Wakeleigh White Suffolk ram sale tops $2700 at Cavendish for a $1447 average
Summary
The Wakeleigh White Suffolk stud's 33rd annual ram sale at Cavendish reached a top of $2700 as the family operation formally passes to the next generation. The stud sold 74 of the 80 rams offered for an average of $1447.
The top-priced ram, lot 11, was bought by Warooka Pastoral, Melville Forest, for $2700. The August-drop ram carried figures in the top 5 to 10 per cent of the breed, including a weaning weight of 13.93 kilograms, a post-weaning weight of 21.36 kilograms and a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 3.87 millimetres. Sired by 230116 from the Detpa Grove stud at Jeparit, he recorded production scores of 163.92 for lamb eating quality and 169.07 for terminal carcase production, both in the top 5 per cent.
The buyer said it was the ram's post-weaning worm egg count of -27.36 that impressed most, explaining that the more negative the figure the better, alongside good early growth, eye muscle and fat. The operation runs about 15,000 White Suffolk and Merino ewes and has bought Wakeleigh rams for a number of years to produce 5000 to 6000 crossbred lambs annually. It took nine rams in total this year.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Rams offered, sold | 80 offered, 74 sold |
| Sale average | $1447 |
| Top price | $2700 |
| Top ram post-weaning weight | 21.36 kilograms |
| Top ram worm egg count | -27.36 |
| Top ram terminal carcase production | 169.07, top 5 per cent |
| Largest draft | 10 rams |
| Sale edition | 33rd annual |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Wakeleigh White Suffolk sale top at?
The sale topped at $2700 for lot 11. The stud sold 74 of the 80 rams offered for an average of $1447. It was the stud's 33rd annual ram sale.
Who bought the top-priced ram?
Warooka Pastoral, Melville Forest, secured him. The operation runs about 15,000 White Suffolk and Merino ewes and produces 5000 to 6000 crossbred lambs a year. It has bought Wakeleigh rams for a number of years and took nine rams in total this year.
What figures did the top-priced ram record?
The August-drop ram carried figures in the top 5 to 10 per cent of the breed, with a weaning weight of 13.93 kilograms, a post-weaning weight of 21.36 kilograms and a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 3.87 millimetres. He scored 163.92 for lamb eating quality and 169.07 for terminal carcase production, both top 5 per cent. He is sired by 230116 from the Detpa Grove stud at Jeparit.
What impressed the buyer most?
The buyer singled out the ram's post-weaning worm egg count of -27.36, noting that the more negative the figure, the better the result. He also cited good early growth, eye muscle and fat.
Is the stud changing hands?
The operation is formally passing to the next generation. The stud co-principal has run the breeding program for the last eight years alongside the retiring co-principal.
What traits is Wakeleigh breeding for?
The stud co-principal said there had been a strong focus on growth and muscling over the journey, particularly in the last three or four years. Going forward, the program is looking more closely at eating qualities and worm efficiencies.
Who were the volume buyers?
Egerton Farms, Lal Lal, was the biggest volume buyer with 10 rams. Warooka Pastoral took nine including the top-priced lot. A Nareen buyer purchased seven in his third year returning to the stud, restocking for 2800 White Suffolk ewes.
What did buyers and agents say about the offering?
One repeat buyer said there was hardly a dud among them, describing the rams as easy lambing, good shape and improving each year. The selling agent called it a solid sale on mainly local competition, with a few purchases from the Ballarat district but the majority local and mostly repeat buyers.
