Collandra's Merino rams sell to $5000 at on-property auction at Tumby Bay

Collandra achieved a strong result at their annual on-property sale at Tumby Bay on Tuesday last week, with full clearance and an improved top price.

There were 40 paddock-run rams offered and sold, for an average price of $1440, which was on a par with last year.

Last year's top price buyer Robert Calderwood, Pernella Pty Ltd, Koppio, returned to buy at the top of the catalogue again this year.

Buying lot three for $5000, Mr Calderwood is a long-time supporter of the stud, purchasing from Collandra for about two decades and often buying at the top-end of the offering.

Lot three weighed in at 114 kilograms, and its fleece measured 19.3 micron, 2.9 standard deviation, 14.9 coefficient of variation and 99.7 per cent comfort factor.

Mr Calderwood said he kept returning to Collandra for their large framed rams, with white, soft wool, and he was targetting 19 to 20M fleece.

"They're big sheep and grow big lambs," he said.

"They're also easy-care sheep."

Farming in a 400 to 500 millimetre rainfall zone, Mr Calderwood said Collandra sires suited the conditions well.

"They can handle the rainfall in the Koppio hills," he said.

Following the success of their sale last week, Collandra invested in new genetics at the Collinsville sale at Hallett this Tuesday, buying the $44,000 sale-topper.

The Lawrie family will use the ram as a foundation sire for their Poll Merino stud.

But principal Steve Lawrie stressed there would be no move away from horned rams.

"We're definitely not getting rid of the horns, that's our bread and butter," he said.

"But being out on the field day circuit, people have said to us they like our wool but they'd prefer the rams didn't have horns.

"So we plan to offer horns and polls that look exactly the same."

Mr Lawrie said he was very happy with the results of his sale.

"It was absolutely wonderful, really, especially considering the season and sheep numbers," he said.

"It was very good to clear everything."

Mr Lawrie said after a tough start to the year, the rams were a couple of kilograms down on where they'd normally be.

"But they still had the good frame and white wool they normally do," he said.

The sale was conducted by Elders Cummins, with Tony Wetherall auctioneering.

Elders agent Adam Briese said Collandra offered an outstanding lineup of Merino rams, with mostly return buyers in attendance.

"There was mostly Eyre Peninsula interest, as well as an order from the northern area," he said.