UltraWhite rams lead the way, with the top price up $2400 from 2024 results

Golden canola crops lined the roads enroute to the Golden Hill on-property ram sale at Kukerin, and the result was gold for stud principals Nathan and Julie Ditchburn.

Boosted by an outstanding line-up of rams, their ongoing commitment to genetic investment, much-improved meat sheep markets and a season promising near record grain harvests, the scene was set for white hot demand in what was a battle of the whites, with 94 White Suffolk rams, 90 UltraWhite rams and six rams, a mix of the two, on offer.

The UltraWhites claimed the honours for top price at $6400, up $2400 on last year and top average, a whopping $2716 which was up $577, while the White Suffolks commanded a total clearance, a top of $3400, up $400 and an average of $1943, up $412 on last year's result of $1784.

Combined, the overall sale average was $2246, up $462 for 177 rams sold, which was just one less than last year but with a clearance of 93 per cent compared to 87pc last year.

The 2025 sale result was enacted from a list of 39 registered buyers, compared to 34 in 2024 and included AuctionsPlus for the first time which saw 3055 pre-sale catalogue views and one active buyer on the day.

With Nutrien Livestock auctioneer, James Culleton, in command on the auctioneer's stand, the selling pace was lively, starting with the White Suffolks, followed by the composites and wrapping up with the UltraWhites, where the $6400 top price bid was made.

Mr Culleton said the rams presented very well and prices reflected quality.

"There was good buying support amid positive times for the industry," Mr Culleton said.

White Suffolk

Being extremely well grown, well fleshed and peapod even, a total clearance of White Suffolks, while not fait accompli was certainly no surprise.

The sale tone was set from lot one, which contained the $3400 section topper sold to repeat buyer Darrel Beatty, Undaminda White Suffolk stud, Canna.

Bidding on Mr Beatty's behalf, stud consultant Michael O'Neill, Elders stud stock specialist, said the brief was for big Wheatbelt types which would cross well over Merino ewes to fill paddocks with plenty of lambs.

"Body size and especially easy lambing and easy care are really important particularly as lambing is mostly during seeding," Mr O'Neill said.

"Darrel has had great success with previous purchases from Golden Hill which keeps him coming back."

The June-drop ram, by SD220102, had Lambplan ASBV figures of 0.76 birthweight (BWT), 14.08 weaning weight (WWT), 22.48 post weaning weight (PWT), 2.89 post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD), -0.12 post weaning fat (PFAT), 4.86 lean meat yield (LMY), 159.21 lamb eating quality (LEQ), and 167.49 terminal carcase production (TCP) index.

Next best price-wise was for a May-drop ram at $3000 sold to Bush Farms, Narrikup, its sole purchase.

Another son of SD220102, it displayed Lambplan ASBV figures of 0.5 BWT, 11.32 WWT, 17.98 PWT, 3.87 PEMD, -0.13 PFAT, 4.91 LMY, 154.24 (LEQ), and 160.33 TCP index.

Krool Holdings, Kukerin, was busy at the top end, finishing with five White Suffolk rams to a top of $2900 at an average of $2640.

The major volume buyer of White Suffolk rams was Michelle Ball, GC & VJ Ball, Wagin, who finished with 13 rams to a top of $2400 and $1992 average.

Also active in the White Suffolk section were PBJ & A Davidson, Moulyining, five rams to a $2700 top and $2300 average and Mark Paganoni, Walliabup Farms, Broomehill, chasing early growth and quick maturity in his seven head to $2100.

White Suffolk composites

The six UltraWhite-White Suffolk cross rams all found homes, including four to first time Golden Hill buyer Nathan Davey, Davina Enterprises, Konnongorring, but demand was subdued by comparison to their purebred counterparts.

Mr Davey also bid to $4300 for three UltraWhites, having first introduced the breed 10 years ago.

"The rams were good today and I think they (the Ditchburns) are really on the right track," Mr Davey said.

He is currently running 2000 purebred ewes, alongside a cropping program and supplies his local Wongan Hills butcher with 15 lambs a fortnight.

