2024 top Merino stud sale results for Victoria, Tasmania
A new analysis by Stock & Land has revealed dry seasonal conditions across large parts of southern Australia plagued ram sale clearance rates in 2024.
Many Victorian studs recorded a decline in clearance rates during the 2024 ram-selling season, however, sale averages grew modestly year-on-year after the consequences of an El Nino outlook dented the confidence of buyers and vendors alike in 2023.
Elders stud stock manager for Victoria and the Riverina Ross Milne said the results of many ram sales were above the expectations of vendors and buyers.
"Considering a few of the headwinds we had in terms of dry seasonal conditions in Victoria and a downturn in commodity prices, particularly with sheep and lambs and wool prices, it was a very satisfying ram-selling season," he said.
"A majority of sellers were pretty well supported and clearance rates were sound enough considering the conditions."
Stock & Land has crunched the figures and analysed the data to showcase the best-performing Merino studs across the two states based on the average ram price at the end of each sale.
In order to qualify for Victoria and Tasmania's best Merino studs for 2024, studs had to record a minimum 65 per cent clearance rate at the final knock of the gavel and offer a draft of 40 or more rams on sale day.
Profiles on the top 10 studs are listed below, and a table of the top 25 studs is at the bottom of this story.
This list only includes sales reported on by Stock & Land during 2024.
Find out which studs ranked highly in Victoria and Tasmania's best Merino studs for 2023 here.
1. Banavie, Marnoo
Sale average: $3426
A West Australian buyer walked away with Victoria's top-priced Merino ram in 2024 after the second lot of Banavie Merinos' sale fetched an impressive $18,000.
It is the second consecutive year the stud has sold Victoria's dearest Merino ram after selling a future sire for $30,000 in 2023.
The Marnoo stud also set the record for the highest sale average in the last 12 months, recording a strong $3426 figure at the on-property ram sale in September.
Overall, 85 of 91 rams to record a clearance rate of 93 per cent.
The Button family of Manunda Poll Merino stud, Tammin, WA, bought Lot 2 at $18,000, while first-time client Andrew Higham, Williams, WA, bought Lot 71 - the second top-priced lot of the sale - for $15,000.
The Polkinghorne family owns Banavie and daughter stud Charinga, which also sold rams at the sale.
2. Wallaloo Park, Marnoo
Sale average: $3236
Western district stud Wallaloo Park has maintained its top three position Victoria and Tasmania's best Merino studs for 2024, dropping to second after topping the list in 2023.
The Marnoo stud recorded a sale average of $3236 after selling 181 of 204 rams to a top price of $9000.
Wallaloo Park Merino stud was founded in 1978 and runs 2500 ewes.
The business operates a 3500-hectare mixed-farming enterprise, including cropping and livestock.
Wallaloo Park stud co-principal Trent Carter said it was a "fantastic result" after recording an 88pc clearance rate.
"Merino breeding is about the future, and long-term strategies," he said.
3. Terrick West, Prairie
Sale average: $3188
The McGauchie family of Terrick West wasted no time setting records in 2024, securing themselves a top-price spot after hosting one of Victoria's first Merino ram sales for the season in August.
The Prairie stud sold 64 or 84 rams to a top price of $10,000 to average $3188.
The top-priced ram, Lot 8, was bought by Ioness Poll Merino stud principal Rob Coutts, Lake Bolac.
Terrick West Poll Merino stud co-principal Ross McGauchie said he was happy with the prices on the day.
"Given the season and the economics, I thought that was a terrific sale," he said.
The original Terrick West stud was founded in 1932 from Bundemar and Haddon Rig genetics, and moved to the McGauchie's farm in 1948.
4. Charinga, Berrimal
Sale average: $2899
The Polkinghorne family of Banavie Merinos also managed to land a top 10 spot on the best-performing Merino studs in Victoria and Tasmania in 2024 with their Charinga stud after an impressive result at the joint on-farm auction.
The stud is owned by Roger Polkinghorne and his partner Jo Browne and was established in 1990.
Roger's son, Tim Polkinghorne, is the stud principal of Banavie Merinos, a pure daughter stud of Charinga, which recorded the highest auction average in 2024 at the same sale.
Charinga sold 72 of 81 rams to a top price of $15,000 and an average of $2899.
