Exclusive genetics of deceased sire draw huge interest for joint stud sale

The first offering of exclusive and highly sought-after bloodlines has pushed the Banavie and Charinga Merino studs' joint on-property sale to new heights this year.

On Tuesday, the Polkinghorne family's studs offered a combined total of 188 rams and sold 167 for an average of $3442 at Berrimal.

In the breakdown, Banavie sold 94 of 101 rams offered for an average of $4160, while Charinga sold 75 of 87 rams offered for an average of $2574 and a top price of $9000.

Buyers didn't have to wait long for the sale of the highly anticipated Lot 1 and 2 rams, who were both sons of the notable and exclusive sire Diamond.

Lot 1, Diamond 240009, was knocked down for the sale high of $52,000, and Lot 2, Diamond 240015, achieved an impressive second top price of $24,000.

"A new gene pool - the Diamond gene pool - was on offer for the first time this year," Banavie stud principal Tim Polkinghorne said.

"The father hasn't been used in any other studs.

"We don't sell semen out of the father either, so the only way people can get access to these genetics is to buy this ram.

"He has died now, too, so there's very little genetics available from him."

Mr Polkinghorne said he had originally intended not to sell the top-priced ram because he didn't think the reward would be high enough compared to the value of keeping him in the stud.

The ram, Diamond 240009, has a 17.8-micron fleece with a standard deviation of 2.9, a coefficient of variation of 16.1 and a comfort factor of 99.9 per cent.

The ram was purchased by the Manunda stud, Tammin, WA, who have been repeat clients of Banavie over the years.

Manunda stud co-principal Luke Button said they had first seen the ram at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo earlier in the year, where he drew a lot of attention.

"We saw him and thought he was a really good ram," he said.

"We had spoken about him quite a bit and went to the sale looking to buy him or Lot 2."

As the first ram of the sale, Mr Button said the fierce start to the bidding was "a bit nerve-racking".

"We started at $20,000 and it went up in $5000 bids until we hit $50,000," he said.

One more $2000 bid secured the ram for the Button family, who knocked down the Lot 1 sale-topper for $52,000.

The ram was purchased in partnership with Arra-dale Merino stud, Perenjori, WA, who bought a semen share of the ram.

The Lot 2 ram sold to Sydney Lawrie, Collandra North Poll Merino stud, Tumby Bay, SA.

The first two rams were not the only sons of Diamond to be offered.

Around 20 Diamond progeny rams were all highly sought at the sale, including Lot 5, which sold for $22,000 to John Humbert, Kedleston Park stud, Calivil.

Mr Polkinghorne said multiple volume buyers, both commercial and stud operations, underpinned both sales, which were interfaced with AuctionsPlus.

Commercial volume buyers included the Kaylock family, Moulamein, NSW, who bought 17 rams for an average of $2588, J & G Ross, Mia Mia, bought seven rams to average $3786, W & S Polkinghorne, Berrimal, bought 10 rams, HK Norfolk, St Arnaud, bought seven rams to average $1714, and Benarro Partnership, Beazleys Bridge, bought six rams to average $3875.

"Both stud sales were exceptional," Mr Polkinghorn said.

"Our top 20 rams from both studs averaged $10,100.

"Although our average was high, there were a lot of commercial rams available at very affordable prices."

Nutrien stud stock agent Rick Power said the sale drew a lot of interest.

"There were around 68 registered buyers, and the crowd really followed along and made for good competition," Mr Power said.