Rices Creek hits $5200 high

Buyers chased the 60 April-May 2015 drop rams which filled the pens and carried soft handling, well nourished wools.

In a total clearance the Vandeleur family were rewarded with a $1713 average.

The first 15 lots averaged a cracking $2833 but there were still rams for all budgets with one third making $700 to $1000.

The $5200 top priced ram was Lot 3- a 19.5 micron with exceptional wool test figures. This included a standard deviation of 2.5, coefficient of variation of 12.8pc and a 99.9 per cent comfort factor. 

The eye-appealing ram, from a home bred sire, sold to Peter and Shevahn Glynn, Glynnard, Riverton. The Glynns also bought the 2015 top price.

“He really stood up in the pen and had the right tests and measurements,” Mr Glynn said.

The Estate of PD Fiegert, Ponde outlaid the $4100 second top price for a massive 131 kilogram son of Rices Creek 214.

The 20.7M ram was the highest ranked in the draft for its Australian Sheep Breeding Values  with a yearling body weight of 151 per cent  and yearling greasy fleece weight of 137pc.

Volume orders from the Lower North, Upper SE, Mallee, western NSW and western Vic underpinned the sale’s success.

JM&ALA Allison via Broken Hill had the greatest impact with eight rams for a $800 average.

 Walmona Pastoral, Truro put together five rams for a $1220 average, and Biboringar, Yumali another five for a $1140 average.

BR, KJ, DP&VL Jacobs, Coonalpyn also bought five rams for a $1680 average.

Rices Creek’s carcase merit was evident in the eye muscle depth scans provided for clients for the first time.

Many of their scans were 37 to 40mm as yearlings in April.

Stud co-principal Mark Vandeleur was thrilled with the result.

“It seemed everyone was happy with what they got and there was good value right through the sale.”

He said they were pleased with the offering which displayed a balance of wool,meat and fertility traits.

“People are definitely making more in-depth selections and taking the time to get it right because the job is pretty good,” Mr Vandeleur said.

Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber – who officiated the bidding with Daniel Griffiths – said it was an “outstanding result”

It followed a highly successful SE Merino Field Day for the stud which enticed some new faces to the sale.

 “It was the right combination of repeat clients back as well as more looking for numbers.” 

“I’ve got some clients who have never bred Merinos who are doing it now because of how high prices are likely to be in the off-shears sales,” Mr Schreiber said.

Rices Creek stud will offer 120 rams at their Saddleworth ram sale on August 30.