Great result at Telpara Suffolks on the back of bidding from four states

Bidding from four states helped underpin an outstanding result at the Pearce family's Telpara Suffolk ram sale at Sherlock last Tuesday, with total clearance and a much higher average.

Rams went to every part of South Australia, as well as Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.

Overall, 63 rams were offered and sold for an average of $2074, which was $598 up on the 2025 auction.

In the breakdown, eight stud rams were offered and sold for an average of $3800, and 55 flock rams were offered and sold at an average of $1823.

There were also 11 ewes offered and sold for an average of $1854, hitting a high of $4000.

The top price was not as high as 2025's $12,200, hitting $7000 this year.

Opening the sale at lot one, the top price ram boasted impressive figures including being in the top 5 per cent of the industry for shear force at -3.14, the top 10pc for intramuscular fat at 0.11, as well as top 20pc for post-weaning weight at 18.86.

The quadruplet-born, August 2025-drop ram was sired by Bundara Downs 192252.

It was bought by return client Mark Lamborn, Caralma Suffolks, Macclesfield.

Mr Lamborn has been buying from Telpara for the past six years and said he kept returning for the "Telpara type".

"They've got a great commercial focus and produce very commercially relevant sheep," he said.

Mr Lamborn said the obvious standout trait about the sale-topper was that it was the number one ram in the breed for Terminal Carcase Production at 162.08 and Lamb Eating Quality at 163.24.

"Its overall data, and early maturity pattern, is impressive," he said.

Mr Lamborn also bought another stud ram at $3000.

Stud principal Anthony Pearce said the rams were bred to perform, with the sale line-up averaging 10 points above the breed average for Terminal Carcase Production and almost 13 points above the breed average for Lamb Eating Quality.

"We're focused on delivering a product that clearly meets the market," he said.

"For me, getting client feedback that they've gone through the catalogue and found rams in lots 45 to 50 that are as good as the rams in lots 10 to 20, with very similar data, is very rewarding.

"We aim for consistency and offering an even line of rams, so that clients get even lines of lambs.

"We're not a show-orientated stud, but we are an eating quality-orientated and performance-orientated stud, and people recognise the value of that in their programs."

Mr Pearce said he was particularly pleased with the stud ram results, with rams going to studs offering a lot to the industry.

"I'm looking forward to buying genetics back in time," he said.

The sale was run by BR&C with agent David Whittenbury auctioneering.

"It was a really good sale and testament to the quality Telpara produces, as well as the relationship that Anthony, Jude and family have with people in the industry," he said.

"With the lamb job going really well, it's flowed on and we had more demand.

"There was strength right through the catalogue, and it's a real testament to the performance of the sheep."