Glenlea Park Poll Merino stud celebrates 50th ram sale with golden result
A big decision by Joe and Lucy Murdoch to move from the Yorke Peninsula to the Upper South East a couple of years ago and take on one of the nation's leading Poll Merino studs is paying dividends.
On Friday, at the 50th annual Glenlea Park ram sale, the second sale under their ownership, they notched up one of the highest SA on-property sale averages for the season.
At their Keith sale, 101 of 109 heavy cutting rams with soft, crimpy wools averaged $3321.
This was up more than $800 on last year's average, though there were nearly 20 less rams catalogued.
The sale high of $16,000 was more than double last year's top price.
It came at Lot 5 with Will Lynch, Boorana stud, Woorndoo, Vic, and his stud classer Dale Bruns raising their hands high to secure AI-bred GP 25-0114.
"He was a great upstanding ram with beautiful long-stapled wool," Mr Lynch said.
The 17.3 micron ram had impressive wool tests including a standard deviation of 3.0, coefficient of variation of 17.1 per cent and comfort factor of 99.5pc.
Mr Lynch said he was particularly chasing the first draft of GP-230757 sons to add a different bloodline to the western Vic stud. He also bought another 757 son at Lot 18 for $6000.
"757's mother is the mother of GP Smithy ($100,000 ram) and is by Roseville Park 072 which we have nothing of his breeding at home," he said.
The high yearling clean fleece weight ASBVs was a feature of the catalogue with many in the top 10pc of the breed, including the sale topper at 33.07.
The 110 kilogram ram was also in the top 20pc for its Wool Production Index at 187.76.
There was a big gap to the second highest priced ram with five rams making $6000.
Alan Bennett and his daughter Ellen, Nariel Lawloit, Vic, who have been Glenlea Park clients for the past two decades, were easily the biggest buyers and say continuing to use the bloodlines has improved their flock dramatically.
From Lot 6 through to the final pen, they bought 21 rams for a $2405 average, paying to $4000 three times.
"Our ewe lamb weaners are the best we have ever had. The season is much better than the last couple and that has allowed them to really express the genetics," Mr Bennett said.
"We get a lot of lambs out of the ewes, especially our older ewes which are mated to White Suffolk/White Dorpers and then we shear twice a year so the wool is the cream on the top.
"We have always striven for good wools and that is one of the real features of the Glenlea Park sheep."
Heading to the Mallee, LC&BJ Singh, Alawoona, found plenty of affordable buying with 10 rams for a $2350 average, including three at the $1500 base price.
The Watson family, Mill Park stud, Meningie, secured eight rams for a $3813 average.
Mr Murdoch - who is a sixth generation Merino breeder - said it was pleasing to see a few new buyers as well as long time clientele continue to support the Glenlea Park program.
"There are obviously a lot more sheep here than the Yorke Peninsula and I am passionate about livestock," he said.
"I am learning on the job a bit, but I have some pretty amazing mentors around to be able to learn from."
This includes former Glenlea Park stud principal Peter Wallis and stud classer Andrew Calvert from Tasmania.
Mr Murdoch said it was pleasing to hear the genetics were performing in a wide range of environments across Australia and most areas of SA.
Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber said the sale average was well up on 2025, but noted there were still opportunities for all budgets.
"There were still rams in that $1500 to $2000 bracket, which we should be getting for rams, and there was also an opportunity for stud breeders to buy rams at reasonable levels too.
"The top was $16,000 but there wasn't another ram over $10,000 which let everyone in for the rams they wanted."
Mr Schreiber said there were a couple of new faces but mostly long-time clients from western Vic, through to the Mallee and Riverland and SE.
"Joe is a ripper fella and he has a good eye for stock, he has a great (genetic) base so it will be exciting to see what he does from here," he said.
Sharing the auctioneering duties was Josh Manser from PPHS. The sale was conducted by Spence Dix & Co, PPHS and Elders.
Glenlea Park stud has three rams reserved for the Adelaide Merino ram sale on September 11.
