throughout.
"Congratulations to the Cheetham family on a great result, to offer the number of rams they did and nearly sell them all is a credit to them."
UltraWhite
The UltraWhite yarding was the first to be offered and it saw a 100 per cent clearance of the 84 rams offered at an average of $2194, which was up $203 on last year's result.
The top price of $4100 was recorded twice in the UltraWhite portion.
Lot five was the first to reach $4100 when Kim Oliver, KL & KK Oliver, Gnowangerup, had the final bid on the well-balanced ram.
The well-muscled, March 2024-drop ram had excellent shedding ability to match ASBVs of -0.13 birthweight (BWT), 8.30 weaning weight (WWT), 12.08 post-weaning weight (PWWT), 2.36 post-weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD), 0.45 post-weaning fat (PFAT), and a 2.12 lean meat yield (LMY), as well as a lamb eating quality index of 134.6 and a terminal carcase production index of 140.8.
Mr Oliver said he was looking for a more bare ram.
"Bareness is something I look for in rams as well as figures such as eye muscle depth," Mr Oliver said.
He purchased a second ram for $2600, to load up two sires on his ute at an average of $3350.
The Olivers run a flock of 1200 UltraWhite ewes.
The second ram to hit the equal $4100 top-priced ram was in lot nine and was purchased by AWN livestock specialist Tony Douglass on behalf of returning New South Wales client Kerin Food & Fibre.
The June 2024-drop sire has ASBVs of -0.03 BWT, 8.74 WWT, 14.26 PWWT, 2.43 PEMD, 1.86 PFAT, 1.39 LMY and a LEQ index of 139.7 and a TCP index of 141.8.
Mr Douglass said the interstate buyers looked over the catalogue prior to the sale and told him what they were selecting on figures wise.
"From there I matched the figures to the rams visually, which seemed to be exactly what they were looking for," Mr Douglass said.
"It was predominantly on figures and data, as well as visual conformation, good structure and constitution as well as good feet and shedding ability."
The interstate client purchased four rams in total at an average of $3575.
"These rams were his top four catalogue picks and we managed to purchase them all, which is positive," Mr Douglass said.
Included in New South Wales-based buyers purchases was the day's second top-priced ram at $4000.
The March 2024-drop ram has ASBVs of 0.12 BWT, 10.79 WWT, 15.64 PWWT, 1.74 PEMD, 1.37 PFAT, 1.95 LMY to go with a 132.0 LEQ index and a 138.0 TCP index.
The volume buyer in the UltraWhite portion of the catalogue was Nutrien Livestock Wickepin, Corrigin and Kulin agent, Ty Miller, on behalf of an undisclosed client.
Mr Miller purchased 19 UltraWhite rams for his client at an average of $2084 and a top of $3500, which was the third top price for the sale overall.
The March 2024-drop sire has impressive ASBVs of 0.24 BWT, 9.28 WWT, 13.98 PWWT, 1.59 PEMD, 0.44 PFAT, 2.89 LMY and indexes of 131.4 LEQ and 137.1 TCP.
Mr Miller said in the past, the client had selected a lot of rams based on figures.
"This year they also wanted to see some more shedding traits in the rams to reduce the number of woolly ewes they carried as breeders," he said.
"The rams also had good, solid carcases and square frames."
Also a fan of the UltraWhite genetics was Chiddarcooping Farms, Warralakin, which bought 11 rams averaging $1309 and to a top of $1600 three times.
White Suffolk
The 189-head line-up of White Suffolks were next to go under the hammer and achieved a 100pc clearance selling to an average of $1207, which was up $101 on last year's sale.
Paying the $3000 top price in the White Suffolk section was Tim Della Bosca, YP AG Holdings, Westonia.
The June 2024-drop ram was the ninth White Suffolk sire to be offered.
It has ASBVs of 0.31 BWT, 11.33 WWT, 18.18 PWWT, 2.83 PEMD, 0.38 PFAT, and 3.40 LMY to match an LEQ index of 148.2 and a TCP index of 150.7.
Mr Della Bosca said the ram's overall appearance was what he was looking for.
"He stood and presented really well and had plenty of length and broadness through the chest which is something I was chasing," Mr Della Bosca said.
"Eye muscle depth was something I was looking for in the figures as well."
The Westonia producers purchased another three rams from the line-up for an average of $2225.
Included in Mr Della Bosca's buying order was one of two $2200 equal third top-priced White Suffolk rams.
The ram, a June 2024-drop, has indexes of 153.0 for LEQ and 155.4 for TCP.
