SA's top 10 Merino sales for 2024 highlighted
The 2024 ram-selling period was dominated by talk of the seasonal conditions.
Many commercial producers had reduced flock numbers, or had bigger feed bills, which did impact their ram selling budgets.
As a result, there were few record prices achieved, while clearances did take a hit in many sales.
But there were also some positive signs, with buyers still looking to source good genetics.
Throughout the three months of selling, Stock Journal covered 65 Merino and Poll Merino ram sales.
We have again put together a list of the top 10 single-vendor sales, based on average.
There are a few familiar faces from our 2023 list as well as some new entries.
To be in consideration for this list, the sale must have offered more than 50 rams, with a clearance of 80 per cent or higher.
10 - Brimanna, Yeelanna - $1944 average
One of the first sales of the season, Brimanna set the standard high.
The Eyre Peninsula stud offered 77 rams with 73 sold to a top of $9000 and average $1944.
9 - Roemahkita, Cummins - $2016 av
Another early EP sale, Roemahkita offered sold 108 of 110 rams for a $8250 top.
It was a fitting swansong sale for stud principals Joe and Tracey Dahlitz, who have been working with new stud owners Xavier and Sherie and Aaron and Claire Watson for the past year to ensure a smooth transition of their decades of breeding.
8 - Gunallo, Panitya, Vic - $2027 av
While technically across the border, it's only a few kilometres so we're happy to claim them
Gunallo reached a top of $7800 and average $2027 with 114 of 120 rams sold.
7 - Glenville, Cowell - $2085 av
Strong support from interstate, SA-wide and local buyers helped Glenville sell 141 of 150 rams to a top of $8400 and average $2085.
The top price ram will take on stud duties at its NSW home.
6 - Rices Creek, Tintinara - $2167 av
Rices Creek holds two ram sales each year, but this time it was the South East sale that we're counting.
The stud, which celebrates 100 years in 2025, offered 113 rams at its Tintinara auction with 104 sold to an $8000 top and $2167 average.
5 - Ridgway Advance, Senior - $2292 av
Buyers spread from WA right across to NSW at the Ridgway Advance sale.
All up 173 of 182 rams sold to a top of $9000 and average $2292.
4 - White River, Minnipa - $2336 av
While records were few and far between in 2024, there were some, including at White River, where its $27,000 top price was a new high for the stud.
All up 144 rams were offered with 143 sold under the hammer for a $2336 average.
3 - Leahcim, Snowtown - $2337
Rams headed in all directions at the Leahcim Poll Merino sale, with the top three rams headed to WA, Qld and Vic, while genetics were even picked up by international buyers.
Out of a mammoth 300-strong offering, 294 sold to a top of $21,000 and average $2337.
2 - Superior Wool Merinos, Tintinara - $2426
The top price ram, ranked among the top 5 per cent of Australian Merinos, headed across the water to Tasmania at the SWM sale.
All up, 119 of 120 rams sold to a $7400 top and $2426 average.
1 - Glenlea Park, Brimbago - $3647
For the fourth consecutive year, Glenlea Park has led the pack for SA ram sales.
The stud, which announced it was up for sale shortly after its on-property sale, offered 176 rams, with 161 sold to a $20,000 top and a $3647 average.
Special mention should also go to the stud that achieved the top price of the season.
Collinsville sold 561 of 565 rams for the sale high price of $30,000 and a $1708 average.
