Yorke Peninsula's Anna Villa White Suffolk stud achieves record average

The Ferguson family achieved their highest average at their Anna Villa White Suffolk sale held at Weetulta on Friday last week.

The average of $1696 was $439 up on the 2025 sale.

A clearance of 98 per cent was achieved, with 95 rams knocked down out of 97 offered (compared to 82 of 85 last year), to a top of $4000.

Offered at Lot 18, the ram was a May 2025-drop weighing 119 kilograms.

It boasted ASBVs in the top 10 per cent of the industry for weaning weight (12.47) and Terminal Carcase Plus index (161.4). The ram was also in the top 20pc for post-weaning weight (18.29) and post-weaning eye muscle depth (3.63).

The ram was knocked down to long-time buyers father and son Wayne and Samuel Young, River Park Farming, Wandearah.

"It's probably 20 years we've been buying from Anna Villa," Wayne said.

Mr Young said the top price ram had the growth rates he was looking for in a sire.

River Park Farming also bought another ram at $3400.

For about a decade, Anna Villa has been supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service through a charity ram and a few years ago stud principal Anthony Ferguson decided to split the proceeds and also donate to Heart Kids SA after one of his granddaughters, Madeline, was born with a heart condition.

Offered at Lot 19, the charity ram had some of the highest ASBVs in the catalogue, including being in the top 5pc for weaning weight (13.0) and post-weaning weight (20.74).

The May 2025-drop ram was also the heaviest in the catalogue, weighing 127.5kg.

It was knocked down to Nutrien Jamestown agent Shannon Jaeschke, on behalf of Durrant Pty Ltd, Huddleston, for $2600. The same buyer purchased nine rams all up, averaging $2022.

The major volume buyer came from the Flinders Ranges, with Smith Partners, Belton, buying 22 rams, averaging $1445.

Mr Ferguson said it was great to see strong buyer support.

"It was a fantastic sale, I think the confidence in what we're producing was certainly shown today," he said.

"It's a really good time to be in the industry."

Mr Ferguson said next year he was aiming to increase numbers and have about 120 rams for offer at the sale.

"I'd like to have the numbers there to make sure people can get what they want," he said.

The sale was jointly conducted by Elders and Nutrien, with Matt Ward and Andrew Wilson auctioneering.

Mr Ward said it was the best sale Anna Villa had ever held.

"There were buyers who would have liked to have bought more and missed out," he said.

Mr Wilson said signals were good leading into the sale.

"Prior to the sale we had extra registrations, at least 10 more, than we've previously had, so we had a feeling it was going to be a good one," he said.

"There were a lot of new buyers, which is a testament to the sheep Anna Villa produce.

"It was a very even lineup across the board. Bidders could buy all the way through with certainty."