Mated ewes at Illoura White Suffolk dispersal find homes in five states

There was Australia wide interest - and even a New Zealand buyer as Illoura stud at Moorlands embarked on stage two of its dispersal of 40 years of White Suffolk breeding.

After a successful sale of the 2024 drop hoggets last year, this time for stud principals Allan and Sue Piggott to offer an impressive line of nearly 500 mature mated ewes

Two hundred of these ewes were joined to exciting AI sires

Under the hammer, 413 of the 1.5 year old to 5.5 year olds sold from 496 offered for a $839 average.

Soon after a Kangaroo Island stud bought all 83 passed in lots to ensure a total clearance and a $782 average.

David and Michelle Pipkorn, Detpa Grove stud, Jeparit, Vic, secured the $8000 highest priced lot, Illoura 231126 - a daughter of Illoura 190454.

Mr Pipkorn described the lot 266 ewe as the "most structurally correct and highest performance ewe in the catalogue". Its figures included a Terminal Carcase Production index of 171.24 and Lamb Eating Quality index of 164.95.

The ewe is likely in lamb to Leachim 220278 she had been running with for the past month.

"She will be shortlisted for our ET program,- there is a lot to like," he said.

He also bought the $5000 second highest priced ewe, Illoura 231199, which is also a daughter of Illoura 190454 and had been AI bred to the lot 1 ram from Detpa Grove's 2025 on-property ram sale.

"These elite ewes rarely come on the market except at dispersals like this, you have to take the opportunity when they do," Mr Pipkorn said.

Large volume buyers ensured the sale was a great success with six studs buying more than 30 ewes.

Chrjs and Emily Rudiger, Elton Downs stud, Karoonda, continued their stud expansion with 42 top end ewes, twice paying to $2500 for lot 1 and lot 3. At Illoura's stage one dispersal they bought 49 lots.

It was also a chance for the young Dalla siblings- Harry, Lily and Will- to expand their Redwood White Suffolk stud.

The children aged 13,11 and 10 bought 40 ewes which will be run at their grandfather Dennis Dalla's property at Hallett.

After working hard selling sheep manure and mowing lawns, Harry bought a few ewes from his grandfather early last year and re-registered the family's stud.

He has already sold 10 Redwood stud rams in 2025 and hopes to have 20 rams for sale in 2026.

WA buyer Mianelup Grazing, Gnowangerup, bought 36 ewes to add to the 70 ewe hoggets they bought in October last year.

Kangaroo Island buyers were particularly strong with LF&JL Dunn securing 40 ewes through AuctionsPlus and Justin and Mel Holman, Bark Hut, Macgillivray, secured 36 in the sale as well as 82 lots post sale.

Bidding was less spirited for the 2023 and 2024 joining sires with three of 13 selling to a $5000 high.

The top priced ram was lot 511, Illoura 240502, which sold to Day Valley Suffolks, Bingara, NSW..

It was sired by a Leahcim ram and had impressive figures including a Pwwt of 22.67 and TCP of 174.8

Mr Piggott was very happy with the result and said it was an "exceptional" clearance.

"There was good demand for the really good sheep but then there was some really good value sheep coming through the sale as well (down to a $500 base price)- it was ideal, " he said.

He said it was very pleasing to know their genetics would continue on in many other flocks.

Illoura's 2025 drop ewe hoggets will be offered at an auction on September 9 with about 250 on offer. The following day will mark the end of the Piggott family's 90 years of stud breeding with their final ram sale on September 10.

Elders and Nutrien were joint selling agents.