Buyers pick out bright wools at Ramsgate Poll Merino ram sale
Buyers were selective at Ramsgate Poll Merino stud's 17th annual ram sale at Tintinara on Tuesday, with bidding firing on some lots with outstanding dual purpose traits and others failing to get a bid.
Stud principals, the Keller family, knew with the drought and lower ewe numbers, it would be a challenge to clear nearly 100 rams, but Craig Keller said they wanted to continue to offer a wide selection.
The sale produced some strong highs, but there was also plenty of value buying with 27 lots making $800 to $1000.
Overall 72 of 99 April and May 2024-drop rams sold to a $5000 high and $1692 average.
In comparison in 2024, 81 of 120 rams averaged $2151, although there was a record $12,250 sale high.
"Buyers were looking for that dual purpose sheep with fibre and doing ability and meat quality - that seems to be what everyone is chasing," he said.
Mr Keller said it was pleasing to see a few new buyers after displaying their sheep at the Northern Merino Expo at Jamestown, the previous week, and the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo for the first time this year.
"We could see the writing on the wall as far as the season and tough market so we tried to expose ourselves to other areas," he said.
"We seem to be getting a foothold in that Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn and Callington area and a lot of that is word of mouth, with one or two guys stepping in and the neighbours are talking."
The $5000 sale topper came at lot 38 for an 18.3 micron fleeced ram, which had an ASBV ranking in the top five per cent for post weaning weight and yearling weight at 10.9 and 14.8.
It was also in the top 10pc of the Sustainable Merino Index.
The ram's other fleece measurements included a 2.6 standard deviation, 14.21 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.7pc comfort factor.
By a homebred sire, it was one of a high proportion of the catalogue that was born a twin, showing the fecundity of Ramsgate's flock.
The successful buyers were Alastair and Deb MacAllan, Woodchester, who were impressed by the ram's visual traits and figures.
They were in their second year buying at Ramgsate and put together three rams, including Lot 11, which made the $4600 second highest price.
The MacAllan's self-replacing flock was traditionally Barton Hill bloodlines, but they were impressed when they saw the Ramsgate sheep at the 2024 South East Merino Field Days at Keith.
"We bought five last year and the three that we bought this year are a really good match," he said.
"They are a plain (bodied) sheep, and they haven't mulesed for a long time, which is the track we would like to go down."
Rams sold across a wide geographical area from the Eyre Peninsula to Kangaroo Island.
Coolala Ag Enterprises, Chilpenunda, secured six rams to $2800, averaging $1600 and GR Foster & Co, Bool Lagoon bought five rams to $2000 for a $1580 average.
Elders auctioneer Steven Doecke- who shared the rostrum with Laryn Gogel- said the clearance rate was no reflection of the quality of the rams on offer.
"In the last few years they have put more meat into their sheep and the data is now showing proof that they have meaty sheep with good quality wools," he said.
"It wasn't that they were dropping to a price to buy, buyers were prepared to pay money for the rams which were the ones with the cracking white wools."
There was also plenty of interest in Ramsgate's three young sires reserved for the Classings Classic sale at Murray Bridge on September 1.
Elders Keith conducted the sale.
