Bids fly to $31,000 high at Collinsville

In the breakdown, there was a full clearance of 251 Merinos and Poll Merinos to an average of $2048. The 34 Merinos on offer averaged $2661, while 217 Poll Merinos sold to a top of $21,000 and averaged $1952.

The impressive catalogue of 251 rams had an average micron of 20.5, with an average bodyweight of 113 kilograms.

The top-priced ram, a half-brother of Collinsville 180641 which sold for $72,500 at the recent Adelaide Ram Sale, was bought on behalf of Greg Carmody, Mittakeri stud, Kulin, WA, by Collinsville stud consultant Michael Elmes.

Initially a stud reserve, it was a last-minute inclusion to the sale according to Collinsville studmaster Tim Dalla, who said they fielded numerous inquiries about the ram in the lead up to Monday's sale which prompted the decision.

Weighing in at 126kgs, the June 2018-drop Merino carried a 20.5 micron fleece, with a 3.7 standard definition, 18.0 coefficient of variation and 99 per cent comfort factor.

Sired by Star Affair 214 and out of Goliath 123-160299, the top-priced ram had an eye muscle depth of 40.8 millimetres and 7.0 CFat.

Mr Elmes said the buyer had been a bidder on the $72,500 half brother in Adelaide and was impressed by this ram's length of staple in particular.

The top-priced Poll Merino also attracted strong bidding competition and was eventually knocked down for $21,000 to KB,BJ&PJ Ward, Kyooma, Ungarie, NSW, who breed their own rams for their commercial ewe and lamb enterprise.

The powerhouse June 2018-drop ram weighed in at 136kg, had a 23.1 micron fleece, 3.5SD 15.2CV, 98.8%CF, and a greasy fleece weight percentage of 141.

"We're trying to thicken our sheep up," Brian Ward said.

"It's got size and it's got everything we want."

Collinsville studmaster Tim Dalla said the Collinsville team were very pleased with the sale result.

"The competition on top price stud rams was very good following Adelaide and we were extremely pleased with the full clearance and depth in the rams," he said.

"The amount of support we had from both new buyers and regular buyers was very pleasing."

Due to tough seasonal conditions, there were some regular pastoral clients missing, so Mr Dalla said they were ecstatic to achieve a full clearance.

"We always try and be consistent with our breeding and aim for size, constitution, structure and a large, quality wool cut," he said.

Volume buyers included Tippendale South Grazing, Dirranbandi, Qld, which bought 27 rams to $2200, averaging $1489.

Gillbet Family Trust, through Elders Mildura bought 21 rams to $1300, averaging $1119, while Tchelery Pastoral Co, through Elders Bendigo, bought 17 rams to $1300, averaging $1059.

Elders Adelaide bought 15 rams all to $1000, M&S Morphett bought 11 rams to $1700, averaging $1409, while Bertangles, Bookman, NSW, bought 10 rams to $2400, averaging $2280.

ST&JJ Verley, Boort, Vic, bought 10 rams to $1800, averaging $1240.

Elders SA stud stock manager Tony Wetherall, who knocked down the $31,000 buy, said the presentation of Collinsville's rams was "outstanding".

"Collinsville is a leading stud in Australia and influences so many commercial and stud flocks," he said.

"251 rams averaging 113kgs with a micron of 20.5 sums up why their genetics are so sought after.

"The rams are big, well-grown, they cut a lot of wool and they really do fit that dual-purpose Merino ram type. That's why these rams survive and thrive throughout Australia.

"If seasons were better and more of their pastoral and marginal area clients were here the sale would have been even stronger."

Elders conducted the sale, with Mr Wetherall, Damien Webb and Ben Finch sharing the gavel.