Change to auction style was buyer-friendly and offered buyers more flexibility

Strong bidding set the tone for the full catalogue clearance at Codji Springs White Suffolk stud's first on-property ram sale at Pumphreys Bridge last Friday.

Opting for a Helmsman auction, stud owners Ryan and Courtney Marwick said this style was buyer-friendly and offered buyers more flexibility.

"Everyone could have a good look at what they can basically purchase without a spur-of-the-moment impulse buy," Mr Marwick said.

"As to whether we do it again, we'll probably listen to the feedback from our buyers and go with that for next year."

The Helmsman system allows for all rams to be open for sale simultaneously with buyers able to place bids on any ram of their choice, at any time within the allotted selling period.

The line-up of White Suffolk and, for the first time, SheepMaster rams attracted repeat buyers, along with a few new buyers looking for new genetics and different options, and kept the Elders team busy changing the values on the display board.

As a result, the auction was extended by an additional 22 one-minute increments before no further bids were received, resulting in a complete clearance of all 30 White Suffolk rams, including four Codji Springs sires, and three SheepMasters in the catalogue.

Elders livestock agent Paul Keppel said the sale exceeded expectations.

"The sheep presented exceptionally well, and it's our first year of having a sale on property," Mr Keppel said.

"I think it's just well supported on the back of the response in the market.

Codji Springs previously sold in Narrogin, in a conjunctional sale, and last year held its own auction in the town.

This year's on-property sale saw a top of $4500 for a White Suffolk 2-tooth ram and average of $1769 for 30 sold, a top of $1500 for four sires which averaged $1250, and three SheepMaster rams sold at $800 each.

The overall average was up $604 on last year's sale, which saw 36 of 37 rams sold to a top price of $1450, and average of $1165.

A ram from lot four achieved the sale's highest price of $4500 coming from a reserve price of $2500.

The April drop ram, sired by Codji Springs 220284, which goes back to an Ashmore artificial insemination (AI) program, has Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of 0.35 birth weight (BWT), 10.5 weaning weight (WWT), 16.5 post weaning weight (PWWT), 2.11 post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD), -0.26 post weaning fat (PFAT) and 143.61 terminal carcase production (TCP).

It was also part of Codji Springs winning interbreed group of two rams and two ewes at the 2025 Williams Gateway Expo, and will be shown at this year's Perth Royal Show.

Weighing in at 136.5 kilograms, the White Suffolk ram was sold to Brad Bassett, Bassett Brothers, Brookton.

Mr Bassett said the ram stood out above the rest.

"He has good muscle, good length, good White Suffolk type traits," Mr Basset said.

"He'll suit our little flock nicely."

The ram will be used across Mr Bassett's White Suffolk nucleus flock, comprising 130 purebred White Suffolks.

He runs 3500 Merino ewes, 2000 mated to prime lamb sires and 1500 to Merinos, alongside a mixed barley, wheat and oats cropping program.

A first-time buyer of Codji Springs rams, Mr Bassett said the ram would deliver some different genetics.

Taking out the sale's second-highest price of $2400 was Gnaring Pastoral Co, Wandering, represented by Mr Keppel.

The June drop twin-born ram from lot 1, whose sire was also in the sale catalogue and also goes back to an Ashmore AI program, weighed in at 148.5kg and will also be shown at the Perth Royal Show.

It recorded ASBVs of 0.45 BWT, 11.62 WWT, 18.17 PWT, 1.28 PEMD, -0.34 PFAT, and 143.14 TCP.

Gnaring Pastoral Co added another four rams to its list of purchases for an average of $1600.

Mr Keppel said he was looking at the rams' weaning weights, post weaning weights and birth weights on behalf of his clients.

"Just making sure everything (the figures) is above average with good structure, constitution, and shape and length of body," Mr Keppel said.

"They will be going over Merino ewes, they (Gnaring Pastoral Co) mainly produce feedlot lambs and sell off most of their lambs in spring."

This is the second year Gnaring Pastoral Co has purchased rams from Codji Springs.

The volume buyer on the day was A W Lyneham & Son, Popanyinning, securing six White Suffolk rams, averaging $1750.

The reward for the volume buyer was one tonne of Milne Feeds pellets for purchasing the most rams from the auction.

Mr Marwick said having the sale on-property worked well for their family and for their buyers who are mostly locals, despite the unknown factor at the time whether it would all work out.

"It's closer to come here and a good day (weather-wise) always helps, and the (much improved) sheep market, as it is, gets people in," Mr Marwick said.

"There's a fair bit more optimism for the industry."

Mr Marwick said it was the stud's first time offering SheepMasters for sale.

"We bought them originally from the Garnett stud down in Albany, bought a ram lamb from down there, in 2023," he said.

"We're getting to a stage now where we're happy with the sheep that we're breeding from them, so we've offered them up.

"We went with the SheepMaster over some of the other shedding breeds mainly for containment, their very easy to keep in and have good temperament."