A new era gets off to a strong start for Yallunda Prime SAMM stud

A new chapter for the former Lawral Park Prime SAMM stud has started with a strong first sale under new ownership, with 64 of 70 rams sold to a top of $4600 and a $1578 average.

The sale, held at Yallunda Flat, was the first for Elders Cummins livestock agent Adam Briese as stud principal, with the stud transitioning from Lawral Park to Yallunda Prime SAMM.

The result compared with last year when 31 of 60 rams sold to a $3300 top and $1429 average.

Mr Briese said he was pleased with the result and the support from existing and new clients.

The top priced ram, Lot 4, was purchased by KA, TB&TJ Pietsch, Bordertown, through AuctionsPlus for $4600.

Mr Briese said Lot 4 was the reserve champion SAMM ram at the 2026 Australian Sheep and Wool Show and was sired by LP007, a Lawral Park bloodline which traces back to a ram from a pure South African ewe through an AI program.

Buyer Trevor Pietsch has been buying from the stud for almost ten years and runs a commercial sheep operation with a core SAMM flock, which he uses to breed his own first-cross ewes.

He said Lot 4 caught his attention for its eye muscle, early growth, overall conformation and wool type.

"He'll go over our second-year ewes," Mr Pietsch said.

"We mate our ewe lambs, but they always go to a terminal, and then the second year what we retain as breeders go back to SAMM."

Lot 4 was a single-born ram with a 22.8 micron fleece, 62.5kg weaning weight, 87kg post weaning weight and a 111kg yearling weight.

He had figures of 50.2 for eye muscle depth, 7.7 fat and a 34 yearling staple length.

Mr Pietsch also purchased lots 3 and 5 at $2800 and $3800 respectively.

The sale was underpinned by repeat buyers, and Mr Briese said the majority of clients had previously purchased from Lawral Park, alongside a handful of new buyers.

He said he was "a bit overwhelmed" by the support and the stud would continue in the same breeding direction, with new genetics purchased from WA in October last year to feature in future progeny.

Volume buyers included Windalle Props, via Broken Hill, NSW, who bought 14 rams at a $986 average, while GE&AR Turner, Broken Hill, NSW, bought seven, averaging $1800, DJ&SM Niell, Farrell Flat, bought nine, averaging $939, and JP Davie & Co, Tasmania, bought six, averaging $1516.

Elders stud stock auctioneer Tony Wetherall said the quality and presentation of the offering had underpinned strong competition from buyers across Australia.

"It was a very good sale for Yallunda Prime SAMM's first sale at Yallunda Flat," he said.

"The presentation was great with depth of quality right throughout the catalogue of 70."

He said there was strong competition from buyers from Tasmania, NSW, Victoria, pastoral SA, the South East and West Coast of SA.

"There was certainly a lot of return clients, but a smattering of new clients as well," he said.

"AuctionsPlus played a big part because people were buying from interstate."

Elders conducted the sale with Tony Wetherall as auctioneer.