Greenfields double attracts solid bids

In all, 118 rams of the 120 offered sold to a top of $8250, averaging $2013.

Of those, 48 Merino rams sold to the $8250 top, averaging $1882, while 70 of 72 Poll Merino rams reached $6000, averaging $2102,

The top price Merino ram, a 136 kilogram son of Lofty - Greenfield's supreme Merino exhibit at the 2018 Royal Adelaide Show - had a fleece with 22.7 microns, 3.2 standard deviation, 13.9 coefficient of variation, 98.9 per cent comfort factor and a greasy fleece weight 130pc of the flock average. It also measured an eye muscle depth of 40 millimetres.

Buyer Anthony Burge, Yarrah Holdings, Ceduna, said he was impressed by the "frame, size and wool cut" of the ram.

The Burge family also paid the $6000 top for a Poll Merino, a 125kg Ajax son, with 20.1M, 2SD, 14VC, 99.7CF, 40EMD and 115GFW.

"He had a big frame, nice bright wool and a fine crimp," Mr Burge said.

The Burge's breed ram lambs out of selected ewes for use on their station country in the Gawler Ranges.

They had last year paid the top prices in the Merino and Poll Merino offerings.

They were active bidding throughout the catalogue, buying 10 rams, including the $5000 lot 119, for an average $3855.

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Greenfields also offered a selection of stud ewes, with 25 August-shorn, cast for age Poll Merino ewes selling for $300 to McMeels, Hamilton, Vic, via AuctionsPlus.

Among the volume buyers were LM&RK Kenny & Sons, Cummins, which picked up 10 Merino rams in the main auction, and another five in the mini auction, all at $1000.

South Gum Creek Partnership, Farrell Flat, bought 10 Merino rams in the main auction to $2400, averaging $1810, as well as another two in the mini auction, averaging $1200.

Kilroy Pastoral Co, Elliston, took home eight Poll Merino rams to $2200, averaging $1575.

Artimore & Partners, Tintinara, bought seven Poll Merino rams to $1800, averaging $1443.

Koch Farming, Stockport, bought six Poll Merino rams to $2800, averaging $1600.

Hill River Station, Clare, picked up six rams early in the Merino catalogue, bidding to $5000, averaging $2717.

GG Cant & Sons, Cleve, bought six rams to $1800, for an average $1550.

Regular buyers the Clarks at Conargo, NSW, made use of AuctionsPlus to pick up six rams to $3400, averaging $1900.

Greenfields co-principal Robert Sullivan said he was very happy with the result.

"It's a good clearance and pretty healthy average," he said.

"We had good competition on the top end rams and good value rams in the second half of the sale, which is good for our clients."

Mr Sullivan said he was also pleased with how the rams presented, with a good, even lineup of rams that had grown out well.

The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien Livestock, with Tony Wetherall and Leo Redden sharing auctioneering duties in the main auction, while Elders' Damien Webb had the gavel in the ewe portion and mini auction.