Uralba White Suffolk stud sets on-property ram record as average doubles to $2414 on a full clearance
Summary
Uralba stud set a new on-property ram record at its 2026 White Suffolk sale at Cleve, clearing all 70 rams offered for a complete result. The top price reached $3200 on three occasions, while the overall average of $2414 more than doubled the previous year's $1065 figure. The top price itself was a stud record, surpassing last year's $2200 high, and reflected buoyant conditions for terminal sheep genetics. Three different buyers secured rams at the $3200 top. The first of these carried a post-weaning weight figure of 19.8, a fat figure of -0.9, eye muscle depth of 1.7, a terminal carcase production index of 151 and weighed 131.5 kilograms, from a sire with a growth figure of 20.9. Another top-priced ram recorded a 17.5 post-weaning weight, -0.3 fat, 2.1 eye muscle depth, a 145.8 index and weighed 122 kilograms, while the third showed 19.1 post-weaning weight, -0.8 fat, 1.2 eye muscle depth, a 144.3 index and 131 kilograms. Buyers consistently chased rams combining higher growth and strong structure, with the sale-toppers described as visually uniform and long-bodied. Volume support was solid, with one buyer taking six rams to average $2367 and others securing five head each. A shortage of terminal rams across South Australia and the west coast, together with a strong lamb market, was credited with driving competition. The result gave the stud confidence to keep investing in producing quality terminal rams.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Top ram price | $3200 (three times) |
| Sale average | $2414 |
| Previous year average | $1065 |
| Rams cleared | 70 of 70 (100%) |
| Previous top price | $2200 |
| Top lot TCP index / weight | 151 / 131.5 kg |
| Volume buyer | 6 rams averaging $2367 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What record did Uralba stud set in 2026?
The stud set a new on-property ram record, with the top price reaching $3200 three times. This surpassed the previous top of $2200.
What was the sale average?
The sale averaged $2414 across all 70 rams. That was more than double the previous year's average of $1065.
Were all the rams sold?
Yes, all 70 White Suffolk rams offered were cleared. The sale was held on-property at Cleve.
What figures did the top-priced rams carry?
One top ram had a post-weaning weight of 19.8, a terminal carcase production index of 151 and weighed 131.5 kilograms. The others recorded indexes of 145.8 and 144.3 with weights of 122 and 131 kilograms respectively.
What were buyers looking for?
Buyers consistently chased rams with higher growth and strong structure. The top-priced rams were relatively uniform visually and long-bodied.
Who led the volume buying?
The largest single buyer took six rams to average $2367. Other buyers each secured five head, at averages of $2480 and $2000.
What drove the strong demand?
A shortage of terminal rams across South Australia and the west coast, combined with a strong lamb market, drove competition. Better clearances and higher averages were reported across west coast White Suffolk sales.
