MERINO producers gave a resounding endorsement of the Greenfields Merino and Poll Merino breeding program at the stud's 17th annual sale at Hallett on September 15, pushing prices to a $9000 high.
Demand from a large buying gallery for the bigger-frame, bale-filling rams cleared 98 of the 100 offered at a solid $1825 average for the Sullivan family, just days after their Royal Adelaide Show supreme Merino exhibit sold at $18,500 to Qld at the Adelaide Ram Sale.
Top price honours went to a 116-kilogram Merino by East Mundulla 137, better known as Jonty.
The 22.5-micron ram was secured by long-time Greenfields clients the Burge family, Yarrah Nominees, Ceduna, at $9000.
"He's a nice big ram with good white wool and good body((xAD))-weight," Anthony Burge said.
"We'll use him to breed a few of our own rams for our self-replacing commercial flock."
Greenfields' Robert Sullivan said the top ram was "typical of what people are looking for".
"He's one of the heaviest-cutting sheep in the shed, and safe and correct with outstanding rich sirey wool," he said.
"His sire Jonty has bred a lot of good sheep here."
The Burges secured seven rams, including three Poll Merinos, averaging $3386.
Second-top price was for another Merino, the heaviest in the shed at 140.5kg with an eye muscle depth of 42 millimetres.
The Jonty son was snapped up by LA&SK Saegenschnitter, Sharlu Park stud, Truro, in partnership with Minta stud, Mount Cooper, at $8200.
"He's just a huge, big sheep with a great eye muscle, well balanced and outstanding structure," Luke Saegenschnitter said.
Topping the Poll Merino draft was a 115kg, 21.1M ram secured by Longreach Pastoral College, Longreach, Qld, at $6200.
LPC board member Ian Duncan, who assists the college in its ram selection, said the ram appealed for its amount of well-nourished wool, heavy weight and large frame.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.
Carla Wiese-Smith
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
