SALE SUMMARY
2020 2019
Offered 220 251
Sold 220 251
Top $23,000 $31,000
Av $2460 $2048
COLLINSVILLE'S annual on-property ram sale on Monday last week at Hallett produced many highlights including a $23,000 high- the second highest price paid on-property for a Poll Merino during SA's 2020 selling season.
In a full clearance, 220 impressive May/June 2019-drop Merino and Poll Merino rams averaged $2460, up $412 on last year's sale.
Twenty five Merino topped at $7500 and averaged $2196, while 195 Poll Merino rams topped at $23,000, averaging $2492.
The lot 4 sale topper was AI bred, sired by Imperial 521 - a ram sold to Westray stud, NSW for $30,000 - and out of an Apollo 545 ewe.
The 190007 tag ram attracted strong bidding competition and was eventually knocked down to Collinsville stud consultant, Michael Elmes who was bidding on behalf of Ward Partnership, Ungarie NSW.
Weighing in at 134 kilograms, the May 2019-drop carried a 22.6 micron fleece, with wool tests including a standard deviation of 3.2, coefficient of variation of 14.2pc and 98.6pc comfort factor.
It had an eye muscle depth of 40.2 millimetres and fat depth of 6mm.
Lot 4 was always a standout, even as a lamb, with its excellent structure, size and well-nourished wools.
- Michael Elmes
Collinsville stud consultant Michael Elmes said the buyer required rich, nourished wools, typical of Collinsville's breeding, necessary to keep the Ungarie, NSW red dust out of fleeces.
"Lot 4 was always a standout, even as a lamb, with its excellent structure, size and well-nourished wools. We knew he would impress in this year's sale," Mr Elmes said.
The Wards are regular Collinsville buyers also buying last year's $21,000 top price Poll Merino ram to breed rams for their commercial ewe and lamb enterprise.
The following ram at lot 5 was the highest priced Merino- a 20.4M son of Imperial 521. It was knocked down for $7500 to Elders Hay, NSW.
New buyers Andrew Bos, Pine Camp Station, Wentworth, NSW, purchased lots 1 and 2, for $8000 and $9000.
Mark Vandeleur, Rices Creek Poll Merino stud, Saddleworth and Tintinara, secured lot 9, a big framed, double poll, May 2019 drop ram for the sale's second highest price of $15,000.
Several high price rams again headed west at Collinsville sale, including four rams in the first 10 lots.
Coldstream Farms, Merredin, WA, secured three of these included lot 6, a 136 kilogram son of Imperial 521 out of a Masterbuilt - 170044 ewe, for the $15,000 equal second highest price.
The 21.5 micron ram had an eye muscle depth of 43.9mm and 7.3mm fat depth.
Coldstream Farms also secured lots 8 and 10, both sired by Prince 608 for $9000 and $7500 respectively.
Paul Cousins, Cousins Merino Services, Burra, won the $9000 bid for Lot 7 which is headed to Leovale stud, Lake Grace, WA.
With good rainfall received in the days leading up to the sale bidding confidence was high and included several volume repeat buyers.
Among these were Hay Plains Livestock, NSW who secured 34 rams through AuctionsPlus averaging $1450.
Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall said it was a "terrific result" with the offering of Collinsville's stud and commercial rams well sought after with strong competition from start to finish.
"The depth of quality of the rams was exceptional,with the spread of buyers around Australia being a testament to Collinsville's long thriving genetics," Mr Wetherall said.
"They are big sheep and heavy wool cutters and even when they are put in pretty harsh environments they still cut plenty of wool."
There were 195 registered bidders with 68 per cent of them tuning in online through AuctionsPlus.
Another regular buyer, Carolyn and Grant Johnson, Carcuma North stud, Peake, took home a 20.5M, 135kg, Masterbuilt 316 sired Poll Merino ram for $7500.
Collinsville general manager Tim Dalla said the team was very pleased with the result.
Elders conducted the sale with Tony Wetherall and Ben Finch the auctioneers.
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