'Industry turn around' sparks big lift in average at Minta ram sale

An $18,000 sire bought by Minta stud principal Jesse Hull at the Adelaide Merino ram sale in 2022 has bred on with its 28 sons selling at a premium at the stud's annual Poll Merino sale at Mount Cooper on Monday.

The progeny of Kamora Park 210233 averaged $2503 - more than $500 above the overall sale average.

One of these sons, lot 3 -Minta 498, was the sale's top price ram and was knocked down for $8000 to Nick Lienert, Oakfarms stud, Buckleboo.

This was $5000 more than the 2025 sale high.

The 18.1 micron ram weighed 108 kilograms and was carrying a fleece with a standard deviation of 3.1, 17.1 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.6pc comfort factor.

The sale topper also had a fat depth of 4.7mm and an eye muscle depth of 38mm.

Mr Lienert said he looked into all the progeny of Kamora Park 210233 in the sale to ensure 498 wasn't an anomaly.

"If his shape and figures are just a one-off and the rest of his brothers aren't making the grade then we wouldn't buy him," he said.

"But we went through the brothers in the catalogue and they all had the same wool and shape, he was just a bit bigger of a carcase and better in the body.

"There wasn't any poor wool in that line of sheep, so we can be very confident that ram will breed on well."

Mr Lienert also picked up lot 35, Minta 528, a 91kg Rices Creek son for $4000.

The 17.9M ram's wool tests included a 2.8 SD, 15.6pc CV and 99.8pc CF with a 37.2mm EMD and 3.5mm fat depth.

"He's a very long-stapled, good woolled sheep, I would've expected him further up in the sale," he said.

"(498) will go over some pretty handy ewes at home and for (528) we have a Rices Creek family for him to back up our other ram.

"We plan to have both on display at our upcoming sale and look forward to offering their progeny in two years time."

Overall in the sale, 89 rams sold for a $1957 average from 95 rams offered.

This is up more than $900 on 2025 with an extra 19 rams headed to new homes.

Mr Hull said he was incredibly happy with the sale's result.

"There's a lot of confidence around," he said.

"The industry's turned around, blokes are getting back into more sheep, it's a good result."

Speaking of his top price ram, he said there was strong stud interest during the auction.

"He had about three studs bidding on him which was good to see," he said.

"He was pure in the face, had a good head, good bone and overall just a good package.

"And people bought with confidence seeing the strength of that sire throughout the catalogue."

Elders Streaky Bay were the duty agents on the day, with stud stock auctioneer Tony Wetherall at the rostrum.

"Jesse and Courtney had a terrific line up of rams today," Mr Wetherall said.

"They're paddock run rams, their wools were very even and they still have carcase.

".....Some really productive sheep and they had a lot of interest."

Paul Cousins buying on behalf of Mount Eba Station via Glendambo was the sale's volume buyer, successful on 11 rams for a $1000 average.

Rohan and Leroy Hull, GV Hull Nominees, Port Kenny, bought six rams averaging $3133