An $8500 top ram from the Rices Creek Poll Merino sale launches a new family line at Springvale North
Summary
A full clearance and an average of $2790, nearly $900 above the previous year, headlined the Rices Creek Poll Merino annual Saddleworth sale, where 231 rams were offered to a strong crowd of more than 100 people on a wintry Clare Valley day. The high point was Lot 2, secured as a stud sire for $8500 by a Burra-based poll Merino operation looking to start a new family line. The young ram weighed 114 kilograms and had yet to cut two teeth, carrying a fleece micron of 20.3 with 2.7 standard deviation, a 12.9 coefficient of variation and a 99.7 per cent comfort factor. Sired by a long-bodied, heavy-cutting Rices Creek ram, it was described as an upstanding sire with length, structure and depth, and plenty of growing still ahead of it. More than 60 registered bidders competed from South Australia and interstate. Volume buyers were active, with one operation taking 30 rams at a $2877 average, another securing 25 at a $2360 average, a third buying 20 at a $3205 average and a fourth taking 19 at a $1995 average. One buying family has purchased from the stud for roughly 67 years. The stud principal regarded the top ram as a potential stud sire, praising its wool quality and carcass. Only about a dozen rams sold below the $2000 mark, reflecting solid demand through the catalogue. The rams also carried Australian Sheep Breeding Values, giving data-focused buyers additional selection information alongside the robust, high-wool-cutting types on offer.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Rams offered | 231 (full clearance) |
| Average price | $2790 |
| Increase on last year | nearly $900 |
| Top price (Lot 2) | $8500 |
| Top ram weight | 114 kg |
| Top ram fibre micron | 20.3 |
| Comfort factor | 99.7% |
| Registered bidders | more than 60 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What was the top price at the 2026 Rices Creek Poll Merino sale?
A1: The top ram, Lot 2, sold for $8500 as a stud sire. It went to a Burra-based poll Merino operation aiming to start a new family line.
Q2: What average did the sale achieve?
A2: The sale recorded a full clearance and an average of $2790. That was nearly $900 above the previous year's result.
Q3: How many rams were offered?
A3: There were 231 rams on offer, and all sold in a full clearance. More than 100 people attended on a wintry Clare Valley day.
Q4: What were the top ram's fleece figures?
A4: The 114-kilogram ram had a fleece micron of 20.3 with 2.7 standard deviation. It also showed a 12.9 coefficient of variation and a 99.7 per cent comfort factor.
Q5: Who were the volume buyers?
A5: One operation bought 30 rams at a $2877 average and another took 25 at a $2360 average. A third secured 20 at a $3205 average and a fourth bought 19 at a $1995 average.
Q6: How strong was demand through the catalogue?
A6: More than 60 registered bidders competed from South Australia and interstate. Only about a dozen rams sold below the $2000 mark.
Q7: Do the rams carry performance data?
A7: The rams carried Australian Sheep Breeding Values. This gave data-focused buyers additional selection information alongside the robust, high-wool-cutting types.
