Tri-state bidding boosts results at Ardene Australian White summer sale

Volume orders from three states helped boost the results at the Ardene Australian White summer ram sale, held at Mount Torrens on Wednesday.

Leridan Farms, Goulburn, NSW, were one of these major bidders and also took home three out of the four top-price $5000 stud rams.

One of these top-price rams knocked down to Leridan Farms was the opening lot - a twin weighing in at 93 kilograms.

An upstanding ram with plenty of stretch and depth, the sire had been used in Ardene's recent AI program.

The second top-price ram, also going to Leridan Farms, was the champion Australian White ram at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show held in Bendigo, Victoria in 2024 and weighed a whopping 117kg.

It had been Ardene's leading stud sire for the past two years, and the very true-to-type ram demonstrated outstanding muscle, depth, spring of rib and hair pattern.

The last top-price ram Leridan Farms bought was a twin weighing 99kg. The sire had bred well for Ardene, with many of its progeny retained in the stud.

Overall, Leridan Farms bought eight rams at an average price of $3187.

Buying the other top-price $5000 ram was MD&SF Schilling, Coonalpyn.

A twin weighing 100kg, the solid, well-muscled ram had been used in the Ardene stud.

Overall, MD&SF Schilling bought four rams for an average price of $2812.

The major volume buyer on the day came from across the border at Casterton, Victoria.

Mansa Holdings bought 12 rams, all at $1250.

Also putting together a large team was Kangaroo Island buyer JR Wandel, with eight to a top price of $1250.

Yorke Peninsula buyers Pink Lake Producers took home three rams at an average of $2233.

Overall, there were 46 rams sold out of 68 offered, a much stronger clearance than last year's drought-affected summer sale, with an average of $1830 achieved.

Stud principal Bruce Hodgson said he was pleased with the mix of new and return clients bidding on the rams, which were demonstrating great weight-for-age.

"It shows us that our sheep breeding is going in the right direction," he said.

The sale was conducted jointly by Elders and Nutrien with Elders' Ben Finch as auctioneer.

Mr Finch said Ardene was a brand that had stood the test of time.

"Ardene is seeing the reward for sticking true to the breed and how they breed them," he said.