New Glenlea Park owners get tick of approval from clients at first ram sale
Loyal Glenlea Park clients from three states showed their strong support for the next chapter of the Poll Merino stud, with the 49th annual ram sale and first under new owners a great success.
The Murdochs relocated the 60-year-old stud, including 1100 stud ewes and 475 ewe lambs and 475 ram lambs to a property they bought on the other side of Keith.
And although the average was back more than $1000 on last year, 114 of 128 rams averaged $2518.
This has still set a high benchmark for the SA ram selling season.
Many of the rams were accompanied by figures in the top five per cent to-10pc of 2024 drop rams on the Sheep Genetics database, adding to buyer confidence.
This included the $7000 sale topper, Glenlea Park 24-0141, which sold at lot 3.
The embryo transfer bred son of Glenlea Park 18-0030 ranked in the top 10pc for both the Wool Production and Sustainable Merino Indexes at 188.9 and 158.9 respectively.
It was one of the finest micron rams in the catalogue at 16.5M but still had plenty of carcase shape, weighing 110kg.
The buyer was PJ&DJ Routley, Almondvale stud, Urana, NSW, who also bought the lot 3 ram in Glenlea Park's 2024 sale.
Elders stud stock's Alistair Keller, who bid on the Routley's behalf, said they were looking for a ram to "sweeten up the wools and nourish their skins".
"It has beautiful free-growing white wool with a lot of purity on a big frame," he said.
The ram's other wool tests included a standard deviation of 2.8, a coefficient of variation of 17.1 per cent and comfort factor of 99.6pc.
In another coup for the Glenlea Park stud, Geoff and Bernadette Davidson, Moorundie stud, Keith, also found a new sire in lot 8, GP 24-0135.
They paid the sale's third-highest price of $6400 to buy back some of their genetics with the 20.5M ram sired by Moorundie NE73.
Despite these stud buys, it was the strength of commercial buyers that underpinned the strong 89 per cent clearance rate.
Alan and Ellen Bennett, Nariel Pty Ltd, Lawloit, Vic, were easily the biggest buyers with 35 rams to their tally.
The Bennetts have been using Glenlea Park bloodlines for the past 20 years and say it has transformed their wools and given them "easy care, good doing sheep".
"There was quality right through the sale, we were able to get some great rams early on and we still bought the last ram in the sale for $2000," Mr Bennett said.
DA&JC Murdoch, Apsley, Vic secured nine rams to $3600 three times and averaged $2689.
Mallee buyers were also strong, although with many selling off ewes, they needed fewer rams than in previous years.
LC&BJ Singh, Alawoona, took home nine rams to $3600, averaging $2156.
Heathdale, Stewart Range, secured five rams to $5000, averaging $3960, with three of these in the first seven lots.
Two active bidders on AuctionsPlus put in 35 bids, with two rams selling to Dalgety, NSW.
Mr Murdoch said they were "absolutely rapt" with the result in a "very tough feed year".
He said it was very heartening to have such strong support from Peter and Marianne's clients who are trusting them to continue the highly respected breeding program.
"We thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a stud of this calibre and I know it is big shoes to fill, but I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge," he said.
"We have made a big investment and a big change to our life doing this, but bad years are only temporary.
"We are definitely out the other side with meat prices at records and hopefully wool can kick a bit too and we will be in for a few good years."
Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber - who was on the rostrum with PPHS auctioneer Josh Manser- praised the presentation of the sheep and said they were a type that appealed to many with their carcase attributes and "sweet wools".
He said the sale was very strong from the outset but the second half of the catalogue did present some opportunities for clients to buy rams in the $1000 to $1200 price bracket which they have not been able to do for several years.
"Those guys will be very happy with the rams they got for what they paid," Mr Schreiber said.
"Overall, it was still a very good result with a $2500 average and a near full clearance - that is all you could ask in the year that we are in."
Glenlea Park has four rams reserved for the Adelaide Merino ram sale on Friday, September 5.
