By QUINTON McCALLUM, October 16 2023 – link to original article

STRONG local support underpinned another Seriston White Suffolk and Suffolk sale at Avenue Range on Friday.

While the overall clearance and averages were back on last year, as anticipated, agents and Seriston principal Anthony Hurst were in agreeance that the result was a fair reflection of the current state of play within the sheep industry.

In the sale breakdown, 91 of 120 White Suffolks were sold to a high of $1800 and average of $1183, while all 24 Suffolks sold to a top of $900 five times and average of $825.

The White Suffolk average was down $597 on 2022, while Suffolks were back $1000.

Mr Hurst was thankful for the continued support of his local clientele and said the sale result was a fair reflection on what was happening in the industry.

Up to a dozen clients that bought last year were not in need of rams this year so Mr Hurst said a reduced clearance was to be expected.

“It was of course back a bit on clearance and average from last year, but you’ve got to be realistic when you look at the season and the economic term we’ve got in the sheep job,” he said.

“It’s back to where it probably needs to be given what’s happening across the country.

“The local support we’ve always had here is fantastic and they keep turning up and buying, and we’ve also picked up three new clients which is fantastic.”

In a pick of the pen format, the sale high of $1800 was reached for Lot 8.

It was secured by Hillcrest Pastoral Company, Avenue Range.

The June 2022-drop twin-born ram had one of the higher Terminal Carcase Production indexes in the catalogue at 146.96, while also boasting high weaning weights of 13.2 on WWT and 20.19 on PWT.

Its shearforce measurement of 3.98 also stood out from the majority of its peers.

The volume buyer on the White Suffolks was Saltbush Ag, taking with them 14 rams to $1700, averaging $1379.

Not far behind was Hillcrest Pastoral Company, Avenue Range, buying 12 rams to $1800, averaging $1350.

Others to bid and buy strongly were AJ&PA McBride, Konetta Station, with 12 rams to $1000 twice, averaging $833; TJ&KJ Legoe, Lochaber, with nine rams to $1400, averaging $1078; and DiGiorgio Pastoral Company, Lucindale, with eight to $1600 four times, averaging $1413.

A regular Seriston buyer for more than a decade, Lucindale’s Shane Clarke said the rams were always consistent performers when put over first cross ewes to produce second cross lambs.

He bought across both breeds, securing seven White Suffolks to $1200, averaging $957, and three Suffolks all at $900.

The volume buyer on the Suffolks was GM Butler & Sons, Naracoorte, with seven all at $800, while Gilbrae, Millicent, bought five all at $800 and GC&EA Skeer, Furner, bought five to $900 twice, averaging $840.

Elders Lucindale’s Nathan McCarthy said in the current market, he thought the sale returned a good result.

“The average reflected where the current lamb job is at the minute,” he said.

“I think it’s a good year to get some quality rams at prices that we haven’t seen for a while and a good opportunity for people to improve the quality of lambs they’re producing.”

Elders and TDC conducted the sale, with the Elders duo of Mr McCarthy and Ronnie Dix sharing the lectern.