Yarrah Nominees continue strong support of Greenfields for lamb enterprise

For about 40 years the Burge family, Yarrah Nominees, have purchased Greenfields bloodlines, and went particularly hard at the stud's on-property ram sale on Monday at Booborowie Station.

They took all three top price rams of the Greenfields Merino and Poll Merino offering - paying to $6500 for Merinos and $7500 for Poll Merinos - and the top Poll Merino offered by Greenfields Karalee at $4800.

The Burge family runs about 2000 ewes at their Ceduna property and 5000-6000 at Siam Station in the Gawler Ranges (about 50 kilometres from Iron Knob).

Their total of 15 rams averaged $3810.

Anthony Burge and his son Bradley, who attended the sale, said the rams would go on to breed ram lambs at the station.

They were among a couple of buyers after the $7500 sale-topping Lot 2 - a Greenfields Poll Merino ram sired by Masterbuilt 201.

The March-shorn ram weighed 127.5kg, had an eye muscle depth of 41mm, and a 20.9 micron fleece, with 3.1 standard deviation, 14.7pc coefficient of variation, and 99.6pc comfort factor.

The top Greenfields Merino ram in Lot 52 sold in a flurry of bids to $6500. He was a Greenfields B140-sired ram, weighing 111kg, with 40mm EMD, 20.9M, 2.6SD, 15.1CV and 99.8CF.

The top Greenfields Karalee ram at Lot 47 became another hot topic, selling for $4800.

This 100kg ram, sired by a Greenfields Karalee Stud Syndicate ram, had 19.3M, 3.1SD, 16.2CV and 99.6CF.

Mr Burge said they were "a bit short" on rams after increasing their ewe numbers.

"We like the sheep. They have good length wool, good crimp, good yield and you get good price for the wool, that's why we keep coming back," he said.

Mr Burge said past top price Greenfields rams they had bought were performing well.

"Our rams that we get in now, we're very hard on them, on those we take to our station," he said.

"We end up with about 200 rams last year and we cut that back to 47.

"We're pretty hard on what we take away from there, but they're producing good sheep."

Overall, the Greenfields Merino and Poll Merino stud and Greenfield Karalee Poll Merino stud had a full clearance.

The 50 Merino rams averaged $2055, while 106 Poll Merinos averaged $1904.

Buyers came from throughout the state, including Nundooka Station, via Broken Hill, NSW, who bought 31 rams averaging $1038.

Other volume buyers included G&A Turner, Broken Hill, with 16 rams averaging $1581; Artimore Partners with 16 averaging $2250; and South Gum Creek Partnership, Burra, took 13 averaging $1676.

Greenfields stud principal Rob Sullivan said the Burge family were "tickled pink" to get a good ram to put into their breeding program.

"It's been pretty hectic the last couple of weeks but I'm feeling very relieved and happy with the results today," he said.

"It's a good way to finish the auctions for the year."

Greenfields Karalee stud principal James Sullivan said it was a "very pleasing" sale and good to see all of their clients return.

"It's probably one of our most even lineups, especially on the wools," he said.

"They held up really well to all the wet weather.

"Next year is looking pretty exciting, just the way the whole sheep game is at the moment, everyone is upbeat and excited."

The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien.