SALE SUMMARY
Poll Merino
2020 2019
Offered 73 65
Sold 71 65
Top $8600 $7000
Av $2269 $2392
Dohnes
Offered 54 50
Sold 40 44
Top $6200 $3200(2)
Av $1635 $1582
KYANCUTTA-based O'Brien Poll Merino and Dohne stud's ram sale result defied the dry season on the Upper Eyre Peninsula with an 85 per cent clearance, including a new $8600 record price.
Stud principals Darren O'Brien and Jodie Reseigh-O'Brien sold 111 of 131 rams for a $2040 average - just $30 shy of last year's result at the sale at the Wudinna Showgrounds last Thursday.
This included 71 of 73 Poll Merinos for a $2269 average and 40 of 54 Dohnes which averaged $1635.
Lot 14 -190447 - an AI-bred son of Brookdale 014012 was the sale topper.
The 18.7 micron Poll Merino had Australian Sheep Breeding Values traits in the top 20 per cent for staple length and weight and was also used earlier by the stud on some stud ewe lambs.
Long-time sale supporter Bilyana Park, Kyancutta was the successful buyer.
Bilyana Park has been buying top end Dohne rams for about eight years but in the past couple of years has been buying a Poll Merinos to infuse and add more nourishment to the wools.
The $6200 top priced Dohne was Lot 85- an 18.9M ram which was knocked down to Omaroo Ag, Kyancutta.
Its other impressive fleece measurements included a SD 2.7, CV of 14.2 and 99.6CF.
The ram weighed 114kg at 13.5 months and Mr O'Brien rated it as the best structured Dohne ram the stud has bred.
Omaroo Ag bought seven Poll Merinos and four Dohnes.
TJ Patterson, Streaky Bay, led the volume buyer's list with two Poll Merinos to $2000 and 12 Dohnes to $3200, while Morgan Ag, Wangary and Coulta, bought 11 Dohnes.
The only two rams to leave the EP sold to Chelwood Farming, Mintaro.
Mr O'Brien said it was pleasing to have the continued support of many long-time clients and also have three new buyers operating.
"The focus last year was definitely wool cut but this year it was quite noticeable that people were looking for a little bit more eye muscle and carcase," he said.
"Anything with a good butt shape and width behind sold well."
Nutrien Ag Solutions stud stock manager and auctioneer Gordon Wood described the line-up as the best offering the stud had put up.
"They are massive carcase sheep with wool cut but maintaining that plain body, highly fertile Merino and Dohne," he said.