Bidding war breaks out in the back half of catalogue, pushing up sale prices

An exceptionally even line-up of quality Poll Merino rams with soft rolling skins were offered by the Ventris family's Calcaling stud at the Mukinbudin ram pavilion.

The 78 rams that made up the 2025 Calcaling catalogue were true-to-type Merino rams which flaunted the stud's fast growing wool, fast-growing sheep motto, which is a testament to Athol and Sandie Ventris' commitment to the industry and breeding objectives.

Again, the sale was well-supported this year by long-term, loyal clients who travelled from local districts, as well as from as far as Northampton, ensuring the first, and last half of the catalogue reached competitive prices.

Support was also shown via AuctionsPlus which was operated by Elders State wool sales manager, Andrew Peters.

Sixty two of the 78 rams offered, sold under the hammer to an improved average of $1665 and a high of $5100.

Sale Summary

• (Under the hammer results)
• Offered: 78
• Sold: 62
• Top: $5100
• Gross: $103,200
• Average: $1665

Last year the stud sold 71 rams under the hammer at an average of $1293 and high of $3100.

Nutrien Livestock auctioneer, Terry Norrish, said he was pleased with the overall outcome.

"The quality was very good throughout the shed and presented very well," Mr Norrish said.

"The rams were even and consistent throughout.

"I thought buyers were selective with their purchases, which affected the amount of rams they were purchasing.

"In saying that, it was great to see all of the usual buyers who purchase from the stud support this year's sale, they were just buying less rams due the fact there are less ewes."

Mr Norrish congratulated the Ventris family on the result and the excellent line-up of rams presented.

The highlight was when a bidding war started in the back half of the catalogue, when Gary and Shaun Shadbolt, Harold J Shadbolt & Sons, Mukinbudin, bid up to $5100 for the top-priced ram in lot 65.

The 81.5 kilogram ram (weights recorded on August 5) had MerinoSelect Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of 3.81 post-weaning weight (PWWT), 6.29 yearling weight (YWT), 1.04 yearling eye muscle depth (YEMD), 0.57 yearling fat (YFAT), -0.56 yearling fibre diameter (YFD), 21.42 yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW), with a wool production (WP) index of 175.71 and a sustainable Merino (SM) index of 144.2.

Its raw wool figures were also impressive with 18.7 micron, 3.1 standard deviation (SD), 16.3 co-efficient of variation (CV), a 99.6 per cent comfort factor (CF), with a 5.0 greasy fleece weight (GFW).

The Shadbolts are long-time Calcaling buyers.

"This ram is a well-proportioned animal with beautiful, white, free-growing wool," Gary Shadbolt said.

"We select mainly by visual appraisal with wool as a focus, as well as a good overall body and carcase for the meat side of things."

The Shadbolts run 1200 Merino breeding ewes that lamb down each May/June.

The Mukinbudin producers took home three rams at an average of $3367.

Included in their purchases was a $3000 ram with an August weight of 82kg and raw figures of 18.4 micron, 3.2 SD, 17.3 CV, 99.5pc CF, 5.1 GFW, as well as a WP index of 156.18 and a SM index of 139.34.

The second top-priced ram was snapped up by Robert and Alyssa Lee, Caithness Farming, East Pingelly, for $3800.

It had an August weight of 74.5kg, accompanied by ASBVs of 4.83 PWWT, 6.37 YWT, -0.5 YEMD, -0.09 YFAT, -0.33 YFD, 26.99 YCFW, a WP index of 172.61 and a SM index of 143.47.

It also had raw figures of 18.8 FD, 3.3 SD, 17.5 CV, a 99.8pc CF and 5.1 GFW.

Caithness Farming bought five rams, averaging $2400, including a $3100 ram with an August weight of 87kg with raw figures of 16.1 micron, 2.2 SD, 13.8 CV, a 99.9pc CF and a GFW of 5.0, to go with a WP index of 185.41 and a SM index of 160.1.

Mr Lee said the $3800 ram had a great frame, size and good wool, which were all the characteristics he liked and looked for.

"We have been purchasing from the stud for 10 years and also look at figures like birthweight and fleece weight, as well as micron," Mr Lee said.

Caithness Farming will use the new rams over a 1200-1300 Merino breeding ewe flock.

The $3600 third top price ram was purchased by Onn & Sons, Kulja.

The lot seven ram has an August weight of 77.5kg, with raw figures of 16.8 FD, 2.9 SD, 17 CV, a 99.6pc CF, a GFW of 4.9 and indexes of 168.15 for WP and 140.03 for SM.

The Onn family purchased two rams for an average of $3200.

The volume buyer, who also purchased the most amount of rams in the 2024 sale, was Ben Williams, R Williams & Co, who travels from Northampton each year.

He loaded up 10 rams post-sale to an average of $1990, and paid a high of $3300 for a ram in lot 45.

This ram weighed 82.5kg in early August with a WP index of 172.01 and a SM index of 140.75 to match raw figures of 17 FD, 2.4 SD, 14.2 CV, 99.9pc CF and a GFW of 5.4.

Mr Williams said he was looking to select rams with long, bright, white wools with big frames and good condition.

"We have increased our ewe numbers in the past year and now run 1900 ewes," Mr Williams said.

Also paying $3000 for a ram with an August weight of 77.5kg was M & K Lee Farming, Bullaring.

The ram had raw figures of 17.1 micron, 3.6 SD, 20.9 CV, a 99.5pc CF and indexes of 159.46 for WP and 132.78 for SM.

The Bullaring clients purchased four rams in total, averaging $2000.

Calcaling stud co-principal Athol Ventris said he was very pleased to see most buyers return for this year's sale.

"It was also positive that our average was up," Mr Ventris said.

"The feeling I got from the talk at field days and recent sales is positive.

"Prices will be driven by the supply and demand of wool and meat.

"The season turnaround certainly helped too.

"Thank you to all of our clients for their support this year."