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)
Q1: What record did Uralba stud set in 2026?
A1: The stud set a new on-property ram record, with the top price reaching $3200 three times. This surpassed the previous top of $2200.
Q2: What was the sale average?
A2: The sale averaged $2414 across all 70 rams. That was more than double the previous year's average of $1065.
Q3: Were all the rams sold?
A3: Yes, all 70 White Suffolk rams offered were cleared. The sale was held on-property at Cleve.
Q4: What figures did the top-priced rams carry?
A4: 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.
Q5: What were buyers looking for?
A5: Buyers consistently chased rams with higher growth and strong structure. The top-priced rams were relatively uniform visually and long-bodied.
Q6: Who led the volume buying?
A6: The largest single buyer took six rams to average $2367. Other buyers each secured five head, at averages of $2480 and $2000.
Q7: What drove the strong demand?
A7: 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.
