SALE SUMMARY
2018 2017
Offered 60 70
Sold 35 68
Top $4000 $4400
Av $1210 $1248
NEW clients made the most of value buying at Radnor Merino and Poll Merino stud’s 34th annual sale at Langhorne Creek on Friday.
The average was very similar to 2017, but the absence of a regular pastoral client due to the dry season impacted the clearance.
In the breakdown, the Koehler family sold 35 of 60 rams averaging $1210.
First-time Radnor buyer Dean Wheaton, Wheaton Farms, Kaniva, Vic, paid the $4000 top price for lot 17.
The 18.1 micron Merino ram was the heaviest in the catalogue at 114.5 kilograms and will go into the Wheatons’ ram breeding program.
Mr Wheaton came to the sale with a specific interest in the Orrie Cowie Trojan son he had seen at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, and Hamilton Sheepvention, Vic.
Wheaton Farms has a large number of AI-bred lambs on the ground by $26,000 ram Trojan that they are very pleased with, and were keen to obtain more of the proven genetics.
Mr Wheaton described his pick as a large, early-maturing ram with great length and width of body.
Another new Radnor buyer, Mandy Lintern, AMP Farms, Tungkillo, secured six rams to $2200, averaging $1012.
Mrs Lintern said they were increasing their Merino ewe numbers on the back of strong wool prices.
She was impressed by the size and length of staple of Radnor’s rams.
Repeat volume buyers Starkey Farms, Sanderston, bought four rams to $1500, averaging $1075.
Hall & Cryer Holdings, Waikerie, bought six rams to $600, including four in the mini auction.
Landmark auctioneer Leo Redden said Radnor sheep offered “positive-testing wools on a square carcase”.
Stud principal Steve Koehler was pleased with the evenness of the offering and for buyers to be able to operate with confidence throughout the catalogue.
Landmark conducted the sale.