Popular genetics boost Kamora Park ram sale result, defies tough season

AN "extraordinary" ram sale took place at Kamora Park Poll Merino stud in Sandalwood on Friday, where the results defied the challenging season.

The Boughen family of Colin and Julie, Wade and Mel, and Katelyn and Pete managed to add to their recent ram selling success, by significantly increasing their sale average and posting an impressive top price of $9250.

They sold 158 rams from 184 offered, averaging $2090 - a $368 increase on last year's sale, which stud co-principal Katelyn Boughen said was "a nice surprise".

"We were concerned considering how challenging the season has been - we couldn't have asked for much more from our clients," she said.

Interest at the sale remained strong for the stud's progeny from AI sire Wiringa Park 220450, following the recent sales of a son to Roemahkita stud for a stud record price of $40,000 at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic, plus another for $20,000 to the Millbrae stud, Kimba, at the South East Merino Field Days in Keith.

Wiringa Park 450 was bought by Lachlan Merinos, Forbes, NSW, for $70,000 in 2023, and Katelyn said the decision to use the genetics in their AI program had "absolutely paid off".

"We don't tend to sell rams before sale day, but when you get offers like that, it is hard to refuse," she said.

"We have had such positive feedback on the road with these sons, offering really good bone and structure, with good wools, plus we have a lot of ewe hoggets that are looking really great out in the paddock, which is exciting for the future of our stud."

The $9250 top price ram however was by a different bloodline - Calcookara 220532, a son of Calcookara 170400 - bought by long-time Kamora Park shearer Rowan Zadow and his partner Emma Hensel.

The couple farm nearby at Karoonda, where they are building on 1200 breeding ewes.

Mr Zadow said he always liked how Kamora Park wools "combed really well and its softness", and he particularly liked the top ram's Calcookara genetics.

"It really liked that ram's long free-growing wool at six months - perfect for us," he said.

The blade-shorn natural April 2024-drop ram had 17.7-micron wool, with 2.5 standard deviation, 14.4 coefficient of variation and 99.9 per cent comfort factor, with a 8.1-kilogram fleece weight.

Weighing 131.5kg, the double-polled ram also had an eye muscle depth of 42 millimetres and 6.6mm fat depth. It was also in the top 20pc for yearling weight at 11.12.

Mr Zadow said the ram would run with hogget ewes in late October/November. The couple bought eight rams in total, averaging $2956.

"I had a budget to buy 10, but we really wanted that top ram, so we just had to keep going for it," he said.

There were a number of new names among the 40 registered buyers, including Mitch Rubie, Rubie Livestock Advancement, Forbes, NSW, who bought the sale's second highest price ram at $8000.

Through Elders SA studstock manager Tony Wetherall on the phone, Mr Rubie was bidding on behalf of a commercial ram breeding client from Dalgety, NSW, who chased Wiringa Park 450 bloodlines.

Mr Rubie saw the double-poll ram at Bendigo and recognised it had the potential to "handle a heap of water and still cut a heap of good, high value wool".

"And that client chases really high fleece weights, low micron, for their high rainfall region," he said.

The Wiringa Park 450 son had 17.4M wool with 2.3SD, 13.3CV and 99.9CF, with a 8.1kg fleece weight.

The April 2024-drop also weighed 115kg, with 41.2EMD and 5.7fat, and was in the top 5pc for Sustainable Merino at 159.67, top 5pc for yearling clean fleece weight at 38.38 and top 10pc for adult CFW at 28.55.

Overall, there were 11 Wiringa Park 450 sons offered in the sale, which averaged $3681.

The sale had two large volume buyers in Wegner Bros, Karoonda, and Mallee View Props, Galga, both taking home 20 head.

Paul and John Wegner said their rams, averaging $2260, would be run with younger ewes to breed replacements for their flock.

"We like the dual-purpose nature of the rams," they said.

While Peter McConnell from Mallee View said their 20, averaging $1480, would be run with maiden ewes.

"We like Kamora Park rams for their plain bodies and quality wool - they always cut good fleeces," he said.

Another strong buyer was Malcolm Scroop, Woodside, who was buying on behalf of the Hurst family, Lake Hawdon, Robe. He notched up 10 rams averaging $3170.

Nutrien SA studstock manager Gordon Wood agreed it was a brilliant sale.

"The average was extraordinary given the current environment and a lack of ewe numbers across the nation," he said.

"Bidding was dominated by repeat buyers, who are obviously happy with how these rams perform, and the line-up was very consistent, from the first row to the last, with rams still making $2400 right to the end.

"It would have been nice to help clear a few more, but I think it was still an amazing result."