Improved on-property sale results cap off a big year for this family-run stud

The Hobley family capped off a highly successful 2025 for its Wiringa Park Poll Merino stud, with strongly improved results at its annual on-property ram sale at Nyabing.

Wiringa Park genetics continue to perform, both commercially for WA clients and on the national stage, highlighted by numerous high-priced sales earlier this year.

Wiringa Park sold an ET-bred son of Glenlea Park 220614 to White River stud for $70,000 in July at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Victoria.

But it was the sales of sons of Wiringa Park 'King Charles' 220450 (sold for $70,000 to Lachlan stud in 2023) which raised the ram to royalty in the industry.

These included a $80,000 Terrick West ram, the highest priced ram in Australia to date for 2025, another Terrick West ram for $20,000 and two rams from Kamora Park selling for $40,000 and $20,000.

King Charles' progeny also excelled in the Turretfield Research Centre sire evaluation trial in South Australia, being the number one ranked sire in all four indexes.

Sale Summary

• (Under the hammer results)
• Offered: 180
• Sold: 161
• Top: $11,600
• Gross: $361,700
• Average: $2247

The 50 King Charles sons up for grabs in the outstanding 180-ram catalogue attracted plenty of stud and astute commercial attention from Wiringa Park's largest number of return and new WA and interstate buyers to register at the sale.

This saw King Charles sons feature in the top-priced rams, including the $11,600 top price which was knocked down to the Teakle family, Walkindyer stud, Northampton.

The upstanding 109.5kg ram was the second cab off the rank and one the 26 regulation March shorn rams to open the sale.

The AI-bred PP ram displayed September wool tests of 19.3 micron, 2.7 SD, 13.7 CV and 99.5 per cent comfort factor (CF) and August 21 analysis Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) ranking in the top 5pc for SM and WP indexes and YCFW and top 20pc for PWT and YWT.

Warwick Teakle said they were dropping their new ram at Westbreed, Northam, on their way home to Northampton to collect semen to use in an AI program with 100 ewes, while he would also be used in paddock matings.

Mr Teakle said they first saw the ram at Wiringa Park's on-property field day in August with its wool quality a standout while also being very well-structured.

He said they purchased a Wiringa Park ram last year and also used semen from a son of King Charles Wiringa Park 230158 and are happy with their lambs.

Taking the $9200 second top price honours was another King Charles son in lot eight, with Nutrien Livestock development manager sheep and Merino genetics, Mitchell Crosby, purchasing the ram on behalf of the Harris family, Brimanna stud, Mitchell, South Australia.

The ET-bred 104kg PP ram recorded wool tests of 18.9 micron, 2.9 SD, 15.1 CV and 99.6pc CF and ASBVs ranking in the top 1pc for YCFW, top 5pc for WP index, top 10pc SM index and top 20pc PWT.

Mr Crosby said the Harris family was a first-time buyer at Wiringa Park, with the ram recommended to them by Paul and Josh Cousins, Cousins Merino Services, SA, for its breeding suitability to their breeding program.

Return top-end buyer North Stirling Downs, Gnowangerup, paid the $7400 third top price for a King Charles son in lot 18.

The AI-bred 108kg PP ram measured 19.3 micron, 2.8 SD, 14.2 CV and 99.6pc CF and ASBVs ranking in the top 1pc for YCFW, PWT and YWT, top 10pc WP index and top SM index.

White Springs stud, Calingiri, paid the next highest price of $6800 for a King Charles son in lot 17 containing a 100kg AI-bred PP ram measuring 21.6 micron, 3.4 SD, 15.9 CV and 97.6pc CF and ASBVs ranking in the top 5pc for YCFW and WP index, top 10pc SM index and top 20pc PWT.

King Charles sons rounded out the top five prices with Toorackie stud, Williams, returning this year to pay $5200 for a 119 ET-bred PP ram measuring 20.3 micron, 3.3 SD, 16.4 CV and 99.5pc CF and ASBVs ranking in the top 5pc for YCFW and WP index, top 10pc SM index and top 20pc PWT.

Toorackie stud also collected two ET-bred PP rams by Glenlea Park 220614.

Following a challenging clearance sale last year, the Hobleys continued to offer a large quality catalogue of 180 Poll Merino rams which are extensively measured, DNA parentage tested and reflect the family's investment and dedication to the sheep and wool industry.

The sale's opening 100 rams sold to red hot competition, with stud and commercial buyers bidding intently on selections.

This slowed as the sale wore on and while rams in the back run still sold as high as $3400, bidding was selective at times, allowing buyers of all budgets from $1000 to operate but also seeing a few rams overlooked at auction.

At the end of selling, the Nutrien Livestock selling team led by auctioneer Mark Warren, sold 161 rams (90pc) under the hammer for an average of $2247.

This marked a solid improvement in clearance and value compared to last year with a $418 rise in average from 37 more rams to sell at auction.

Buyers were active on the overlooked lots following the sale which significantly increased the sale team clearance and sealed a great result for the Hobley family.

In his pre-sale address, Wiringa Park stud co-principal, Allan Hobley, said it was pleasing to see a strong roll up of return buyers and some new faces backing in what they were doing.

He said it had been a big year for the stud and the family appreciated all the support.

"We have had huge success with what 450 has done throughout Australia and in South Australian sire trials," Mr Hobley said.

"He is a real impact sire and we are really proud he has gone and done what we believed he would when we sold him for $70,000 a couple of years ago.

"Getting our genetics out there and seeing them working commercially is our ultimate success."

Mr Warren said the high number of registrations showed a lot of repeat and new buyers, with the stud becoming increasingly known throughout the country.

"Overall a very strong sale, the sheep presented extremely well through a lot of hard work from the Hobley family," he said.

"Wiringa Park's Eastern States sire sales this year is getting its name across Australia, with Eastern States' competition again at the sale.

"The commercial progeny of Wiringa Park rams throughout the State is of excellent quality and shows in the return buying support."

The volume buyer, with a team of 12 rams, was PA Heron & Co, Broomehill, which managed to operate at value across its large team to average $1042.

The next largest account with a team of 11 rams was put together by long-time stud supporter, Mark Garard, ST & KN Garard, Pingaring, paying to $3300 at an average of $2727.

Mr Garard said they selected for a more dual-purpose type sheep, based on weight, body shape and size and wool style.

"They are a professional stud and there is plenty of depth in the rams," Mr Garard said.

The Garards run 3500 Merino ewes, all mated to Merino rams in February for a July lambing.

Mr Garard said implementing a confinement feeding system into their cropping/sheep enterprise has been a "game changer" and he believes it will help keep people in the sheep industry.

Ewes are confinement fed from April until July and Mr Garard said it put them in control.

"Improved ability to focus on cropping at that time of year and run more sheep that are getting the optimum nutrition they need," he said.

"The ewes lamb onto abundant green feed that hasn't had stock on it for four months which has the capacity to feed twice as many sheep."

Other larger accounts included Monalta Grazing Company, Katanning, with 10 rams averaging $1820, while PS Climie & Co, Cranbrook ($2889 ave), MK & M Peakall, Amelup ($1975 ave) and PA Greaves & Co, Williams ($1138 ave), each finished with eight rams.