SALE SUMMARY
2017 2016
Poll Merinos
Offered 56 48
Sold 56 48
Top $4600 $4000
Av $1605 $1364
Merinos
Offered 16 12
Sold 16 12
Top $2000 $2100
Av $1106 $1250
White Suffolk
Offered 35 30
Sold 29 30
Top $1900 $1600
Av $975 $927
STRONG competition from local bidders and Eyre Peninsula buyers lifted the average and top price in the Poll Merinos at Bradfield’s on-property ram sale at Mannanarie on Friday.
Stud principals Stacey and Donna Bradtke achieved a total clearance of their Poll Merino and Merino sires to an average of $1605 and $1106 respectively, while in the White Suffolk portion, 29 of 35 rams sold to $1900, averaging $975.
The sale’s top price of $4600 for a Poll Merino ram was paid by EP farmer Nathan Hebberman, who runs a self-replacing flock of 700 Merino ewes on his mixed farming property at Poochera.
Sired by a Bradfield ram out of Greenfields 835, the May 2016-drop ram featured impressive figures of 18.2 micron, 2.7 standard deviation, 14.8 coefficient of variation and 99.7 per cent comfort factor.
Mr Hebberman said they had recently switched to a six-month shearing cycle and were aiming to breed big-framed sheep with stylish wool and long staple length.
"We were really chasing the staple length on this ram so we can get early wool growth,” he said.
Mr Hebberman bought another ram for $3200.
Belalie North farmers Geoff and Daniel Simpson bought seven rams averaging $3057. They paid to $3600 for a ram with a 21.9M, 3SD, 13.7CV, and 99.5CF fleece.
Volume buyers AB&MC Tohl & Son, Mannanarie, purchased 11 Poll Merino and Merino rams to $1700, averaging $1227.
The Dawes family, Farina Station, Lyndhurst, took home five rams averaging $760, as well as three rams in the mini auction, averaging $600.
EP buyers were active throughout with WR&PJ Brown, Kimba, paying to $1200 for four rams in the main auction, as well as one ram in the mini auction.
Heggaton Holdings, Mangalo, paid up to $3200 for four rams with their top purchase measuring 19.1M, 2.7SD, 13.9CV and 99.9CF.
Durrant Co Pty Ltd, Jamestown, paid the highest price of $1900 for the heaviest White Suffolk ram in the catalogue, weighing 109 kilograms, with a Carcase Plus Index of 199.8.
Elders SA stud stock manager Tony Wetherall auctioneered the Poll Merino and Merinos, while Scott Fleetwood, Elders Jamestown, had the gavel for the White Suffolks.