Elton Downs' average lifts $600 as smaller offering streaks to full clearance
The challenges of the past 18 months season-wise led Elton Downs White Suffolks to offer 100 less rams in this year's on-property auction, but they ended up grossing more in a ripping sale from go to woe.
The Rudiger family, Karoonda, were blown away by a full clearance of 148 rams to a high of $5600 and average of $1673.
For context, last year's sale yielded 187 of 250 rams sold to a high of $3000, averaging $1071.
The sale was strongly supported by repeat local clientele, as well as Yorke Peninsula, Mid North and South East support, many through the Spence Dix & Co network.
Chris and Emily Rudiger were thankful to have the support of their regulars, but also chuffed to receive stud interest with four of the first eight lots bound for stud duties.
Three of those rams will be heading to the Hobson family, Banjanda White Suffolks, Aubra, Vic, bidding on the phone through Nutrien's James McInally.
Justin, who farms with his father and uncle, Doug and Barry, said they were keen to get new bloodlines into their operation and his uncle had become aware of Elton Downs through its $34,000 purchase of Booloola 024 in 2022.
The ram had 37 sons in the Elton Downs lineup and two of those went to Banjanda for $5600 and $4200, while an Elton Downs 48 son also sold to them for $5200.
Weighing in at 130 kilograms, the July 2024-drop top-priced ram ranked in the top 5 per cent on Australian Sheep Breeding Values for weaning weight (13.2) and post weaning weight (20.4) and was in the top 20pc on the terminal carcase production index (154.6).
It was second in the July-born class at this year's Royal Adelaide Show, where White Suffolks were the feature breed."
"We're looking to get better growth rates and strengthening some areas in our own stud, so we think the rams we got will do that for us," Mr Hobson said.
"We're always looking for new blood and the ones we got are nice rams."
Lot 8 also went to a stud in Oakdale, Bordertown. Another feature was the annual donation ram to Ronald McDonald House, which ended up being $2400 on lot 28.
Speaking post sale, Elton Downs principal Chris Rudiger said it was 'Murphy's Law' that they pulled numbers back this year, only for them to sell comfortably, but the season had forced their hand.
"With the lamb job the way it is, that's probably gone a long way in helping it (the sale) out," he said.
"There was also some stud interest, which was really nice. We moved one stud ram last year, but hadn't much before that, but ultimately volume buyers underpinned the sale and we wouldn't be able to do it without them.
"We've spent quite a bit of money on a couple of sires over the last few years and they've well and truly paid for themselves."
As well as the Booloola sire, Elton Downs purchased Rangeview 2100 for $21,000 in 2023.
Spence Dix & Co's Luke Schreiber, who auctioned the sale with Jack Guy, said Elton Downs showing at the Royal Adelaide in a feature breed may have also been a contributor to such a strong auction.
"It's a sale where the quality goes right through the catalogue and that's where you see rams that are lots in the 130s and 140s making as much as the rams earlier in the sale," he said.
"They had a very successful Adelaide Show and I think that bodes well that they can compete on that big stage, especially when it's the feature breed.
"Those that buy them, love them and want to keep buying them."
Among those volume purchasers were AP&DJ Germein & Sons, Port Vincent, who bought 12 rams, averaging $1442, and MR&MC Freund & Son, Coonalpyn, who bought eight, averaging $2275.
All buying seven rams were Bergan Park, Keith, averaging $1657, Seaview Farming, Yorke Peninsula, averaging $2371, and Light View Trading, averaging $1200.
