SA genetics are headed to South America with two international buyers operating during the Adelaide Merino Ram Sale.
A Collinsville ram sold for $34,000, bound for the Chubut province in Patagonia, Argentina, with bidding carried out by Michael Elmes, Narrandera, NSW, on behalf of buyer Carlos Otamendi, of Larguna Del Toro stud.
Mr Elmes said the ram had physical correctness, spring of rib and length of staple.
“It is ideally suited to the Argentinean country,” he said.
Mr Elmes has been buying Australian genetics for Mr Otamendi and other Argentinean buyers since 2005.
Mr Otamendi, who solely buys Australian Merino genetics, was in the country about 10 days before the sale when he saw the ram.
The ram will be used in an artificial insemination program across some of the stud’s 20,000 ewes, with semen onsold to other Argentinean breeders.
A North Ashrose ram also attracted international attention, selling for $24,000 to Chilean buyer Tenovis Consutorias, based in San Fernando, two hours south of Santiago.
North Ashrose principal Tom Ashby has been selling rams to this buyer since the 2010 Adelaide Merino Ram Sale.
“They have got almost a North Ashrose satellite flock with our ewes and rams and breeding within that,” he said.
Mr Ashby said the ram would stay in Gulnare with semen exported to Chile, and some onsold to other Chilean studs. He also plans to travel to Chile next month to host workshops on ram selection.