Glenville eclipses $3000 average

The Smith family, near Cowell, enjoyed a full clearance of 170 rams in the main auction to a top of $7800 with a barnstorming average of $3122.

In the mini auction, 28 of 30 rams sold to $2200, averaging $1275. In total, 198 of 200 rams sold to an average of $2860.

According to principal Daryl Smith, seasonal conditions across the past twelve months were the toughest the stud and many of its clients had encountered, leaving the family with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude after sale proceedings.

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"The sale was unbelievable and went way beyond any expectations we had," he said.

"The last twelve months have been the toughest we've ever seen and that's the same for a lot of our clients. We're grateful and humbled to still get their support."

Many hours of hand feeding and a huge feed bill paid dividends in the end, with strong bidding competition extending through the entire catalogue of large-framed rams.

Regular Glenville buyers Nick and Harrison Lienert, Oak Farms Merino and Poll Merino Stud, Buckleboo, snapped up the top price Poll for $7800, planning to use him as a stud sire.

"The wool quality on him is stud quality and what we need to put through our studs to breed from," Nick said.

"He has nice white, crimpy wool and stands with his head tall on top of a big, square frame.

The ram boasted impressive figures - a 130 per cent greasy fleece weight and 112pc body weight compared to its counterparts. It also carried a 21.3 micron fleece, with a 98.9 comfort factor, 15.4 coefficient of variation and 3.3 standard deviation.

Also pencilled into the Lienerts buyers slip was another quality Poll bought for $5200.

Volume buyer on the day was South Gap Pastoral, Port Augusta, who bought 15 rams in the main auction to $2600, averaging $2267, and seven in the mini auction, averaging $1271.

Benbutter, Streaky Bay, bought nine rams in the main auction to $2800, averaging $2333, and seven in the mini auction, averaging $1529.

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Smith Partners, Belton, Orroroo, bought eight rams in the main auction to $2800, averaging $2475, and three in the mini auction, averaging $933.

L&SL Nutt, Port Augusta, bought eight rams to $2800, averaging $2450, while Arden Hills, Quorn, bought seven rams to $2800, averaging $2543.

EN Koch & Co bought six rams to $3600, averaging $3100, while WJ Sampson & Sons, Wudinna, bought six rams to $3200, averaging $2867.

The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders, with Landmark's Gordon Wood the auctioneer.

Mr Wood said the sale was amazing given the seasonal conditions endured by the stud for the past two years.

"To get a full clearance and a lift in their average was testament to the breeding and the fact that a huge portion of people here buying rams are repeat buyers," he said.

"The sheep perform well for them and they come back to keep getting positive results."