DESPITE the stress of being given a last minute go-ahead, the Richardson family at Dalveen Poll Merino stud were rewarded for the effort with a strong result at their 51st annual ram sale in Woodchester on Monday.
In the main sale, 109 April/May-drop Poll Merino rams from 114 offered, averaging $1827 - only a slight dip on their very strong 50th sale in 2020 - while six rams sold in a mini auction at $900 each.
A top price of $3800 was reached twice, with one going to return clients J Weber & Sons, Bowhill, who bought five in total, including two at the sale's $3400 second-highest price, averaging $3080.
The top Weber ram at lot 5, sired by Moorundie Poll Boonoke 1078, weighed 104 kilograms, and had 18.2-micron wool measuring 2.9 standard deviation, 16 co-efficient of variation and 99.7 per cent comfort factor.
The other top ram at lot 3 - sired by Moorundie Nerstane 827 and measuring 101kg, 19.5M, 3.2SD, 17.6CV and 99.7CF - went to another repeat client Kevin Schwarz, Culburra, who bought three through Nutrien Tintinara livestock manager Michael Lawrence, averaging $2533.
Mt Beevor, Harrogate, also bought a ram at $3400 in their haul of nine rams, averaging $2756.
Their top ram at lot 7 was sired by Moorundie PB201 and measured 110kg, 19.5M, 3SD, 15.4CV and 99.7CF.
The sale's biggest volume buyer was Densley Nominees, Keith, with 18 rams to $1900, averaging $1417, while ER&GF Flint, Kingston SE, bought 12 rams to $3200, averaging $2333.
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The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien.
Dalveen stud principal John Richardson was very relieved after the ram sale, with COVID-19 restrictions creating a great deal of uncertainty prior to the day.
"We only officially found out we could go ahead on Friday," he said.
"We had about four clients not able to attend on the day because of it, but we did have two new buyers in the crowd, which helped to make up the shortfall."
The two new buyers were Gwingana Family Trust, Kingston SE, who took home home nine rams, averaging $945, while CH&L Wohlfeil, Karoonda, bought four averaging $1025.
Mr Richardson said it was also fantastic to see such strong support from his repeat buyers.
"The sheep industry is in a good spot at the moment with wool prices about 300-400 cents a kilogram clean above last year and mutton and lamb prices also going through the roof," he said.
"We are in a good spot."
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