Strong lamb results translates to strong ram results for Springvale North

A strong crowd of new and repeat clients filled the shed at Springvale North Poll Merino Stud, Burra, on Friday last week.

Following a couple of strong lamb sale months for the Stockman family, their on-property ram auction was no different.

In a near full clearance, 89 of 90 rams sold to a high of $6000 and average of $2125.

This was a big leap in average on last year's result where 91 of 99 rams sold to $6200, averaging $1517.

This year's top ram sold for $6000 to the Sander family of Eudunda.

The top ram, lot 4, boasted a body weight of 101 kilograms, carried a 20.6 micron fleece, with 3.2 standard deviation, 15.4 coefficient of variation, and comfort factor of 99 per cent.

The ram had a fat depth of 6.5 millimetres and eye muscle depth of 38mm.

Luke Sander, Eudunda, said lot 4 was "very similar" to what they had bought over the past couple of years.

"He's just got that power, a big bold crinkle that we like and he's got a wide and deep barrel that we like," he said.

"He compliments our breeding flock quite well."

The Sander family also picked up another ram, lot 78 for $3000, towards the backend of the sale.

"He was a bit of a surprise, he was very similar to the top one...we spotted him and we were trying to work out why he was where he was, it was a bit of a jump from what the others were making but we really like him and we didn't want to miss out on him," Mr Sander said.

While the Sander family have reduced their flock numbers by a couple of hundred, they anticipate being back up to normal numbers next year.

Bidding was hot throughout the lineup from the top right through to the back end.

Volume buyers included Jason Treloar, Treloar Farms, Keyneton, securing 16 rams, to $4800 and averaging $1975, and AO&TM Thomas, Kingscote, who bought eight, averaging $4200.

Mr Treloar said some of the rams would stay at their Keyneton property while ten would be sent north to Tikalina Station, via Olary.

He said the open wool rams would stay local and the more compact rams with denser wool would be sent to the station for their breeding program.

Mr Treloar said the rams going to Tikalina would go in with the main flock - half of the sheep there are Merinos, while his father runs Dorpers across the other half of the property.

"They're a big robust ram with good wool, but it's the meat side too," Mr Treloar said.

"You've got to chase that as well.

"They're just very big, heavy boned sheep, with good eye muscle and they still give you a decent clip as well."

Springvale North principal Peter Stockman was impressed with the sale.

"It was a fantastic result...it blew my mind," he said.

Despite coming off the back of one of the driest years on record, Mr Stockman said these rams, who barely had a good spring in 2024, had come up a treat.

"There's a bit of optimism around, wool is on the rise and lamb and mutton price is at record levels and cropping is looking favourable...we'll see how things pan out," Mr Stockman said.

"If we can finish off the year it will be surprisingly good considering where we were just over three months ago.

"We had four inches (100 millimetres of rain) in July, which basically turned the corner and got us back on track again - prior to that it was a dust storm every week."

Nutrien auctioneer Richard Miller said it was an outstanding result and likely Springvale North's best sale to date in the dozen he had attended.