IT was an emotional day at Spalding yesterday, with the Hammat family holding their first on-property Baderloo stud ram auction.
Stud principals Daniel and Mel Hammat were overwhelmed by the strong support from old and new clients alike, with some that had travelled from interstate or were bidding via AuctionsPlus.
The inaugural sale attracted 50 registered buyers, with nearly 70 per cent taking home the mainly paddock-reared rams.
Overall, the Hammats sold 96 SRS Poll Merino rams from 100 offered, with a new stud sale record top price set of $5800, while the sale average $1904.
The previous highest price at their private selection day had been $4300.
Three rams sold after the sale at $800.
The $5800 top price ram was bought by the Grosser family, Narcoota Poll Merino stud, Eudunda.
It was a surprise sole purchase at lot 67, but was a ram Tim Grosser had his eye on at a pre-selection day earlier this month.
The ram had 20.6-micron wool with 3.5 standard deviation, 17.2 coefficient of variation and 99.1 per cent comfort factor.
It also had figures of 6.5 weaning weight, 7.7 post-weaning weight, 10.4 yearling weight and 20.5 yearling staple length.
In attendance, Rodney Grosser made the bid on behalf of his son, who were first time buyers at Baderloo.
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The second-highest price ram at $5200 was early in the sale at lot 4, bought by Bridgeland Park, Murray Bridge.
It had 19.4M wool with 2.9SD, 15CV and 99.7CF, along with good figures of 7.3WWT, 7.5PWWT and 19.1YSL.
Bridgeland Park bought three rams overall, averaging $2867.
The sale got off to a good start with lot 1 selling at $4000, bought by Berryman Enterprises, Tumby Bay.
That ram had 18.7M wool with 3SD, 16CV and 99.5CF, along with figures of 5.5WWT, 7.3PWWT, 10.4YWT and 17.6YSL.
There were multiple volume buyers at the sale, the largest being long-time client GR Coleman, Jamestown, with nine to $1900, averaging $1544, and another after the sale.
Fellow long-time clients Greenwith Farms, Burra, bought eight rams to $2600, averaging $1488; TE Hogan & Partners, Wirrabara, took home five to $1600, averaging $1320; and DR Henderson Holdings, Caltowie, also had five to $3000, averaging $2540.
New clients to buy five rams each included Darlain, Parndana, to $1900, averaging $1700; GJ Wurst Nominees, Cassini, to $1700, averaging $1080; Lakeview Pastoral, Maryborough, Vic, to $3400, averaging $2500.
Quality Livestock conducted the sale, with auctioneer David Whittenbury.
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