Larger line-up no obstacle for Minta

With 47 registered bidders among the gallery - 11 more than last year - competition was strong, with 128 rams of the 136 on offer selling to $7000 twice, a $1000 increase on last year. The sale average jumped more than $400 on 2018, breaking the $2000 barrier to sit at $2130.

All but two of the 103 Poll Merinos offered were sold, making the sale's top price and averaging $2344, while 27 of 33 Merinos averaged $1330 and topped at $4500 four times.

The heat was on from the start of the sale, with lot 1, M180558, quickly knocked down to Peter and James Russell, Derrington and Russell, Coomunga, via Port Lincoln, for $5500.

Lots 3 and 4 shared the $7000 top price honours. M180919, sired by Collinsville Emperor 399, was also knocked down to Derrington and Russell, while the next ram, M180047 - sired by the $36,000 Greenfields 79 - went to Nigel and Debbie May, Elliston.

Both rams had similar wool figures, with M180919 having measurements of 20.2 micron, 3 standard deviation, 14.7 coefficient of variation and 99.2 per cent comfort factor. M180047 measured 19.7M, 2.9SD, 15CV and 99.2CF. The latter ram was a little heavier, weighing 113 kilograms as opposed to 100kg, measured 1.7 millimetres more eye muscle - 42.9mm to 41.2mm - and had 2.3mm more fat cover - 6.5mm to 4.2mm - than the lot 3 ram.

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James Russell said they came to Minta for the first time on the advice of their agent.

"We initially picked out the lot 1 ram but felt both rams ticked all the dual-purpose boxes we are looking for," he said.

The Russells select a top ram every couple of years to breed their own flock rams to go over their 3000 ewes.

Nigel and Debbie May have traditionally bought horned rams in the past but have "moved with the times".

"There has been far more genetic advancement in Polls in recent times, so there are now more top progeny available," Mr May said.

"We liked the all-round attributes of the lot 4 ram; it's just a big, balanced, uncomplicated and productive ram," he added.

The Mays didn't abandon the horned options altogether, as their second purchase of the day was M180544 for $4500 - one of four Merinos to make that price.

Buyer of the top price ram for the past three years, Clint Rayner, Millbrae stud, Kimba, paid the sale's second-highest price of $6000 for lot 2, the 103-kilogram, 19.7 micron M180088.

With nine Poll Merinos and two Merinos, Geoff, Leroy and Rohan Hull, GV Hull Nominees, Port Kenny, were the biggest volume buyers, paying to $5800 and averaging $3164.

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Simon Guerin, Courtabie Pastoral, Port Kenny, successfully bid on eight Poll Merinos and two horned rams, paying to $1600 and averaging $940.

Tim Hollitt, Hollitt Pastoral, Streaky Bay, paid to $2000 and averaged $1129 for seven rams, while Roger and Gayle Rowe and Tobias and Emilie Craig, Rowe Craig P/L, Chilpunda, also bough seven rams, going to $1600 and averaging $1243.

Other prominent buyers included Shane Trowbridge, Santrow Pastoral, Ceduna, with six rams to $4200, averaging $2867, Matt and Damian Carey, RA&EM Carey, Chandada, buying six rams to $3000, averaging $1817, Peter Roe, PW&NM Roe, Streaky Bay, with five rams to $4500, averaging $3100, and Myles Tomney, MP&KM Tomney, Streaky Bay, with five to $4500, averaging $2680.

Each year, Minta donates the proceeds of one of its rams to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Lot 77 made $2800, going to Las Ranges Enterprises, Minnipa.

Stud principal Jesse Hull was happy with the sale result.

"We were proud of the offering we were able to put up and I think most people today were able to get what they were looking for," he said.

Quality Livestock's David Whittenbury and Eyre Peninsula Livestock's Ben Dickenson shared the auctioneering duties.