Article Courtesy from the Farm Weekly Oct 13 2011

 WEEKLYLIVESTOCK

$3000 top heralds Ida Vale

sale boost

By TAMARA HOOPER

STRONG new genetics and selective breeding have led to new interest and successful sale results for Ida Vale this week.

An increased offering of rams also saw an increased overall clearance rate, with the sale top of $3000 being a massive $1800 higher than the 2010 top for the Dorper breed.

Numbers were up for both Dorper and White Suffolk results across the board, while the White Dorpers saw a slight decrease in clearance, top price and gross.

The sale was conducted jointly by Elders and Landmark with both saying they were happy with the results.

❐ Landmark livestock auctioneer Mark Warren (left), Ida Vale co¬principal Tamesha Gardner, Elders stud stock auctioneer Don Morgan, Ida Vale co-principal Andrew Greenup and Westcoast Livestock stud stock representative Roy Addis, who purchased the $3000

Landmark livestock agent and auctioneer Mark Warren said the quality of the rams was very good across all the breeds.

“The buying support was very strong,” he said.

“But the buyers were also very selective, which resulted in a less than full clearance.”

Elders stud stock auctioneer Don Morgan said there had been a few less registrations than last year, but it was positive to see new buyers at the sale.

“The ASBV figures for all the rams were very good,” he said.

“It allowed buyers the opportunity to select for specific breeding traits they are chasing for their own enterprises.”

It was hard not to take notice of the top-priced Dorper ram, which also achieved the overall sale top of $3000, with its sheer size and impressive figures.

Born on July 2, 2010 the ram had ASBV figures of 9.5 pwwt, -0.3 pfat, 1.5 pemd and had a CarcasePlus index of 165.

Westcoast Livestock stud stock consultant Roy Addis successfully purchased the ram for Murray Chapman, Yarramup Dorper stud, Pinjarra.

“Murray had viewed the ram prior to the sale,” Mr Addis said.

“The new genetics, the ASBV figures and the non-feet trimming policy of Ida Vale impressed him greatly.”

It was the first time Mr Chapman had purchased Ida Vale genetics.

The volume buyer of the Dorper penning was, Reland Pty Ltd, Mordallup, with its purchase of eight rams to a top of $950, and an average of $656.

The Dorper’s gross sale proceeds almost doubled the previous year and the average went up by $74 for a higher clearance.

Not to be outshone the White Suffolk section of the catalogue saw an increase in the top price by $600, with an increase in the total gross of almost $15,000 while the average rose by $160.

The $2050 top-priced White Suffolk had ASBV figures of 12.5 pwwt, -0.4 pfat, 1.7 pemd and a CarcasePlus index of 182.  Ida Vale co-principal Tamesha Gardner said the buyer, David McKenzie, Kojonup, had his own White Suffolk stud and wanted a sire for the breeding program  The Robinson Brothers, Kojonup, were the volume buyers in the White Suffolk line-up, putting together a team of nine rams to a top of $900, and an average of $756.

The White Dorper selection achieved a top of $1300, with the ram going to new buyers Reland Pty Ltd, Mordallup.

The volume purchaser of the sale bought solely from the White Dorper offering.

Banyanda Farms, Walkaway, successfully bid on 20 White Dorpers to a top of $1050, a total of $13,550 and an average of $658.

Ida Vale co-principals Tamesha Gardner and Andrew Greenup said they were very pleased with the top end of the sale, but would like to build on the achievements into the future.

“We have done a lot of work sourcing and introducing new genetics to improve our flock,” Mr Greenup said.

“We have the ASBV figures to support the performance of the rams and now need to look at what else we can improve, like the marketing side of our business.”

Ms Gardner said the strong support from regular and return buyers showed the proven performance of their rams.

IDA VALE PRODUCTION SALE

(Under the hammer results)