The Della Boscas run 2000 Merino breeding ewes, 600 of which are mated to White Suffolk rams.
"Our White Suffolk cross lambs drop in April each year and we target a 55 to 60 kilogram turn off weight in September which dress out in the high 20kg carcase weight range."
Boddington producer Aaron Foster, Wendenlea stud, secured the $2400 second top-priced White Suffolk ram, a June Drop sire that was catalogued in lot 91.
It has ASBVs of 0.41 BWT, 11.82 WWT, 18.99 PWWT, 2.72 PEMD, 0.45 PFAT, a 3.35 LMY and indexes of 148.6 LEQ and 152.1 for TCP.
Jesmond Farms, Hyden, purchased the other ram to sell at the equal $2200 third top price in the White Suffolk run.
It paid this value for a June 2024-drop sire from lot 100 that has indexes of 141.3 for LEQ and 146.9 for TCP.
The Hyden account purchased another six rams from the offering, for an average of $1671.
The volume buyer in the White Suffolk portion of the sale, purchasing 18 rams, was Kings Ag Contracting, Narembeen, which paid a high of $1200, three times and an average of $956.
Also eager to secure Cheetara White Suffolk genetics was DH & MM Piggot, Narembeen, which bought 17 rams averaging $1224 and paying to a high of $1800, and Muntadgin account Altek Farms, also loaded up 17 rams post-sale, at an average of $982 and a top of at $2100 twice.
Suffolk
The Suffolks were strongly represented by a hardy, well put together team of 44 rams, 38 of which found new homes at an average of $951, which was down $28 on last year's sale.
Prices peaked at $1700 for the first Suffolk ram to be offered and this was bid by return buyers RD & SM Crombie, Corrigin.
The ram, which was clearly the favourite, was a July-drop well-rounded sire with ASBVs of 0.40 BWT, 8.75 WWT, 14.16 PWWT, 1.81 PEMD, 0.17 PFAT and 3.04 LMY to match indexes of 133.4 for LEQ and 139.7 for TCP.
The Crombie family picked up a further two Suffolk sires for a $1350 average.
Also in their selections was the $1500 second top-priced Suffolk ram.
This sire was also a July 2024-drop and boasted ASBVs of 0.28 BWT, 7.77 WWT, 12.95 PWWT, 2.33 PEMD, 0.55 PFAT, 2.62 LMY and a LEQ index of 134.0 and a TCP index of 139.6.
Narembeen producers, KJ & RF Liebeck, showed plenty of interest in the Suffolk offering, which as a result saw them bid to $1400 for a true-to-type sire from lot 280.
The third top-priced Suffolk ram was a July 2024-drop and had ASBVs of 0.37 BWT, 7.85 WWT, 12.65 PWWT, 1.78 PEMD, 0.13 PFAT, 2.74 LMY, a LEQ index of 130.6 and a TCP index of 136.5.
Filling a large order in the Suffolk portion of the catalogue was Cramphorne Farms, Merredin, which loaded seven rams post-sale for the trip home to an average of $1007.
It paid a high of $1100 for two July 2024-drop rams with respective indexes of 126.4 for LEQ and 131.7 for TCP, and 125.9 for LEQ and 131.2 for TCP.
Poll Dorset
A line of 10 Poll Dorset rams rounded out the sale and nine of these sold under the hammer at an average of $828, which was down $108 on the 2024 sale result.
The top price of $1100 was paid by Mr Douglass on behalf of a Gnowangerup client.
The true-to-type ram from lot 324 is a June 2024-drop and has ASBVs of 0.42 BWT, 11.03 WWT, 16.11 PWWT, 1.31 PEMD, -0.82 PFAT and an LMY of 3.54 to match indexes of 124.0 for LEQ and 135.1 for TCP.
Mr Douglass picked up another two Poll Dorset rams, both at $1000 for the same client.
Both rams were June 2024-drops with indexes of 128.2 for LEQ and 139.1 for TCP and 125.4 for LEW and 136.2 for TCP.
Pedo Pty Ltd, Toodyay, was also a fan of the Poll Dorset rams, paying $1000 for a June 2024-drop ram with a LEQ index of 125.0 and a TCP index of 134.4, as part of a team of five which averaged $710.
The Cheethams extended a massive thank you to all their clients, bidders, underbidders and attendees on sale day.
"We really appreciate the support," they said.
"We'd also like to thank Elders and Nutrien, as well as Coopers Animal Health and Patmore Feeds for providing door prizes on the day."