"Charinga in years gone by dominated Banavie a bit and now Banavie has come up a lot," Roger said.
"The stud interest was positive without being over the top... [and] the commercial flock interest was widespread with a few new clients in the mix as well."
5. Kedlestone Park, Calivil
Sale average: $2773
The Humbert family of Kedlestone Park was elevated into Victoria and Tasmania's best Merino studs for 2024 after recorded a sale average of $2773 in August.
Kedleston Park was founded by John and Rosemary Humbert in 1996 after winning the Victorian Flock of the Year and registered nine years later in 2005.
Just minutes before the action kicked off, a reserve ram was privately sold to Kilcoolin Pastoral Company, Riggs Creek, for the whopping five-figure sum of $20,000.
The company bought the ram due to its pedigree and physical traits.
During the official auction held on-property at Calivil, a total of 40 rams were offered, with 32 selling to a top of $4500 and an average of $2773.
6. Rock-Bank, Victoria Valley
Sale average: $2517
Iconic western Victorian operation Rock-Bank Merino and Poll Merino stud cleared almost all of the rams it offered at its on-property ram sale at Victoria Valley in September.
The Crawford family offered 44 rams and sold 41, with the three passed-in lots selling after the auction.
The 41 rams averaged $2517, which was down on 2023's average of $3378, but five more rams sold in 2024 compared to the previous auction.
The sale topped at $8400 for Lot 41, which was purchased by Paul Jarick, Jindera, NSW.
Rock-Bank stud principal John Crawford said the top-priced ram was a standout in the line-up of rams, noting it was one of the stud's best produced in terms of quality.
7. Wurrook, Rokewood
Sale average: $2433
More than 50 millimetres of rain in just a handful of days in October boosted buyer confidence at the Wurrook fine and superfine Merino sale in south-west Victoria.
The stud sold 83 of 100 rams for an average of $2433 at its on-property sale at Rokewood.
The top price of the sale was achieved by Lot 3 which sold for $7000 to long-term clients Derek and Trish Brody, Balmoral.
Wurrook stud principal Paul Walton said rain in the lead-up to the sale injected a much-needed dose of positivity into the market.
"Before this last rain, everyone was wondering what we were going to do for feed for late November onwards, and it certainly didn't hurt the sale," Mr Walton said.
8. Stud Park South, Willaura
Sale average: $2393
A late addition to the lineup at the Stud Park South Merino ram sale in Willaura in October bagged a sizeable top price.
The ram, Lot 1, was swapped in for another on the morning of the sale and went on to sell for $10,000.
Elders agent Kevin Beaton bought the sale-topper on behalf of well-known client Gordon Dickinson, Nareen Station, Nareen.
The western district stud sold 54 rams from the 80 offered for an average of $2393 - a modest $27 rise compared to the 2023 result - and the top of $10,000.
In August, Stud Park South Merino stud principals Pat and Sarah Millear won the Elders Southern Clip of the Year at Hamilton in western Victoria.
9. Oakbank, Gre Gre North
Sale average: $2363
Gre Gre North operation Oakbank Merino and Poll Merino stud recorded a 91pc clearance rate at its September on-property auction after selling 77 of 84 rams offered.
The McRae family recorded a top-10 average of $2363 and a top price of $7000, surpassing the 2023 $6000 top-priced lot.
Oakbank stud co-principal Jack McRae said he was very happy with what was a solid sale, particularly given the seasonal conditions in the area.
The top-priced ram went to a property at Telopea Downs, near the Victorian-South Australian border.
10. Forest Springs, Joel Joel
Sale average: $2090
Seasonal conditions were blamed for a lower than expected clearance rate at Forest Springs Merino stud's on-property ram sale in September.
The Joel Joel stud recorded an average of $2090 after selling 69 of 100 rams to a top price of $4500.
Three rams sold for the top price.
Forest Springs stud principal Bruce Dean, Joel Joel, said the area was on a "knife edge" and a good rain was needed within days of the sale.
The top-priced rams went to two Victorian buyers and one South Australian purchaser.
Victoria and Tasmania's best Merino studs for 2024
Additional reporting by Joely Mitchell, Barry Murphy, Andrew Miller, and Petra Oates.
