Big announcement for Ramsgate Poll Merino stud after 'best ever' result
The Keller family, Ramsgate Poll Merino stud were given a fitting send off as stud breeders with their 18th annual on-property sale at Tintinara producing easily their best result.
Overall 86 rams sold of 100 offered, averaging $2385 - a jump of nearly $700 on the 2025 sale result.
In a surprise to many, Jed Keller announced on the rostrum following the sale that it would be their last sale after making the decision to retire from farming.
They hope the stud will continue on with plans to offer the flock as a whole.
Details of this will be released soon.
The sale got off to a flying start with Lot 1, a son of Forest Springs 230059, creating a bidding war before being knocked down for the $10,500 sale high.
The 16.2 micron ram had a well balanced set of ASBVs, including ranking in the top 10pc on the Sheep Genetics database for the sustainable Merino index at 163.
The successful buyers were Stewart and Gavin Brophy, Tintinara, who had spotted the ram with impressive fibre quality at the South East Merino Field Day at Keith last month.
"He is a ram that ticks all the boxes, He is true to type with good muscle and fat and the wool quality we are after," Stewart said.
The ram's other wool tests included a standard deviation of 2.4, coefficient of variation of 15.1 and comfort factor of 99.6 per cent.
Pushing the Brophys all the way was Classings Limited's Bill Walker, keen to secure the ram, which was born and raised as a twin, for Nantoura stud, Wharminda.
Nantoura later bought Lot 5 - another ram ranking in the top 10pc for yearling clean fleece weight - for $5000.
Lot 2, a half brother to the sale topper with a great depth of side made $7000. The 18.3M ram was knocked down to Whittenbury Ag for an undisclosed SA stud.
Despite these highs, buyers were particularly selective in the last third of the catalogue and able to secure plenty of their picks for good value.
Twenty-one rams sold at $1000.
Elders auctioneer Laryn Gogel - who shared the rostrum with Steven Doecke - noted that it was the biggest crowd he had seen at a Ramsgate auction with nearly 40 registered bidders.
These came from the Far West Coast of SA to Culcairn in NSW, helping clear 14 more rams than 2025.
"The rams continue to get better year after year as far as fibre and carcase goes and you can see it in the catalogue," he said.
"The strong competition on the better rams is testament to where they are going.
"The rams are also performing because we see a lot of repeat buyers as well as new faces following the program."
Leading the volume buyer list was Coolangatha, Kangaroo Head, which bought six rams for a $3317 average.
Also taking home six rams for a $1517 average was Pine Ridge Pastoral, Chiton.
Jed Keller said they were very pleased with the line up of their April-May 2025 drop rams which were last shorn in March.
"We might not be the heaviest cutters or the highest meat trait sheep in the country, but the Ramsgate package is a moderate wool cut with reasonable eye muscle and fat and high fertility," he said.
Craig Keller said it was humbling to see a few new faces, as well as so many repeat buyers come back year after year, including Anthony Foster from Bool Lagoon who has bought at every one of Ramsgate's sales.
Mr Foster - who is a former shearer - says they are "easy care sheep".
He bought four rams for a $2563 average.
Elders Keith conducted the sale.
The Kellers' final Ramsgate offering will be five rams reserved for the Classings Classic sale at Murray Bridge on September 7.
