Outstanding Mallee season helps underpin strong result at Harry's Well sale

A season some have been describing as once in a lifetime in the Mallee, along with great genetics, helped underpin outstanding results at the Farr family's Harry's Well White Suffolk and Australian White sale at Caliph on Friday.

Overall, there was a full clearance of 170 rams, averaging $1595, over the two breeds.

On the White Suffolks, 120 were offered and sold to a top of $4000 and $1636 average, which was $648 up on 2025.

On the Australian Whites, 50 were offered and sold to $2800, averaging $1496, which was $329 up on last year.

Buying the top-price White Suffolk ram at $4000 was long-time client Brian Hampel, CA Hampel & Partners, Nadda.

Offered at lot three and the heaviest sire in the catalogue, the ram weighed a massive 144 kilograms.

Sired by Wingamin 23/0528, the May 2025-drop ram boasted ASBVs of weaning weight 13.75, post-weaning weight of 20.48, shear force measurement 3.91, lean meat yield figure of 4.98 and a terminal carcase production index of 155.14.

It also had a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 42 millimetres and fat score of 5.5mm.

Mr Hampel, who has been buying since the stud's inception, also bought another sire near the top of the catalogue.

Offered at lot one and also sired by Wingamin 23/0528, the second highest-priced ram made $3800 and weighed 139kg.

Mr Hampel said Harry's Well White Suffolks were proven performers.

"We know the quality and what we're going to get from year to year," he said.

Mr Hampel said the results of Harry's Well genetics and a top season were clearly evident this year, describing their first-cross lambs as "exceptional".

He said the season couldn't be more different to last year.

"Last year, when it came to seeding, we were blowing dust, this year it hasn't stopped raining," he said.

"There's plenty of feed available and the crops look exceptional."

Other White Suffolk buyers included CP&KM Fisher, Noora, with six averaging $1400, and Jachmann Ag, Loxton, with five averaging $1920.

A new buyer was the top-price and volume bidder on the Australian Whites - Matt Laubsch, Pinevale Acres, Kapunda.

Mr Laubsch purchased eight Australian Whites, averaging $1950, to a high of $2800.

The $2800 ram was sired by Baringa 22A232 and weighed 101kg, with PEMD of 35mm.

Mr Laubsch has been running Australian Whites for close to a decade and said they stood out for their low maintenance and easy care.

Principal Kenton Farr said it was a great sale result, with 10 new buyers attending.

"The Mallee has been very kind to us this year and the paddock-run rams show that. To average over 120 kilograms on all the White Suffolks is testament to that," he said.

"With the Australian Whites our regular clients and new, prospective clients are saying they love the fact that we don't shear our rams, so there's no nasty surprises next summer.

"As one of only a couple of Australian White studs to offer full ASBVs, backed by the accuracy of DNA, clients are telling us they love having all that extra information to help them make their decisions.

"To achieve the results we have this year, it gives us great confidence that we are on the right track with our breeding program."

The sale was run by Nutrien, with Andrew Wilson and Shannon Jaeschke sharing auctioneering duties.

Local agent Curly Golding, Nutrien Golding Livestock, said the rams offered this year were a good 20kg heavier on last year's sale, following the great season, with great depth of quality and evenness on offer. Mr Golding said confidence in the sheep job was evident in the bidding.

"Clients upped the ante because they sold lambs for a lot more this year," he said.

Mr Golding said Harry's Well new selling format, running the rams through the ring with pick of the pen, rather than selling in the pens, also worked well.