'Best ram sale ever' for Mallee Hill Merino and Poll Merino at Ceduna

It was the best sale on record for a far west Eyre Peninsula stud according to agents, buyer and the stud principal.

Mallee Hill, Ceduna, held its on-property sale on Friday, offering 90 Poll Merino rams and selling 82 at auction for an average of $1540.

By comparison, the stud offered 68 rams in 2025, with 64 sold at a $1131 per head average.

The sale team averaged 20.3 for micron and 100.6kg.

Topping the sale were three rams in Lot 2, Lot 5 and Lot 7, all sold at $3500.

Michael and Lachy Glynn made the trip from Senior in the Upper South East, picking up Lot 5 and 7, while Nigel Skinner, Ceduna, bought Lot 2.

Weighing 115 kilograms, Lot 5 carried a fleece with 21.6 micron, 14.6 coefficient of variation, 99 per cent comfort factor and 3.2 standard deviation, with carcase traits of 6.4 millimetres for fat and 43.6mm for eye muscle depth.

Meanwhile, Lot 7 measured 5.7mm for FAT and 41mm for EMD and had wool traits of 19.6M, 15 CV, 99.4pc CF and 2.9 SD.

The Glynn family also bought Lot 3 for $3000.

"All three were value for money we felt," Michael said.

"They're good quality rams, with good depth of body and wool quality.

"We're going away from cropping a bit and we're breeding some of our own rams.

"These rams will go out mid-November at about one to 40 or 50 ewes."

Sired by Kamora Park 115, Lot 2 had measurments of 19.6M, 14.5 CV, 99.7pc CF, 2.8 SD, 5.7mm FAT and 41.3mm EMD and weighed 103.5kg.

Mr Skinner returned to the stud after a few years away and was pleased with his purchase of six rams to an average of $2216.

"Today seemed like the right weather to come have a look and I found some rams I liked," he said.

"(Lot 2) was a big barrel sheep with plenty of nourishment.

"I live on coastal country so I chase that nourishment to keep the sand out of the wool."

Volume buyers included Koonawarra Station, via Broken Hill, with 17 averaging $1217, and Eureka Station, via Broken Hill, with nine averaging $1522.

George Siemer, Koonawarra Station, said he had been buying from the stud for about five years.

"These rams have a good solid frame, a good wool cut and importantly survive in our country north of Broken Hill," he said.

"We'll turn them out with the ladies at about 2pc in November and see how they go."

Both Eureka and Koonawarra picked up further rams post-sale.

Mallee Hill stud principal Warren Beattie said he was blown away with the sale.

"We're having the best season we might have ever had," he said.

"And we had our best sale we've ever had today.

"There's a lot of confidence in the Merino industry and that showed."

Quality Wool agent Damien Johnson said Mr Beattie was investing well in his program.

"He's breeding a big square body ram with nice bright white wools that can survive on pastoral country, on the EP and beyond," he said.

"What he's sourcing to bring to his rams is making a massive difference.

"People are chasing traits and he's doing the hard work to get the right sires and breed on."

The sale was conducted by Quality Wool with Cam Petricevich, Albany, WA, at the rostrum.