Century of breeding marked as Rices Creek honours loyal clients at ram sale

Rices Creek Poll Merino stud celebrated a century of breeding with a complete clearance at its on-property sale at Saddleworth, with 194 rams offered and sold to a $7000 top and $1948 average.

The result marked an increase on last year's $1863 average, with slightly fewer rams catalogued, and was a fitting milestone in the stud's 100th year.

The $7000 top price was achieved for Lot 8A, a 103 kilogram ram that was a late inclusion to the sale.

The ram was sired by Moorundie 001, a sire purchased for $50,000 in 2023, and carried a 21.5 micron fleece, with 3.1 standard deviation, 13.6 coefficient of variation and 99.1 per cent comfort factor.

Lot 8A sold to Glynnard, Rhynie, with buyer Peter Glynn securing the ram as his only purchase of the day.

"He's bred from Moorundie 001, which has worked really well for us," Mr Glynn said.

"I liked his attractive wool, clean face and carcass, and I think he'll breed some very good ram lambs.

"We'll put him over about 150 of our best ewes this joining."

Mr Glynn said he was already building Moorundie bloodlines into his flock, having purchased two rams at the Tintinara sale earlier in the month.

"It's a good line of sheep to build on - this ram will fit straight into the program," he said.

Rices Creek stud principal James Vandeleur said Lot 8A was originally kept as a stud reserve before being offered at the last moment.

"He had the wool, carcass and type we were chasing, but we've already got a lot of Moorundie 001 progeny, so it was time to move him on," Mr Vandeleur said.

"It's pleasing to see him go to a long-term client like Glynnard."

Volume buying again underpinned the sale, with Sparks Farming, Jamestown, taking home 25 rams to average $1876, Zaroma, Port Kenny, buying 14 to a $1086 average, and Carn Nominees, Port Augusta, purchasing 12, averaging $1350.

Quality Wool auctioneer Cam Petricevich, Albany, WA, said it was a strong result given seasonal challenges.

"The rams presented really well, particularly considering the season has only turned in the past six to eight weeks," he said.

"Competition was strong, and Lot 8A was a standout - a classy type with superior wool that deserved to top the sale."

Nutrien stud stock auctioneer Gordon Wood said the sale reinforced the strength of the combined Rices Creek and Hamilton Run program.

"To clear 194 rams at nearly a $2000 average is a tremendous achievement," he said.

"The top ram was a really good dual-purpose animal, showing both fibre quality and carcass traits, and it's great to see the Hamilton Run and Rices Creek client bases continuing to blend together."

Mr Vandeleur said the family was humbled to celebrate 100 years of Rices Creek with such a strong result.

"It's tough for many clients with reduced numbers and succession planning, so some of our bigger volume buyers didn't operate this year," he said.

"But that gave others the opportunity to buy in, and it was good to welcome new clients.

"Our success has always been built on loyal repeat buyers, and we couldn't have reached 100 years without them."

He said the family was focused on breeding plain-bodied rams with a balance of carcass and wool traits to suit a wide range of environments.

"We've been fortunate to have clients who back our program, and we're committed to producing sheep that keep lifting productivity and profitability," he said.

The sale was conducted by Quality Livestock and Nutrien Ag Solutions, with Mr Petricevich and Mr Wood the auctioneers.