SALE SUMMARY
2020 2019
Offered 72 72
Sold 63 66
Top $9400 $4000
Av $1989 $1760
RAMSGATE Poll Merinos marked its 12th on-property ram sale at Tintinara with a best ever top price and average.
Lot two sold at $9400, while the average also jumped $229 to $1989 for the 63 of 72 rams sold.
The May 2019-drop ram, a son a recent sire KW170268, had a fleece with 19.9 microns, 3.2 standard deviation, 16.2 coefficient of variation and 142 per cent greasy fleece weight.
The ram also sported Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 34.3 yearling clean fleece weight, -0.5 yearling fibre diameter, 11 yearling staple length, 8.5 yearling weight, 0.1 yearling eye muscle depth, -0.1 yearling and a Merino Production plus index of 175.
It was snapped up by J&J Keller, Coonalpyn, who often breed their own rams
Ramsgate co-principal Jed Keller said the ram had been a stand out even as a lamb.
"It's an all-round package of meat and carcase traits, with a plain body and heavy cutting fleece," he said.
Mr Keller said the KW170268 sire, bought at Karawatha Park in 2018, were keenly sought, while sons of Brookdale 12, which sired last year's top price ram, were still popular within the catalogue.
Mr Keller said getting that high price was a great "stepping stone" for the stud, while the entire sale was solid throughout.
"Buyers were prepared to pay for what they wanted but were still able to be selective at the bottom end," he said.
"We're very happy, as a young stud, to continue to grow our core buyer support that have been with us for a number of years."
Mr Keller said the depth of quality in the offering also showed when 11 of the 22 mini auction rams sold to a high of $2300, averaging $901.
RELATED READING: Loyal clients sharpen bids at Ramsgate sale
The sale's volume buyers were Keilira Props, Kingston, which picked up 13 rams to $2400, averaging $1407.
BJ&SM Vowles bought eight rams to $1400, through Nutrien Ag Solutions Tintinara, averaging $963.
J&J McClure, Wilcannia, NSW, took home seven rams to $2000, averaging $1185.
M&G Davidson, Lucindale, were active early in the sale with six rams to $3000, averaging $2567, while M Guthrie & Sons, Gumeracha, also bought six to $2000, averaging $1433.
The sale was conducted by Elders Keith with Steven Doecke, Larry Gogel and Sam Tooley sharing the gavel.
Mr Doecke said this year's sale was solid throughout, with good strength at the top end, competed on by stud and local buyers from the Mid North through to Casterton, Vic.
"Once again Ramsgate is growing out good sheep for frame and kept that goo stylish wool," he said.
"They're recording all ASBV figures and the sheep are definitely moving forwards."
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