SALE SUMMARY
2019 2018
Offered 310 290
Sold 255 261
Top $35,000 $20,000
Av $3584 $3675
KEITH'S Moorundie Poll Merino stud made it the fourth year in a row of topping the Hamilton Sheepvention sale, but this year one of their rams reached even loftier heights with a $35,000 sale record.
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The Lot 161 ram, offered by Geoff and Bernadette Davidson, eclipsed the Hamilton sale's previous best of $31,000 set in 2001.
The sale topper was sired by Moorundie 388 a ram the Davidsons sold at the 2017 Adelaide ram sale.
"We always keep semen from the top rams we sell and 388 has bred very well at our place," Mr Davidson said.
It was an all SA affair with the 20.3 micron ram bought by Jesse and Kirk Hull, Minta stud, Mount Cooper.
Jesse said the 16-month-old was a "stand out for what they were looking for" when hey saw it at the recent Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic.
He said they had purchased a semen share in the ram's father previously that had bred exceptionally well for them.
The Davidsons also sold the $16,000 equal second highest priced ram, an 18.6M to Ballantyne Ag, Millicent, while for the same money the Pendergast family, Pendarra stud, Benambra, Vic, sold a ram to Nareen Station
Elders stud stock auctioneer Ross Milne said the 82pc clearance was "up to expectations" given the number of areas that were suffering from dry conditions, particularly NSW.
Eighty nine horned Merinos averaged $3575 while 156 Poll Merinos averaged $3666.
Nine of 10 Corriedales sold to $3250, averaging $2375.
