Clients 'go away happy' as Glenpaen records solid ram sale clearance rate
Glenpaen Merino stud recorded an 87 per cent clearance rate at its 29th annual ram sale at Brimpaen.
The stud offered 92 rams and sold 80, with the sale averaging $2675.
Two Merino rams, Lot 11 and Lot 14, sold for the top price of $9000 to Coryule Merinos, Willowvale, and David Miles, Naracoorte, SA.
The two top buyers only bought one ram each to expand their existing flock.
Glenpaen stud principal Rod Miller said prices were better compared to last year's top price of $6000 and average of $2074.
Mr Miller said he was happy with how the rams sold, considering the tough seasonal conditions leading up to the sale.
"We keep getting 5 millimetres to keep us going, and I think we're a touch ahead of last season, but we desperately need more rain," he said.
He said loyal, long-term clients bought at the sale due to the stud's versatility in being able to produce both quality meat and wool.
"We're trying to breed a balanced animal," he said.
"An animal that will cut a good amount of wool and still have a carcase.
"That way, you've got a foot in each door no matter what the industry is doing, whether they're chasing meat or wool."
With wool prices rising in the last month, Mr Miller said buyers had renewed confidence in the market.
"We're very happy with the clearance rate under the current circumstances, and the wool prices kicking up a bit, it helped us," he said.
"To see the clients go away happy is all that matters.
"We just ran out of puff towards the end of the sale, and we passed 10 rams in.
"It was so dry that clients needed fewer rams, but the top end of the rams sold very well."
He said the two top rams sold well because of their structural soundness and fine wool quality.
"I've had comments from clients saying they were some of the most even line-ups of sheep that we've had," he said.
Lot 11, sired by GPN 10, had fleece measurements including 18 micron, 2.9 standard deviation (SD) and 99.8pc comfort factor (CF).
Lot 14, sired by a Rosevill Park ram through an artificial insemination program, had fleece measurements of 18 micron, 2.8 SD and 99.8pc CF.
Mr Miller said he was excited for the next annual sale due to the quality upcoming progeny.
"We've got some very good progeny coming up that's ticking all the boxes," he said.
"And if the wool job kicks again and the red meat prices are here to stay, well, I'd say look out for next year."
Nutrien agent Peter Godbolt said prices were solid at the sale despite buyers being impacted by drought.
"Considering the season, prices and clearance rates have been pretty good," he said.
"There were a lot of returning clients and a few new faces.
"The sale was pretty solid overall, buyers chased good quality genetics and a good quality wool cut."
