WHILE the tough season forced some clients to reduce their buying budgets, Sandalwood stud Kamora Netley Park achieved a solid result at its on-property sale on Friday, topping at $6400 and maintaining an average above $2000.
In the breakdown, 183 of 200 Poll Merino rams offered in the main auction sold to $6400 and averaged $2051.
Despite the top price, clearance rate and sale average all falling from 2017 levels, principals Paul and Justin Boughen were pleased with the outcome.
The sale was dominated at the top end by regular buyers, with Roger and Gail Duell, Bowhill, taking the top and second-highest price rams at $6400 and $6200.
The top ram, KNP 466, was sired by Moorundie 201, the ram bought in partnership for $30,000 at the 2016 Adelaide Ram Sale. Weighing 112.5 kilograms, KNP 466 cut seven kilograms of wool after six months growth, with outstanding wool measurements of 18.3 micron, 3.2 standard deviation, 17.5 coefficient of variation and a 100 per cent comfort factor.
“When you look at this sale, the top 40 or so rams have probably averaged towards $4000, so to have to go just a couple more to get what we believe are the very best is not that much,” Mr Duell said.
“You can see the results in our sheep. We are rewarded in getting the best genetics into our flock.”
Pushing the Duells was underbidder Brian Boughen, Borrika. While he missed the top price ram, he was successful on 10 rams, paying to $5600 and averaging $2760.
Last year’s top price buyer Steve Baynes, Baynes Bros, Jamestown, was back this year chasing the quality and extra wool cut. He bought four rams to $5400, averaging $3988.
Strong bidding continued throughout the catalogue, with AK Schulz, Karoonda, paying $5200 for KNP 223 – one of the heaviest wool-cutters at 7.14kg at six months – six pens before the end of the main auction.
The Vandeluer family, Rices Creek stud, Tintinara and Saddleworth, went to $5000 before picking up KNP 94, which cut 7.5kg of 21M wool after six months growth.
Pushing many of the top buyers was one of the sale’s most prominent bidders for the third consecutive year. Cavanagh Farms, Tintinara, bought 14 to $4800 twice, averaging $3443.
The volume buyer was Paul Parker, Robe, who took home 25 rams, all at $600 each – 14 in the main auction and another 11 in the mini auction that followed.
First-time client GL&SL Madden made an impression, buying 12 rams to $2200, averaging $1500.
Other prominent buyers with eight rams each were Simon Wheaton, American River, Kangaroo Island, paying to $4200, averaging $2263; GD&SM Cavanagh, Karoonda, topping at $3200 and averaging $2050; CH,AM,DC&MJ Zadow, Galga, paying to $2400, averaging $1613; and GM&JL Obst, Wanbi, averaging $1063 and topping at $1600.
A further 34 of 55 rams offered in the mini auction cleared to $1100 and averaged $688.
Stud co-principal Justin Boughen said the result was “beyond our expectations”.
“The support from our loyal regulars was fantastic, but it was also very pleasing to see some new clients competing strongly,” Justin said.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Loxton with Landmark stud stock trio Leo Redden, Richard Miller and Gordon Wood taking bids.
