White River Poll Merino rams head 'here, there and everywhere' post-sale

White River Poll Merinos achieved one of the "best clearance results so far" of this ram sale season last week.

Nutrien stud stock manager Gordon Wood said the 117 sold from 121 offered represented great quality right throughout the sale.

"Right the way down into the 90s we were still hitting $3000 (per head)" he said.

"There was a great selection of rams and a good representation of the Poll Merino breed.

"Rams went to studs and station buyers alike here, there and everywhere - there was really good depth."

While the stud didn't reach the lofty heights of last year's $27,000 top at the Minnipa stud, the sale averaged $1952, only $400 less than last year, and topped at $5000 three times.

The sale topping rams, catalogued at Lots 1, 4 and 5, were sold for stud duties.

The first ram was knocked down to Mervyn Doudle, Mount Drummond, who breeds rams for his own program.

Mr Doudle said he had been buying rams from White River since its inception and continued to come back each year as the stud's breeding objectives lined up with his own.

The ram had micron of 21.3, standard deviation of 2.5, coefficient of variation of 11.8, a comfort factor of 99.8, 8.2 for fat and 43.5 for eye muscle depth.

Meanwhile, Lot 4 also stayed close to home, heading to Buckleboo for stud duties at Oakfarms.

Its figures included 21.7 micron, 2.9 for SD, 13.3 for CV, 99.3 for CF, 7.6 for FAT and 40.5 for EMD.

Oakfarms stud principal Nick Lienert said the ram was exactly what he looked for in a stud sire.

"He's a big square sheep with a real gutsy, crimpy, studdy wool on him with staple length as well," he said.

"We're very, very lucky to get him for the value we did.

"He'll go into our White River base to replace a ram we purchased here about two years ago that we unfortunately lost."

First-time buyer Tom Lilburne, Bluebush Merinos, Hay, NSW, picked up Lot 5 for his program.

"We saw the rams at Bendigo and we were really impressed," he said.

"We really liked the size and shape of them, the doing ability and the wool.

"We picked up Lots 6, 9 and 15 as well all for good value. They'll go out to stud duties in December."

The ram had figures of 20.1 micron, 2.7 for SD, 13.3 for CV, 99.7 for CF, 6.5 FAT and 39.8 EMD.

Volume buyers on the day included West Wimmera Beef, Nhill, Vic, DH Turnbull & Co, and Lairg Station, Sheringa.

Elders auctioneer Tony Wetherall said the rams on offer were well-balanced, modern Poll Merinos.

"Buyers come here because they know the sires, they know the rams have the wool and the structure for any program," he said.

Looking ahead, White River stud principal Wes Daniell said he had promising new sires and planned to keep doing what the stud was doing but improving each year.

"We got a new sire from Wiringa Park (Nyabing, WA) for $70,000 back in July," he said.

"He's at the AI centre currently getting collected and quite a list of orders for semen from studs for him already.

"We're really looking forward to seeing his progeny and offering them in two years time."