Strong commercial and stud support as average lifts at Moorundie Park

Moorundie Park Poll Merinos attracted strong competition at its Gulnare on-property sale, with all 100 rams selling to a top of $9000 and averaging $2876.

The stud surpassed last year's average by $438 and increased the top price by almost $3000.

Lot 9 made the top price, selling to Babirra Dohne and Poll Merino stud principals Craig and Lynda Farrow, Stansbury.

The 15-month-old ram was from a Moorundie Park syndicate of Glenlea Park 30 sons and grandsons, with a 20-micron fleece, 3.1 standard deviation, 15.5 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.3pc comfort factor.

It weighed 102 kilograms and recorded a 44 millimetre eye muscle depth and a 6.3 fat score, having been shorn on April 10.

Mr Farrow said the ram would be used within the Babirra stud.

"He stood out for his overall size, his width on the back end and obviously his figures," he said.

"We've been buying from Moorundie Park for over 60 years."

The Farrows also secured Lot 32 for $7000, equal second-highest price.

The 15-month-old ram was from the Moorundie Park T49 syndicate, with its sire retained in 2023, and T85 sons from maiden ewes.

It carried a 20.7-micron fleece with 3SD, 14.5CV, and a 99.8pc CF, weighing 110kg and recording a 47mm EMD and a 5mm fat.

Mr Farrow said the stud regularly returned to Moorundie Park to introduce new sires.

Volume support came from DH Turnbull and Co, which purchased 14 rams to average $2868, while Glenora Station, Burra, secured 15, averaging $1200.

Ellery Props, Orroroo, bought nine rams, averaging $3200, while WP&JD Quinn, Cleve, purchased seven, averaging $1714, and AR&HJ&BR Wait, Jabuk, secured seven, averaging $1971.

Moorundie Park stud principal Tom Davidson said the result was a positive reflection of the support from buyers.

"Everyone was very positive, and everyone left with the rams they required, which is great," he said.

Mr Davidson said Lot 9 was a stylish, well-developed ram, while Lot 32 stood out for its EMD.

"Lot 32 had the highest eye muscle depth of 47," he said.

"It was a big brood of a ram, but should breed some really good doing sheep."

The stud continued to focus on productive sheep, with Mr Davidson saying new genetics were being considered while maintaining the direction of the breeding program.

"We will still have that focus on good doing, productive animals - I think that is where we will stay," he said.

Mr Davidson said the stud was also pleased to see buyers in a strong position following favourable seasonal conditions.

"It's great everyone's doing so well season-wise, and it's very pleasing that everyone's in a good position," he said.

Elders studstock's Tony Wetherall said the sale exceeded the strong result achieved by Moorundie Park last year.

"It was a very good sale with a very good line-up of 100 rams offered here today," he said.

Mr Wetherall said the offering combined growth and size with consistency and wool and carcase attributes, attracting competition from a broad range of buyers.

He said buyers came from the Yorke Peninsula, pastoral areas, Mid North and Mallee, with both stud and commercial operations competing on the same rams.

Elders conducted the sale with Mr Wetherall the auctioneer.