Geue family pleased with results of three-breed ram sale at Kingston
On the back of two challenging seasons, Vanita stud still managed to present an outstanding lineup of rams for their annual sale, held last week on the Geue family's property near Kingston SE.
Nutrien stud stock's Richard Miller commended the Geue family, saying it was an "absolute credit" to have produced such a strong draft of rams-entirely grass-fed with no supplementary feed, while maintaining impressive growth and adaptability suited to all environments and producing lambs to suit a range of markets.
The 2025 sale team comprised 66 Border Leicester, 60 Poll Dorset, and 42 White Suffolk rams.
In the sale breakdown, 53 of 66 Border Leicester rams sold to $1800 three times averaging $1119.
Chris and Declan Wright, Nardarra Estate, Kongorong, purchased four Border Leicester sires, including three at the top price of $1800 through O'Connor & Graney, Mount Gambier.
Lot 4 was the first to sell at $1800 - an August-drop ram weighing 94 kilograms, with an eye muscle depth of 39.5 millimeters, a fat score of 6.5mm, sired by G146 Glenlee Park 146-21.
Lot 5, also an August-drop and sired by N118 Normanhurst 118-22, made the same price.
Another August-drop son of N118 Normanhurst 118-22 completed the trio at $1800.
The Wrights also purchased four Poll Dorset rams, averaging $1850.
"We've been buying from Vanita for 21 years I believe, since we got out of composites and have been buying our rams here ever since" Chris Wright said.
"We find them to be very good on their feet and do the job we want them to do, so we keep coming back."
Long-time supporters, the Ratcliff family of Haydenwood Partners, Kingston, once again claimed the mantle of volume Border Leicester buyers, paying from $900 to $1600 to average $1200 for 26 rams.
SA&GE Smith bought five Border Leicesters, averaging $1080, and WP&MA Andrews Pty Ltd also secured five, averaging $940.
Of the 60 Poll Dorset rams offered, 54 sold to a top of $2200 twice, averaging $1332.
Tasked with buying rams while his dad auctioneered, young Harry Miller beat the competition to buy lots 4 and 5 each at $2200.
Repeat buyers AK&AH Parker were volume purchasers in the Poll Dorset draft, taking 12 rams for between $700 and $1600 to average $1168.
Another long time client, David Rasheed of Boolapuckee Pastoral Co, purchased nine Poll Dorsets from $800 to $1700, averaging $1367.
Mr Rasheed also bought Lot 21 - the Geue family's annual feature lot donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service - for $1700.
Continuing the positive trend, 35 of 42 White Suffolk rams sold at stronger prices than 2024, with five reaching the $1600 top and an average of $1008.
Wongavale Trust, through TDC Penola, purchased five top-end White Suffolks at $1600 each, while Ashco Enterprises, also via TDC, were volume buyers, securing nine rams to average $744.
Vanita stud principal Nathan Geue was very pleased with the result across all breeds.
"Even though the preparation was tough this season - with only pasture and some hay - the rams presented really well in the yards," he said.
"Repeat buyers know they're getting good working class genetics."
At the conclusion of the sale, auctioneer Richard Miller wrapped up by saying the presentation of the rams was credit to the Geue family.
"These rams are renowned for being completely grass fed and raised, and for them to line up in this condition after one of the most challenging couple of years the Kingston district has seen is a testament to their genetics," he said.
"We were really pleased with the clearance across the three breeds.
"The Poll Dorset average, in particular, was excellent.
"Buyers were able to secure rams within their budgets, and the quality we've come to expect from Vanita was again exceptional."