UltraWhite

First time buyer Brad Kiddle, JE & MP Kiddle, Gnowangerup, came to the Golden Hill ram sale looking for a special sire and found it in lot 104, a well-grown, June drop UltraWhite son of GH220720 with Lambplan ASBV figures of 0.34 BWT, 13.28 WWT, 18.91 PWT, 1.16 PEMD, -1.02 PFAT, 5.14 LMY, 139.8 (LEQ), and 148.17 TCP index.

Mr Kiddle runs 300 UltraWhite ewes alongside a wheat, barley and canola cropping program and said he moved to the breed for its ease of management and in response to shearer shortages.

"Today, I was looking for body size, good structure, a good shedder and lower fat," Mr Kiddle said.

"We mate our ewes three times in two years to lamb down in March, July and November, including ewe lambs once they hit 40kg bodyweight.

"We will put this ram in first and keep some of his ram lambs for our own use as well as some of the ewe lambs for replacements, with the remaining lambs sold to WAMMCO," Mr Kiddle said.

The second best price at the sale, $5400, was bid by Nutrien Livestock's Roy Addis, buying on behalf of Brimfield stud principals Gail Cremasco and Max Whyte, Kendenup, also first time buyers at Golden Hill.

By HF225203, its clean skin reflected its superior shedding ability and it was one of 18 UltraWhite rams catalogued which carried the UltraWhite HF+ Gene.

The May-drop ram had ASBV figures of -0.04 BWT 6.89 WWT, 10.67 post weaning weight (PWT), 2.72 PEMD, 0.87 PFAT, 2.21 LMY, 135.32 LEQ and 137.05 TCP index.

Mr Addis said he was looking at carcase traits, length of body, shedding ability, positive fats, plenty of muscle and good structure.

"This was an all round balanced sheep," Mr Addis said.

"It was a great line-up of rams offered with relevant data for the commercial industry and wonderful to see such a strong result across the shed from regular and new buyers."

Helping that result was fourth time and volume buyer Dawson 17 Pty Ltd, Toodyay, represented by farm manager Stephen Cook and stockman Glenn Hunter, who amassed a team of 20 rams to a top of $4000.

"UltraWhites are such easy care in our country," Mr Cook said.

"They have great carcase traits and with the industry moving down a protein line they are an excellent fit with their good red meat yield."

Another major volume buyer of UltraWhites was Murray Moir, Glenelg Estates, Borden, returning for the fifth successive year, who finished with a team of 16 rams to a top of $4000 twice.

Mr Moir, who farms with his parents Graham and Shirley Moir and fiance Tori Bowman, said they almost got out of sheep following shearer availability issues, but switched from Prime SAMMs to UltraWhites to instead now run about 3500 ewes in a 75pc cropping versus 25pc sheep enterprise.

"Sheep work well as part of our rotations and I'm certainly glad we stayed with them now given their current good prices, how expensive fertiliser has become and with the falling wheat and barley prices," Mr Moir said.

"UltraWhites are easy to manage, there's no shearing or crutching needed and no flies (flystrike)."

Braden and Kate Johnston, Johnston Plains, Nyabing, made their presence felt in the UltraWhite section of the catalogue, finishing with nine rams to a top of $4400 and hefty $3456 average.

Another who switched from Prime SAMMs to UltraWhites, the couple first came to Golden Hill four years ago and the success of the genetics has prompted their annual return and active bidding each year since.

"It's close to home, but also this is an up and coming stud," Mr Johnston said.

"UltraWhites have a great (carcase) dressing percentage and good temperament - they don't get out as much as some shedders.

"We are mainly looking for growth rates and good structure in the rams we select today."

The Johnstons run 4000 UltraWhite ewes, also set on a three lambings in two years program, to fit within their 80pc cropping program comprising canola, barley, oats and vetch.

Golden Hill stud co-principal Nathan Ditchburn was thrilled with the sale result.

"It was an awesome result today, we couldn't have asked for more," Mr Ditchburn said.

"Having the two breeds worked well for buyer choice, those that don't want to shear prefer the UltraWhites as shedders, while those running Merino dams like the White Suffolks for their carcase quality and easy lambing."

"Thanks to everyone for coming, to Elders and Nutrien Livestock for their efforts and to Patmore Feeds for putting on the sausage sizzle."