Ramsgate Poll Merinos raises sale average to $1760

Many long-time clients upped the ante on the offering from Jed and Craig Keller and families to ensure 66 of 72 May 2018-drops sold for a $1760 average.

This still represented great value for money in the wider selling season.

Sons of WA-bred ram, Brookdale 12, featured strongly in Ramsgate Poll Merino stud's ram sale for the third year in a row and it was one of these that was the $4000 sale topper.

Ramsgate's stud classer Bill Walker, Classings Limited, Murray Bridge, put in the winning bid for lot 9, 180177, on behalf of Chris Prime, Nantoura stud, Wharminda.

Mr Walker described the 19.1 micron ram as a a "plain, easy care, free (growing), super long stapled ram with white, crimpy, soft wool."

"The pedigree on the sire's side was a big thing going back to Leahcim 858," he said.

"This fella also addresses the mulesing issue which is bubbling away that we need to be wary of."

The top price ram had a Dual Purpose plus index of 153, including a yearling clean fleece weight of 14.3.

Keilira Props, Keilira, were the sale's biggest bidder successful on 15 rams in the main auction for a $1413 average.

They were also the main buyer in the mini auction which followed taking home six of the 10 rams to sell, paying $600 to $900.

M&H Davidson, Lucindale,and GR Foster & Co, Bool Lagoon went head-to-head on many of the top end rams.

They each bought five rams averaging $2900 and $2720 respectively.

Also with five rams was Mount Boothby Pastoral Company, Tintinara, who averaged $2500 for its buys.

Their tally included the $3400 second highest price at lot 5, a 19.5 micron ram with exceptional test including standard deviation of 2.5 and coefficient of variation of 12.9.

Jed Keller said the sale just lacked one or two more buyers for a full clearance but was thrilled with the support from the South East, Mallee and Fleurieu Peninsula.

'We are trying to maintain our wool quality and cut but also improving our carcase traits and making really good progress with our ASBVs," he said.

Elders Keith branch manager and auctioneer Steve Doecke said it was a "very strong sale"with buyers particularly keen to chase the "good sheep" throughout the catalogue, including the fourth to last ram offered which made $3100.

"Anything with really white wools sold well and went south of Keith," he said.

Mr Doecke said the depth of quality was increasing each year with the Ramsgate vendors able to add numbers without losing the wool quality and stye they were renowned for.

Elders conducted the sale.