Vandeleurs celebrate centenary in Merino breeding with strong SE ram sale
The first sons to be offered by Rices Creek Poll Merino stud from a $50,000 Moorundie sire have provided many of the highlights at the stud's 17th annual on-property ram sale at Tintinara.
Three of the four highest-priced rams were by Moorundie 001, which is leaving meaty carcases in his progeny.
The $5800 sale high came well into the auction at lot 25 with fourth-generation Merino breeder Zoe Hawker, Kaniva, Vic putting in the winning bid.
A Moorundie 001 son, the good barrelled ram was carrying a 19.6M fleece with a standard deviation of 3.1, coefficient of variation of 16pc and comfort factor of 99.7pc.
Ms Hawker said the 104 kilogram ram was her pick for being well balanced with good wool, good carcase shape and good carcase figures with a yearling eye muscle depth of 4 and fat depth of 2.5.
The Hawker family has been buying from Rices Creek since 2023 and before that were using Hamilton Run bloodlines.
"They have good wools and breed good lambs and are suited to our country," she said.
"The industry is on the up with record lamb prices, and with the lack of supply the wool market should only get better."
Three other rams made the $4600 second-highest price, including lot 18 which was one of a few rams in the sale that was a Rices Creek-Hamilton Run cross.
Rices Creek bought the high-profile Hamilton Run stud in 2023 and with it nearly 700 stud ewes, along with ewe and ram lambs.
In the past few years, the sale has been one of the best for the SA ram selling season and while the Vandeleurs decided to reduce their numbers in anticipation of lesser demand, it was still a buoyant result.
Overall 71 of 74 of the April/May 2024 drops sold for a $2063 average.
In comparison last year 104 of 113 rams averaged $2167.
It is a big year for the Vandeleur family, who are celebrating a century of Merino breeding.
Their future is also looking bright with plenty of clients who have been buying rams for decades having great success with their genetics.
This included volume buyers Paul, Deb and Tim Doering, Walmona Pastoral, Truro, who took home 12 rams for a $1492 average, topping at $2500.
Pinindi Pastoral, Desert Camp, snared five rams to $4000, averaging $2980.
The Mallee was again well represented, including MB, KJ&JB Heinecke, Parilla, putting together five rams. Two of these were at $3400.
Rices Creek stud co-principal Mark Vandeleur admits he was a bit nervous before the sale but was "pretty pleased" with the result.
"There was still obviously enough rams there with a few lots passed in and with another sale coming up in the Mid North, people have a chance to buy more of our genetics there," he said.
Mr Vandeleur said it was a big thrill to reach their centenary of breeding Merinos and said the family was thankful for the years of support and friendships they had made with their clients.
"When you think about the hard times that my Dad and his grandpa and even I have had you sometimes wonder if it is worth it, but it always is in the long run, especially when you see the next generation coming through," he said.
"There is massive upside in the industry from now on if we can get some normality back in the seasons."
Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber congratulated the Vandeleurs on their generations of hard work and dedication.
"The reliability of the Rices Creek flock will stand up better than most and that is why they are still here. The structure and the genetic integrity spans many generations and will continue
Mr Schreiber said the top end of the catalogue sold very well with strong competition in the $3000 to $6000 price bracket but they were missing a couple of bulk buyers.
"That is the reality of this year. We know the number of rams are not required this year statewide," he said.
Elders auctioneer Steven Doecke said it was nice to see the Vandeleurs well-rewarded for their line-up.
"They have been around for 100 years but they are still keeping up with the modern Merino, those free growing, crispy white wools on their traditional, big framed sheep," he said.
"They are solid carcased animals and in a meat-driven industry there are plenty of rams that will breed good females or wethers for the future."
The Vandeleurs will offer another 180 Rices Creek and Hamilton Run rams at their Saddlworth sale on August 26.
