Ella Matta's three-breed showpiece ram sale soars to new heights on KI

Ella Matta's 2025 sale was described as the South Australian 'sheep sale of the year', but the Kangaroo Island stud has outdone itself this year with an extraordinary three-breed ram sale near Parndana on Friday.

Grossing more than $1.1 million, the Heinrich family's main auctions of White Suffolk, maternal composite and Poll Merinos resulted in a mammoth 402 of 405 rams sold, with an overall average of $2896.

A leader in performance data, the stud's catalogues were lit up with pink highlighter signifying numerous traits in the top 5 per cent over all terminal, maternal and Merino breeds.

Considerable stud support was enjoyed across all breeds, particularly in the White Suffolks, where there was a full clearance of 268 rams, topping at $16,500 and averaging $2804.

This average was strengthened by several five-figure stud purchases. Eleven rams sold to studs, averaging $9773, with the balance of flock rams averaging $2505.

The frenzied bidding did not slow on the 80 maternal composite rams, with a full clearance to $10,500, averaging $3153.

Three rams sold to studs, averaging $6433, with the balance of flock rams averaging $2987.

A stud reserve Poll Merino that was a late entry into the catalogue topped that section at $6000, with the 54 of 57 rams sold averaging $2966.

Five stud rams averaged $5200, with the balance of flock rams averaging $2739.

The overall average over the three breeds was an impressive $413 step up on 2025, when 340 of 352 rams sold to a $2483 average.

The White Suffolk high came at Lot 17, with the July 2025-drop twin-born ram snapped up for $16,500 by emerging stud Kurra-Wirra Merino and White Suffolks, Harrow, Vic.

By an Ella Matta sire, the ram ranked in the top 5pc of all terminal breeds on weaning weight (13.1), post-weaning weight (21.3), eye muscle depth (4.3), worm egg count (-62), while it was in the top 1pc on the lamb eating quality (179.8) and terminal carcase production (176.5) indexes, as well as lambing ease (3.8).

Other stud purchases included Lot 1 at $11,500 and Lot 5 at $11,000 to a syndicate comprising Booloola White Suffolks, Baringhup, Vic, Bundara Downs, Western Flat, and CWS Prime Lamb Sires, Paradise, Vic; Lot 22 at $11,000 to Stoney End, WA; Lot 29 at $10,500 to Cashmore Oaklea; Lot 24 at $8000 to Uralba, Cleve; and two rams, averaging $5100 to Mumblebone, NSW.

Maternal composites reached $10,500 for the first ram on offer to Paradoo Prime, Coojar, Vic. That ram ranked in the top 5pc of all maternal breeds on PWT (17.9), PEMD (3.2), WR (0.38), and top 1pc on the maternal carcase production plus index (200.6).

Lambpro, Holbrook, NSW, purchased two maternal composites for $5500 and $3400, alongside one of Ella Matta's retained keeper sires for $7000.

Several SA and interstate studs were active on the Poll Merinos, with Lot 1A - from reserve stud keepers - knocked down at $6000 to Bill Walker, Classings Limited, on behalf of Eyre Peninsula stud Karawatha Park, Buckleboo.

This ram ranked in the top 1pc on late wool character (-1.2), the top 5pc on yearling fibre diameter coefficient of variation, as well as top 10pc on yearling clean fleece weight, yearling staple length, yearling worm egg count, and the Fine Wool and Sustainable Merino indexes.

Calcookara, Cowell, bought Lot 2 for $5500, Kerin Poll, Yeoval, NSW, secured Lot 3 for $5000, Coleburra Poll Merino, Culburra, bought Lot 7 for $5000, and Woolumbool, Woolumbool, bought Lot 25 for $4500.

The Heinrichs were quite stunned by the support and the near full clearance across more than 400 rams.

"The sentiment in the shed (from buyers) was great about the season we're having - the rain, good stock prices - so everyone was out in force and it was a very successful day," Ella Matta principal Jamie Heinrich said.

There was a huge geographical spread of buyers, with rams not staying local destined for mainland SA, Vic, NSW, WA and Tas.

Several SA and big name interstate stud buyers made the effort to get to the island in person, which the Heinrichs were appreciative of.

"It really shows the effort we put into our genetics and makes us feel like we're on the right track with what we're doing," Mr Heinrich said.

"AuctionsPlus has been great. Being on Kangaroo Island it opens up the sale to anyone that wants to buy from us, so it's really made a difference to the sale."

Emphasising that point, 47 White Suffolk rams were sold through the platform. One of those viewers with the finger on the button was Langi Willi Pty Ltd, Skipton, Vic, who was among the volume buyers purchasing 17 rams, averaging $2776.

Local buyers enjoying a good season bought in bulk, with TW Salmon Enterprises, through Nutrien Kingscote, buying 27 rams, averaging $2118, and Mine Creek Partners, Stokes Bay, buying 23 rams across the three breeds, averaging $2478.

Simon Kelly from Mine Creek Partners said their enterprise consisted of all Merino ewes, with half mated to crossbreds - primarily ewes with poorer wool types - and half mated to Merinos including all maiden ewes.

They sell the crossbred lambs at the end of November at 5-6 months old.

While much of their card was filled with White Suffolks, the Kellys also secured several Poll Merinos, chasing a plain-bodied ram with easy-care, bright, 'reasonably fine' wool.

Other volume orders came from NR&CA Kohlhagen, Maitland, with 23 rams, averaging $2608, while Pintavale, Gosse, finished with 14 rams, averaging $2471.

Others in double figures included locals SA&HL Mumford, Parndana, with 12 rams, averaging $3233; A&CJ Gilfillan, Antechamber Bay, with 12 rams, averaging $2433; MW&SL Smith with 11 rams, averaging $2863; Spring Hills, Wisanger, with 11 rams averaging $2127; Bellevista, Kingscote, with 11 rams averaging $1854; and Circle T, Parndana, with 10, averaging $3420.

Buying across multiple breeds, locals Buck Pastoral purchased 20 rams, averaging $3230.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, with Nutrien the duty agent.

Elders' Tony Wetherall and Nutrien's Gordon Wood auctioned the 400 plus rams.

"The biggest change up (this year) is just people's confidence in the season and where the lamb and sheep market is and the likelihood it will stay strong," Mr Wood said.

"Where our ewe numbers are at the moment, we're not going to see floods of lamb or mutton come on the market so there's a lot of confidence.

"There was rain overnight and more today, and the Island looks fantastic, so there was a lot of locals here bidding very strongly, as well as a heap online."