Giant sale of Collinsville horned ram to WA client

An impressive Collinsville Merino ram, which the Hallett-based stud had earmarked for its 2025 show team, has been sold for $25,000.

Long-time client Greg Carmody, Mittakeri stud, Kulin East, WA, bought Collinsville 232049 which had been on display at last week's Elders SA Stud Merino Expo at Burra.

Collinsville general manager Tim Dalla said his father Dennis had been helping Mr Carmody class his flock for a few years and knew they were looking for a ram to continue to improve their wool quality.

"He is a loyal client who is always chasing top-shelf genetics, he was a ram we were going to keep but it was an offer we couldn't refuse," he said.

"He has exceptional purity through the head and good bone and good doing ability, as a rising two-year-old he has exceptional wool quality and figures."

The June 2023-drop was sired by Collinsville Goliath and out of a special stud maiden ewe.

Elders stud stock's Alistair Keller said it was a big show of confidence so early in the selling season and did not expect too many other horned rams to make $25,000 this year.

"He is a bit different to the Collinsville type, he is a very plain ram that will still cut a lot of wool and has a lot of meat in the back end," he said.

"It is not that common to have a 150kg ram which is only 19.7 micron."

Mittakeri stud principal Greg Carmody - who also bought Collinsville's $18,000 top horned ram in the on-property sale last year - said the ram had a rare combination of "heavy bone and outstanding wool" traits.

"He had an exceptional standard deviation of wool of 2.5, not many sheep get that low and for two years he had tested 100 per cent comfort factor," he said.

"He also had a nice tip which will keep the dust out of the wool."

Mr Carmody thanked Tim and Dennis Dalla for helping him identify the Goliath son which he will use extensively in their stud flock which bred rams for their commercial flock and other breeders.

"He has the constitution that we can build on with our breeding," he said.

"The girth, barrel and width behind of the ram will also mean we can produce good ewes."

Mr Carmody said the Collinsville bloodlines perform well in their "high calcium lakes country".

Collinsville also sold another horned ram during the Expo to the Stratford family, Secret Rocks stud, Tumby Bay, for $7000.