A THREE STATE spread of buyers, including strong online Vic presence ensured it was a lucky 13th sale for Rices Creek Poll Merino stud last Thursday at Tintinara.
The Vandeleur family cleared the most rams in their SE sale's history , with all 96 April/May 2020 drop rams selling for a $2441 average.
But it was also a sale that offered opportunities for buyers too with the average back $167 on 2020's sale result when 91 of 96 rams sold.
AuctionsPlus played a major role in the 100 per cent clearance with 121 bids placed online on 41 lots and successful on 20 rams, including the $8600 sale topper.
Bidding took a while to warm up but at lot 8, a 21.6 micron ram sired by Roemahkita 126 drew wide appeal.
It sold for $7400 to the McMahon family, McPiggery, Lameroo.
A few lots later, lot 12- one of the highest ranked rams on clean fleece weight in the stud at 37 per cent above the flock average - produced the sale high.
And it was another familiar name Glynnard Props, Rhynie who was the successful buyer of the deep bodied, eye catching ram.
This made it the fourth time in six years Glynnard Props have paid the highest price.
The 19.9M ram, Rices Creek 20-2145, by a homebred sire had wool tests of 3.0SD, 13CV and 99.6CF with an eye muscle depth of 46mm and fat depth of 9mm.
Two long-time clients lead the volume buyers at Rices Creek's 13th annual sale taking home 11 rams each.
The Doering family, Walmona Pastoral, Truro, who were front and centre to the rostrum paid to a $4000 high for lot 4 and averaged $2364 for their purchases.
They have been using Rices Creek bloodlines for about 65 years.
Hagger Partners, Jamestown, who were bidding online averaged $1636 for their 11 rams, including $2000 for the final lot of the sale.
Three other buyers each secured six rams.
The Hurst family, Lake Hawdon Props, Robe, were astute buyers througout the catalogue securing their six to $5200, averaging $3567.
RA&TL McKinstry, Vic, were also active on plenty of white woolled rams with their six averaging $3333.
Francis Capowie Pty Ltd, Quorn, found great value for money with six for a $1133 average, including four at $1000.
Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber, who shared the rostrum with Elders' Steven Doecke, said it was tremendous to clear nearly 100 rams.
There was plenty of depth in the catalogue illustrated by the penultimate lot making $2600 but Mr Schreiber said there were some "very affordable" rams in the $1200-$1800 price bracket scattered through the sale.
"When it is all said and done people are going to look at the sale and say I can go to Rices Creek and buy rams for a reasonable price, I am not going to get blown out of the water and spend $2000-$3000 on a flock ram," he said.
Mr Schreiber said the stud's increased emphasis on meat traits while maintaining wool cut and quality was showing through in the impressive figures but also the visual "pen filling, bale filling sheep".
We got good money for our good ones but anyone wanting to be in a lower price bracket could also get the cheaper rams.
- Mark Vandeleur
Rices Creek stud co- principal Mark Vandeleur was pleased none of their clients went home empty handed.
"We got good money for our good ones but anyone wanting to be in a lower price bracket could also get the cheaper rams," he said.
"It was not overly dear at the front end because there were a few more better ones through the middle and later in the sale which the buyers did wait for."
Fifteen rams found homes in Victoria and while Mr Vandeleur said it was "not ideal" the SA-Vic border was closed he said buyers were becoming accustomed to bidding online.
"People buy clothes on the internet and they are getting more comfortable buying everything else, including rams too."
Rices Creek also received plenty of favourable comments on two rams reserved for the Adelaide Merino Ram Sale in early September, sons of White River 546, which were on display at the sale.
The stud will offer another 150 rams at its Saddleworth sale on August 31.
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