GREENFIELDS Merino and Poll Merino stud’s Adelaide Ram Sale success spilled over into the stud’s on-property ram sale at Hallett on Monday.
A full clearance of 120 Merino and Poll Merino rams was achieved, with a top of $13,250 and an average of $2530.
The sought-after top price ram was bought by NSW sheep producer Kristen Frost, Thalabah stud, Laggan. Thalabah was underbidder on Greenfields’ top price Merino ‘Bruno’ at the Adelaide Ram Sale on Friday, and was determined to secure the best Merino at the on-property auction.
“It is the complete package,” Ms Frost said.
“It has beautiful, white, rich, stylish medium wool with good lustre and staple length, a nice open sirey head and muzzle and a particularly good outlook.
“It is everything we have had been looking for in an impact sire that will match our Thalabah type.”
The ram’s wool measured 18.2 micron, 3.2 standard deviation, 17.3 coefficient of variation, 99.8 per cent comfort factor and 125pc greasy fleece weight.
Greenfields stud principals Robert and James Sullivan said the top Merino was sired by true-to-type breeder Greenfields 3.1, the 2015 Royal Adelaide Show supreme exhibit.
John Mosey, Robertstown, bought the second-highest price Merino sire for $7250.
The volume buyer was Hill River Station, with 11 rams to $4000, averaging $1954.
Greenfields also offered 26 rams in a mini auction.
All 12 Merinos sold to $1000, averaging $925, while 14 of 16 Poll Merinos sold to $1100, averaging $850.
A selection of stud ewes was also offered, with all 164 sold to $250, averaging $205.
Robert and James were pleased with the sale result.
“There has certainly been a positive vibe from the interest created by Greenfields’ Royal Adelaide Show results,” Robert said. “The clearance was exceptional, especially given the tough conditions in some areas.”
Greenfields’ selection of Poll Merino rams also sold strongly at its on-property sale at Hallett on Monday, with a top of $10,200 paid by long-term clients Eddie, Faye, Anthony, Debbie, Bradley and Sophie Burge, Yarrah Nominees, Ceduna.
This large-framed ram with a meaty carcase and well-nourished, bulky wool sported figures of 19.4M, 3SD, 15.5CV, 99.7CF and 119GFW.
It was sired by Greenfields Oscar, a consistent breeder of dual-purpose Poll Merinos.
The Burge family, who have been buying Greenfields rams for more than 30 years, took home 10 large-framed heavy wool-cutters, averaging $4720. They run 1900 Merino breeding ewes in a sheep enterprise geared toward wool production, with wethers retained until about 5.5 years of age.
“The Greenfields rams are well suited to the lighter country and conditions at Ceduna,” Bradley Burge said.
The second-highest Poll Merino price of $8800 was paid by Alex Keamy, R&A Keamy and Sons, Watheroo, WA, for a magnificent ram with figures of 20.5M, 3.5SD, 17.5CV, 98.8CF and 109GFW.
Auctioneers Leo Redden and Tony Wetherall represented joint selling agents Landmark and Elders.