COVID-19 restrictions and testing wool market prices did little to quell buyer enthusiasm at Mulloorie Merino and Poll Merino stud's Tintinara sale yesterday, with a gallery of bidders helping the average and top price climb from last year's result.
Overall, 36 rams were offered, of which 35 sold, topping at $4800 and averaging $1978.
Stud co-principal Brett Meyer was "very pleased" with how the sale ended up.
'There is uncertainty with the wool and meat market at the moment, but it was great to see there is strong demand for rams, we're hoping that continues through the season," he said.
Bidding competition heated up early, with lot 2 making the $4800 top price, bought by returning clients Mandy and Alan Lintern, AMP Farms Trust, Tungkillo.
The 116-kilogram sale-topper was a March 2019-drop, with a fleece measuring 21 microns, 3.2 standard deviation, 15.2 coefficient of variation and 99.3 per cent comfort factor.
It also had an eye muscle depth of 42 millimetres and a fat depth of 8mm.
The Linterns bought three other sires on the day, overall averaging $2100, and were one of a number of buyers who took home multiple rams.
The sale's main volume buyer was Tohl Brothers, Toloona, Booborowie, who secured seven rams to a top price of $3500, averaging $2200.
Buyers came from across the state, including the Mid North, South East and local areas, with SA livestock agents also acting on behalf of their Victorian colleagues and clients who were unable to attend the sale in person due to border restrictions.
The wool market may not be in a great place at the moment but it was good to see that there was still lots of optimism among the buyers.
- RICHARD MILLER
MW Copping, Lucindale, took home four sires to $4200, averaging $2600, while Bolinda Partners, Mundulla, also bought four rams, averaging $1225 and topping at $1500.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, with Nutrien's Richard Miller as auctioneer.
Mr Miller said it was one of the "best sales ever" he had seen at Mulloorie's Tintinara sale.
"The rams were the typical Mulloorie large-framed, big carcase, heavy-cutting sheep, that's what the normal repeat buyers here were chasing pretty hard, and there were a couple of new clients as well which was pleasing to see," he said.
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"The wool market may not be in a great place at the moment but it was good to see that there was still lots of optimism among the buyers, and people were keen to keep there budgets at least where they were last year, or a touch in front."
Mulloorie's Brinkworth sale will be held on September 21.
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