A new leader in SA's best ram sale of the year as Ridgway Advance set high bar

A shed full of buyers from five states, as well as more online, helped deliver Ridgway Advance Poll Merino stud a result that will be hard to beat this SA Merino ram selling season.

There was plenty of optimism from the Bordertown-based stud's commercial clients who are being rewarded for sticking with sheep and it translated into a frenzy of bidding from the front row to nearly the final lot.

Rams were still making up to $4500 in the final row.

Overall David, Karen and Devon Ridgway sold 181 of 182 rams for an exceptional $3442 average - easily a stud record.

This was up $728 on 2025's sale, with 171 of 182 rams selling under the hammer.

The sale high of $13,000 came at Lot 11 for a 19.5 micron ram which had initially been earmarked for the Classings Classic sale but which the Ridgways decided to offer on-farm.

In his pre-sale selection, Jordan Kotz, Bluff View Farming, Emu Downs, said RA 25-5880 had stood out to him, along with Lot 10 which the stud ended up retaining when it fell short of the $8000 reserve.

"I went with Lot 11 for his side profile and he stands up so well - he is a beautiful sheep," Mr Kotz said.

The May 2025 drop - which was by homebred sire RA0219 - was in the top 10 per cent of the breed for its yearling clean fleece weight ASBV at 34.25.

It also had good wool and meat tests including a 100 per cent comfort factor and eye muscle depth of 46mm.

About five years ago the Kotz family bought the Scottdale stud ewes from the late Peter Mosey, Robertstown, and are working towards re-registering the stud.

"I have always loved sheep and love working with them," Mr Kotz said.

"I am not necessarily looking to go big but it is a bit of a challenge.

"I think in the next decade or so some studs will shut down because the young ones don't want to take over."

Long time sale supporters Paul and Christine McPherson, Allanvale, Wentworth, NSW, outlaid $12,000, the second highest price, for Lot 4.

"We loved his bold crimpy wool and he has great structure," Mr McPherson said.

The 19.2M ram also had a YCFW ASBV in the top 10pc at 38.

The McPhersons said Ridgway Advance bloodlines had performed well in a few tough years, and now hope to grow their flock from 1200 back to 3000 ewes, on the back of their best season in more than 50 years.

Pen after pen the rams were consistent in wool type and carcase attributes which helped five buyers put together double digit orders.

This was led by Classings Limited's Bill Walker who secured 13 rams for Willalooka Pastoral Company, Willalooka, averaging $2008.

Warrawee Pastoral, Kyalite, Vic, bought 12 top end rams for a $4375 average.

Kintra Pastoral, Cooke Plains, snapped up 12 rams for a $2483 average, while Roby Farms bought 12, averaging $2383.

Another 15 of 25 rams sold in a mini auction.

Stud principal David Ridgway said it was always hard to predict the demand with such a big offering of rams but he was fairly confident prior to the sale, especially with the big crowd in attendance.

"Ringing around our clients and classing long-term clients there was a feeling that people were light on from the last couple of years because of the tough seasons and some were completely out (of rams), " he said.

Mr Ridgway said by breeding to a consistent type their sheep had found widespread appeal from tropical Qld to the Mallee and high rainfall areas of NSW and Vic.

Lot 1 will have stud duties, selling to Kerrsville Trading, Hamilton, Vic for $5000.

"We have always believed in constitution and doing ability in a sheep and in the last 20 years have had a skin type that leans towards quality of wool and have been refining our production a little bit," Mr Ridgway said.

"We have always stuck pretty close to the mean in our breeding rather than stepping outside too far and have done a lot of embryo transfer work.

"Year after year at the sales I said there wasn't a lot of difference from lot one to the last sheep and it is getting even more so and the shape of our sheep are getting more to what we have been targeting."

Nutrien SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood said it was a tremendous result for the Ridgway family to notch up the season's highest on-property average, especially with a big volume of rams.

"Almost every year the Ridgway Advance rams go further and further afield. They are being sought after a long way from home but the loyal locals are also coming back each year," he said.

Fellow Nutrien auctioneer Richard Miller commended the Ridgway family on the consistency of the offering which "tick a lot of boxes".

"People have come for a modern, well balanced Ridgway Advance Merino, they are non mulesed, have ASBVs and they are genomics tested," he said.

"The structure of the sheep is also exceptional and the uniformity - they really are a type and why people were able to bid from front to back."

Nutrien Bordertown was the sole selling agent.