Strong support and steady averages penned at Glenville Poll Merinos sale
The bids came fast and thick to secure the top ram at Glenville Poll Merino 64th annual on-property ram sale at Cowell.
The sale reached a $11,000 top, with strong bidding early in the catalogue and steady support from long-term clients despite tighter conditions later in the sale.
In the main auction, 99 of the 110 rams offered sold to average $2079, with a further 12 of 26 selling in the mini auction, all at $600. The combined average across both sales was $1906.
The result compared closely with 2024, when 141 of 150 sold to a $2085 average and an $8400 top, with 18 of 30 clearing in the mini auction to a $633 average.
While fewer rams changed hands this year, the average remained on par with last year.
Whitehill Poll Merinos, Emu Downs, paid the $11,000 top for lot 5, a March-shorn, 14-month-old Ridgway Advance 211437 Jack son.
The standout ram's fleece tested at 19.4 micron, with a standard deviation of 3.2, a coefficient of variation of 16.3 and a 99.6 per cent comfort factor.
He had a greasy fleece weight measurement of 121 per cent and 120pc for body weight.
Australian Sheep Breeding Values showed him in the top 5pc of the breed for yearling clean fleece weight at 37.6, with a wool production index of 170.6, a yearling eye muscle depth of -0.06, and post-weaning weight of 7.3.
Whitehill's Philip Ruediger described the ram as a complete stud sire, having first inspected him at the Keith and Wudinna field days.
"It's a very well-structured ram with great twist and big bold crimpy wool and good staple length and wool cut," he said.
"We have been buying rams here for over 20 years now.
"Lot 5 is a standout and will go over our stud ewes."
Mr Rudiger's son-in-law, Dale Button, admired the sire too.
"If you look at him from behind, he's very perfect, squarish, a perfect stretch of body sheep too," Mr Button said.
"It's not very often you get a great packaged ram with depth, length and twist, along with quality wool."
Lot 6 fetched $9000 and was sold to Maramville Poll Merino stud at Ceduna.
It boasted fleece figures of 19M, 3.4SD, 17.9CV, 99.1CF, 123pc GFW, and 115pc BW. It featured in the top 20pc of the breed for its ASBV of -1.9 in yearling fibre diameter.
Volume buyer Smith Partners, Belton, secured 20 rams at a $770 average, while WJ Sampson & Sons, Wudinna, bought seven averaging $1771, and Barmont Nominees, Streaky Bay, also took seven to a $1143 average.
Stud principal Daryl Smith said the $11,000 top and solid average was beyond expectations.
"It was beyond the expectations we had," he said.
"Lot 5 is a really good crimpy wool sheep with a great outlook.
"He is typical of a top stud sire and will breed a lot of good stud rams."
He said Whitehill had been supporting them for quite some time.
"We are on the same wavelength when we look at sheep," he said.
"Having three new buyers here today also gives us confidence we're heading in the right direction."
He said seasonal recovery and strong livestock markets underpinned the result.
"The start of the year was probably the worst we have seen for 20 years, but our season has turned around a bit in the last month," he said.
"The turnaround in the sheep industry is probably what has helped with the result more than anything.
"The industry is going gangbusters with mutton and lamb going through the roof.
"I think we are in for a good time for about five years because sheep numbers are just too low now."
Nutrien stud stock agent Gordon Wood said the Smith family's 64th sale was a strong success.
"To reach $11,000 as a top and an average over $2000 is a really good result," he said.
"Lot 5 was a really good balance of data and phenotype with plenty of carcase, plenty of wool cut and the data behind it to attract enough bidders.
"The biggest thing for this sale was the consistency from start to finish with well-grown sheep and really white crimpy, lustrous fibre."
Elders' Tony Wetherall said Glenville continued to hold a strong reputation with repeat clients.
"They've been around a long time, and there are very good genetics here at Glenville," he said.
"The average was on par with last year at $2079, just with a few less numbers sold, which is reflective of the season.
"The top ram was a very safe sire, an all-rounder with good wool on a modern square-bodied Merino."
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus, and Mr Wood and Mr Wetherall shared auctioneering duties, with Nutrien the duty agents.
