Wakeleigh records steady average as operation hands over to next generation
Wakeleigh White Suffolk stud's 33rd annual ram sale reached a top of almost $3000 as the family operation formally passes the torch to the next generation.
The Cavendish stud sold 74 of 80 rams offered with an average of $1447.
The top-priced ram, Lot 11, was purchased by Kym Lyons, Warooka Pastoral, Melville Forest, for $2700.
The August-drop ram had figures in the top 5-10 per cent of the breed, including a weaning weight of 13.93 kilograms, post-weaning weight of 21.36kg and post-weaning eye muscle depth of 3.87 millimetres.
Sired by 230116 from Detpa Grove stud, Jeparit, the ram had strong production scores at 163.92 for lamb eating quality and 169.07 for terminal carcase production, both in the top 5pc.
Mr Lyons said it was Lot 11's post-weaning worm egg count (PWEC) at -27.36 that was the most impressive.
"The lower the PWEC, the more negative the worm egg count, the better," he said.
"He has good, early growth, good eye muscle and fat."
Mr Lyon said he ran about 15,000 White Suffolk and Merino ewes and had purchased rams from Wakeleigh for a number of years to produce 5000-6000 crossbred lambs a year.
He bought nine rams in total this year.
Wakeleigh stud co-principal Kylie Wake said the top-end rams sold really well.
"We've had a strong focus on our growth and muscling over the journey, especially the last three or four years," Ms Wake said.
"We've really ramped up that side of things, and going forward, we're looking more into the eating qualities and worm efficiencies."
She has operated the breeding program alongside her father Gary Wake for the last eight years, who was heading into retirement.
The biggest volume buyer was Egerton Farms, Lal Lal, which purchased 10 rams.
Steve Milich, Nareen, purchased seven rams in his third year returning to Wakeleigh.
Mr Milich returns to restock for his 2800 White Suffolk ewes.
"There is hardly a dud amongst them," he said.
"They're easy lambing, good shape and they are getting better I think."
Southern Grampians Livestock director Heath Templeton said the sale was a good showing of a loyal client base.
"We had a solid sale, mainly local competition," he said.
"There were a few purchases from the Ballarat district, but the majority have come from local, and mostly, they were repeat buyers."
