STEADY rain fell on the lower Eyre Peninsula on Wednesday and with it came a hail of bids on an impressive Collandra North Poll Merino at the stud's 40th annual on-property auction.
Lot seven - a 125-kilogram half-brother of Green Tag 35 which was sold privately for $25,000 recently to Yanta Stud, Tumby Bay, and Mallee Hill, Ceduna - attracted significant buyer interest and was eventually secured for $11,400 by Rodwells wool broker Chris Vordermaier on behalf of Andrew and Vivienne Lawrance, Burtundy Station, Ivanhoe, NSW.
The April/May 2018 drop ram carried a 20.6 micron fleece with a comfort factor of 99.7 per cent.
Collandra North principal Sydney Lawrie said the ram's father was a new sire which was bought three years ago from Greenfields and goes back to a ram called East Mundulla Jonty, who has been a leading sire in Australia.
Overall, the Lawrance's bought three rams, averaging $6867.
Competition was strong throughout the auction, with last year's top price of $3800 matched or surpassed on no less than nine occasions.
In the breakdown there was a full clearance of 125 rams to an average of $2401, a $664 increase on last year's average.
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Mr Lawrie was enthused by the competition evident throughout the sale, pointing to industry strength as one factor.
"The season's shaping quite a bit better than last year for most of our customers," he said.
"There's also a bit more confidence in the wool market and the mutton market as well.
Mr Lawrie was also pleased to see some new clients among the strong crowd, including Mark Dye, Corowa, NSW.
The interstate bidder was active, buying six rams to $3600, averaging $2800.
Volume buyers included SL&RJ Agars, Tungatta, Sheringa, who bought 14 rams to $3200, averaging $2443, and John Howard Johnson, Ivanhoe, NSW, who bought 12 rams to $2800, averaging $1858.
MJ&CA Clarke, Cradock, bought ten rams to $1000, averaging $1000, while DE&MA Sires, Elliston, bought eight rams to $4000, averaging $2875.
Elders auctioneer Tony Wetherall said the rams were the epitome of a dual purpose animal.
"The evenness, type and production of the rams was outstanding," he said.
"April/May rams averaging 105kgs right through the sale really shows the production they do have."
"Rams making $3000 towards the end of the sale also showed the depth and quality of the lineup on offer."
Elders and SAL Livestock conducted the sale, with Tony Wetherall performing auctioneering duties.
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