ROEMAHKITA Poll Merino stud had outstanding results at its 27th annual ram auction at Cummins on Tuesday, July 25, with a record average of $2525, which $413 up on last year.
The stud also had nearly full clearance, with 78 out of 80 rams sold in the ring, and another sold straight after the sale.
Yorketown farmer Trevor Voigt bought the top price ram at $5800, which was $800 up on last year’s top of $5000.
The ram weighed 114 kilograms, with eye muscle depth of 42.3 millimetres and fat score of 7.
Its fleece measurement was 19.1 micron, 99.6 per cent comfort factor, standard deviation of 2.6 and coefficient of variation of 13.6.
Mr Voigt has been buying from Roemahkita for many years, and has bought at the top of the catalogue before.
“I liked the top price ram because it has good meat traits, good eye muscle depth and good body size,” he said.
It was sired by Kamora Park 140333.
“That was another reason I liked the ram, I was keen to get that bloodline into my flock,” he said.
Buying the second highest price ram at $5200 was WP Mickan, Cummins, who also bought another ram at $4400.
Landmark SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood said it was very good to see a positive result for the stud’s Joe and Tracey Dahlitz, following on from their tremendous success at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo Vic, where they won the Australian Merino All-Purpose championship.
“There were many local buyers, and bidders from further afield in SA, as well as interstate interest. There were new clients and the repeat buyers that are so important to everyone’s business,” he said.
“As far as the rams go, it was a really even line-up of dual-purpose Merinos, with big frames, big carcases and crimpy, defined wools on them.”
Elders SA stud stock manager Tony Wetherall said the evenness of the line-up really stood out.
“Buyers had a very good selection of rams right through the line-up, which was evident from the competition on the rams,” he said.
“It’s a very pleasing result for the Dahlitz family, they work hard and are passionate about their sheep, and they’ve reapt the rewards of that in the sale.”
Mr Dahlitz said he was very pleased with the sale result.
“I was really pleased with the line-up, I think it’s the best we’ve had,” he said.
“The rams would be some of the heaviest we’ve offered, the average weight was 104kg, which included nine spring-drop rams.”
The stud’s success in Bendigo helped to bring in some new bidders including the Closeburn Merino stud, Grenfell, NSW, which bought two rams to $3400, averaging $3000.
Volume buyers included Hale River Ag, Mintaro, with nine rams to $2200, averaging $1611, and Baines Bros, Karkoo, six rams to $3600, averaging $2983.
