'Sheep sale of the year' as huge Ella Matta ram offering attracts all comers

The Heinrich family reapt the rewards for many years of commitment to the sheep industry at their annual three breed sale on Kangaroo Island last Friday.

The Heinrichs offered 352 rams from their White Suffolk, Maternal Composite and Poll Merino studs in a four and a half hour extravaganza, resulting in an impressive 97 per cent clearance, to buyers from five states.

Of the 340 lots that sold at auction, it was one of their Poll Merinos that topped the overall sale at $16,000, while two White Suffolks topped their biggest and main draft at $13,000 each.

Overall, the 340 lots averaged an exceptionally strong $2483.

Auctions Plus co-ordinator at the sale, Seb McDonald, was kept consistently busy throughout, with 618 online bids.

In describing the sale, Nutrien stud stock's Gordon Wood said it was "an event and one of considerable magnitude".

"The Heinrich family presented a tremendous offering across the three catalogues with performance data that many people are striving to achieve, matched with phenotypes that keep buyers returning year after year," he said.

The main draft of 217 White Suffolk rams kicked the auction off in grand style. Stud demand drove the average upwards with 15 rams going to ram breeding flocks from four states, these averaging $6107.

Ian and Donna Gilmore and Sons, Baringa stud, Oberon, NSW, made a successful $9500 bid on lot 1.

Lot 2 attracted 17 online bids, but it was the Hull family, Kattata Well stud, Port Kenny, who were successful in purchasing him for the equal top price of $13,000, with the Funke family, Bundara Downs stud, Western Flat, taking a semen share post sale.

EM240458, by Farrer 220173, impressed with his sire power and visual carcase attributes, but his performance data impressed even more with figures for weaning weight of 13.4, post weaning weight of 20.2, eye muscle depth of 5.5 and lean meat yield of 4.9, all ranking in the top 5 per cent nationally across all terminal breeds.

The lamb eating quality and terminal carcase production indices were both over 180, ranking him in the top 1pc nationally.

Six lots later, this $13,000 price was equalled when EM240089, sired by Farrer 220103, was sold to Leigh and Jayne Richards, Tongara, Netherton.

It was one of the mainland buyers who took out the volume buying honours across the White Suffolks.

Mark Mackinnon, Langi Willi P/L, Skipton, Vic, bought the first of his 17 purchases at lot 14 for $2500, and his last at lot 209 for $2000.

Neighbours, the Mumford family, paid to a top of $4200 and averaged $2613 for 15 rams.

Another local in Mike Smith bought 12 rams from $2000 to $2800, while Simon Kelly, Mine Creek, paid from $2200 to $3000 for ten rams.

Local Spence Dix & Co agent Greg Downing was active for several clients with SR&L Morgan being the most prominent, picking up 11 rams from $1600 to $2000.

John Bell, Spring Hills, Wisanger, was successful on ten rams from $1800 to $2600, while Lloyd and Christine Berry, MacGillivray, also purchased ten from $1500 to $2500.

Tim Larcombe, Pintavale, Gosse, bought 12 rams from $1600 to $2800.

Following the White Suffolks was the 81 strong Maternal Composite offering. Overall, 17 buyers were successful in purchasing in this draft with 74 of 81 selling at a $2324 average.

Daniel Pledge, buying through Kangaroo Island Land Ltd, bought 12 ram, averaging $1817, which included five from a Merino infused line.

The draft topper was EM240087 for $4400, purchased by Tim Leeming, Coojar, Vic. This ram will go into their Composite breeding program.

The Poll Merino offering of 54 young rams included the overall sale's top priced lot at $16,000.

Classing Limited's Bill Walker not only praised the offering but was also the eyes for the principals of five studs who couldn't make the journey, in part due to inclement weather that caused ferry cancellations, ultimately purchasing five top rams for those clientele.

These included lot 4, EM240393Tw, sired by Anderson 190590, bought by O'Brien, Wudinna, and Kiandra, Bordertown.

The ram had excellent pedigree and a top end balance of measured ASBVs, including ten in the top 20pc nationally.

Mr Walker also purchased lot 1 at $4250 for Pepper Well, Keyneton; lot 2 for $6000 for Ramsgate, Tintinara; and two rams at $4000 and $2250 for Karawatha Park, Buckleboo.

The seven rams in the draft that went to stud or ram breeding flocks averaged $5500.

Leith Tilley, Booborowie, was a prominent online mainland buyer, purchasing six rams at auction from $1000 to $2250.

Strong local support came from Josh Graham, Glencorrie Props, with 13 rams in the main auction, averaging $2481, and 17 in total.

Tim Buck, Buck Pastoral, bought ten at auction, averaging $2625, adding three from the mini auction, on top of six Maternal Composites purchased earlier.

Simon Kelly purchased seven Poll Merinos, averaging $1679, adding to his ten White Suffolk purchases.

The 42 Poll Merinos that sold to commercial producers averaged $2199, while with the seven stud purchases included, 49 sold at a $2670 average.

Elders stud stock's Tony Wetherall reflected that the Ella Matta sale was likely the sheep sale of the year, endorsed by the number of stud breeders who purchased in all three drafts, plus the huge online activity.

"They (Ella Matta) invest well in the genetics they use, plus undertake meticulous planning and execution of both their breeding plans and the running of this sale, which from an auctioneer's viewpoint, makes the Ella Matta sale one of the highlights of our year."