Buyers flock from wide area to bid up at final Illoura White Suffolk sale

It was a bittersweet day for Allan and Sue Piggott at their final Illoura White Suffolk ram sale last Thursday, but they were well-rewarded with buyers flocking from every part of South Australia and three other states.

Foundation White Suffolk breeders, the Piggotts announced their plan to disperse in September last year.

The family were well-rewarded for their decades of breeding with total clearance of 249 rams, an average of $2094 and a top of $17,000.

Travelling over from the Eyre Peninsula to buy the top-price ram was Sally-Anne Hill, representing the Millard family's She-Oak Lodge White Suffolk stud, Mount Hope, and EP Livestock agent Scott Masters.

The She-Oak Lodge stud started from Illoura bloodlines almost a decade ago.

Mr Masters said the figures on the ram were outstanding, particularly the post-weaning weight and Terminal Carcase Production index.

Offered at Lot 2, the April 2025-drop ram weighed 129.5 kilograms. It had Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 14.90 for weaning weight, 23.99 PWT, 3.69 post-eye muscle depth, a Terminal Carcase Production index of 170.7, and Lamb Eating Quality Index of 163.4.

"It's very structurally sound, true and correct," Mr Masters said.

"Illoura has always been true to type, with terrific meat traits and terrific growth for age, which allows us to turn off prime lambs earlier."

Father and son Kenton and Matt Farr, from the Harry's Well stud at Loxton, bought the second-highest price ram at $10,000.

Kenton said a lot of Illoura bloodlines were in the Harry's Well stud.

"Illoura bloodlines have always done well for us in our country," he said.

Kenton said the $10,000 ram stood out for a number of reasons.

"It's a big, upstanding ram and it's very good on post-weaning weight," he said.

Offered at Lot 1, the April 2025-drop ram weighed 123.5kg. It had ASBVs of 14.11 WWT, 22.36 PWT, 3.2 PEMD, TCP Index figure of 172.0, and LEQ of 168.1.

Mr Piggott said while he had mixed emotions on the day, it was great to finish on such a high note.

"It's the best sale we've ever had, so it's good to finish up here," he said.

"There's so much confidence in the season and the lamb industry, so it meant this sale was one out of the box.

"The really pleasing part was that a lot of people have been coming here year after year. With some buyers, their father bought off my father.

"In our time in the industry we've been very fortunate and made a lot of great friends."

As well as the two top-priced rams, there was plenty of other stud interest, with a $3000 sire going to the Anden stud, Woomelang, Victoria.

Travelling over the border from Western Australia was David Goerling, from the Lukin Springs Poll Merino and White Suffolk stud, Boyup Brook, taking a ram home at $6600.

Volume buyers included Mallee View, Galga, with 15 rams averaging $1426, Durrant Co, Gladstone, taking 13 rams averaging $2969, and Jachmann Ag, Loxton, with 11 sires averaging $2000.

The auction was a joint Elders/Nutrien sale.

Nutrien studstock's Richard Miller said an outstanding line-up was offered by Illoura, with highly productive rams featuring strong growth traits.

"It was an unbelievable grand final for the Illoura stud," he said.

"There was a really strong buying gallery, operating at all budgets.

"It's a fitting reward for the Piggott family, just as they have rewarded clients over the years.

"It's great to see clients showing their support of the industry and showing they're happy to invest."

Elders auctioneer Steven Doecke said bidders at a range of budgets were able to secure top quality rams.

"The quality of the animals was great from start to finish," he said.

"Competition was fantastic and very strong right the way through."

The day prior to the ram sale Illoura held its final ewe dispersal sale, with 196 ewes sold out of 243 offered, averaging $1071.

The top-price ewe made $3400 and was knocked down to Damien Hawker, of the Omad White Suffolk stud, Kaniva, Victoria.