Makins make $14,500 strong pick at Moorundie Poll Merino ram sale

And the strong competition was sustained through the sale with stud principals Geoff and Bernadette Davidson achieving a full clearance of 160 rams for a $2710 average - a lift of $164 on 2019.

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Keith commercial clients Kym, Chad and Kylie Makin, Makin Nominees, outlasted strong stud demand to secure lot 3-NE73 012 for the sale high of $14,500.

The 20.6 micron ram weighed 120kg and had an eye muscle depth scan of 44mm and fat depth of 6.5mm.

Its other wool tests included a standard deviation of 2.9, coefficient of variation of 14.1 per cent and 99.4pc comfort factor.

"We have enough frame in our sheep but we are trying to put extra meat and yield into the carcases and see this is a well rounded ram to do this, still carrying plenty of wool cut," Chad said.

"This ram's sire NE73 is proven to throw a good depth of genetics."

Chad said they began breeding their own rams a few years ago for their self-replacing flock of 1800 Merino ewes both as an economic decision but also as they have a passion for livestock breeding.

Their previous Moorundie buys included a $20,000 ram at the 2018 Hamilton Sheepvention sale, bought in partnership with Warrawee Park, also of Keith.

Lot 2 at Moorundie's sale, a full brother from the same embryo transfer flush is headed to stud duties at Kamora-Netley Park, Sandalwood, with Boughen Bros Family Trust paying $10,000 for the 19.6M ram.

Moorundie has retained another ram in the flush as a stud reserve.

Several lots later, Ballantyne Ag, Millicent, stepped up and secured lot 6, a son of Wallaloo Park 422 for $14,000.

AuctionsPlus was a major player in the sale's full clearance with 106 registered bidders and 90 guests logging onto the sale from WA, Tas, Vic and NSW.

Spence Dix & Co's Dean Coddington was kept busy relaying 180 online bids and securing 31 rams.

Plenty of locals dug deep too including Tiller & Thompson, Balaklava, who put together nine rams to $4000, averaging $3067.

Paul and Josh Cousins, Cousins Merino Services, Burra, followed the sale closely with multiple orders including eight rams for Ian Geier, Burra, to $2200, averaging $1825.

MB&TJ Parker, Langkoop, Vic, bought seven rams to $2200 for a $1771 average.

Mr Davidson said they had made the decision to move the sale a month earlier this year and going forward to enable them to make deliveries earlier and have their rams acclimatise to their new homes prior to mating.

He said this year was an unknown with COVID-19 restrictions and border closures but he said it was pleasing to see "great industry support" from their regular buyers as well as a few new clients.

"The strong support from AuctionsPlus shows its value with the videos giving a good description and the scanning data giving the buyers a good idea of what the sheep were," he said.

Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber said it was a "very solid" sale.

"There seems to be a lot of repeat buyers that like coming back and are not afraid to spend the money on quality genetics," he said.

He praised the large frame and heavy cutting ability of the Moorundie offering.

"Kilograms is where it is at in the industry. It doesn't matter if it is the wool clip, sale lambs or surplus ewes, more weight adds value to the bottom line," he said.

Fellow auctioneer and Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall said stud buying was strong with these buyers recognising the strong "genetic packages" being bred at Moorundie.

Moorundie has four rams reserved for the Adelaide Merino ram sale on Friday, September 11, three of which are sons of Moorundie NE73.

Spence Dix & Co and Elders conducted the sale.

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