Carcuma North ram sale tops at $4600 as low ewe numbers and drought squeeze Poll Merino clearance near Peake
Summary
Carcuma North's annual on-property ram sale near Peake reached a top price of $4600, though demand eased against supply as the auction progressed. The sale-topping Poll Merino, Lot 4, carried Collinsville Imperial bloodlines with a 19.3 micron fleece, 3.3 standard deviation, 17.2 coefficient of variation and a 99.7 per cent comfort factor, and is bound for stud duties on a property near Keith. The Poll Merino offering also recorded prices of $3800 through Elders Murray Bridge and $3000 to a Mundulla buyer, but full clearance proved difficult, with just 13 of 46 rams sold to average $1600. The volume buyer of the Poll Merinos secured four rams to a $1700 average. Billed as the earliest White Suffolk ram offering in South Australia, that lineup saw 13 of 30 rams sold to average $1053, with the volume buyer taking seven White Suffolks at $1300 each. The organiser pointed to low ewe numbers and a couple of clients exiting farming as factors behind the tighter clearance, noting the drought's effect on the local district. By comparison, the 2025 sale saw 15 of 33 Poll Merinos average $1433 and four of seven White Suffolks average $800. Remaining White Suffolk rams were expected to be sold privately ahead of other seasonal sales beginning about six weeks later. Buyers highlighted the stud's commercial reliability, longevity and soundness, with lambs from the bloodlines reported to dress at 23 to 24 kilograms at five to six months of age straight off their mothers.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Top price | $4600 |
| Poll Merinos sold | 13 of 46 |
| Poll Merino average | $1600 |
| White Suffolks sold | 13 of 30 |
| White Suffolk average | $1053 |
| White Suffolk volume price | $1300 |
| Top ram micron | 19.3 |
| 2025 Poll Merino average | $1433 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the top price at the Carcuma North sale?
The Poll Merino sale reached a top of $4600 near Peake. A fellow Poll Merino stud pushed the bidding to that level.
What was the clearance for the Poll Merino rams?
Just 13 of 46 Poll Merino rams sold, at an average of $1600. The organiser attributed the tighter clearance to low ewe numbers and drought in the local area.
How did the White Suffolk offering perform?
Billed as the earliest White Suffolk ram offering in South Australia, 13 of 30 rams sold to average $1053. The volume buyer took seven White Suffolks at $1300 each.
What traits did the top Poll Merino ram carry?
The sale-topping ram, Lot 4, carried Collinsville Imperial bloodlines with a 19.3 micron fleece, 3.3 standard deviation, 17.2 coefficient of variation and a 99.7 per cent comfort factor. It is bound for stud duties on a property near Keith.
How did results compare with 2025?
In 2025 the stud sold 15 of 33 Poll Merinos to average $1433 and four of seven White Suffolks to average $800. The 2026 season proved tougher on the Merino side.
Why was full clearance a struggle?
The organiser cited low ewe numbers and a couple of clients exiting farming, along with the drought's effect on the district. Demand did not fully match supply as the sale progressed.
What happened to unsold White Suffolk rams?
Remaining White Suffolk rams were expected to be sold privately. This was anticipated ahead of other White Suffolk sales beginning about six weeks later.
