SANDALWOOD Poll Merino stud earned high praise for the quality of its line-up from all three auctioneers taking bids at the Mallee stud's on-property sale on Friday.
Formerly known as Kamora Netley Park, the rebranded stud's auction had 40 registered buyers in attendance at Sandalwood, as well as 15 bidders logging on through AuctionsPlus for the first time.
The Boughen family's Sandalwood Poll Merino era began on a successful note, as 187 of 200 rams sold to a $5800 top price and sale average of $2198. The top price, average and clearance rate all increased from the 2020 sale, when 162 of 200 rams sold, averaging $2092 and topping at $5600.
Lot 22 - a 108.5-kilogram ram carrying tag 41 - sold for the sale's top price of $5800 to Kangaroo Island client Redbanks, American River.
A son of Kamora Netley Park Syndicate, lot 22 had an eye muscle depth of 43 millimetres, with a 17.4 micron fleece, a 99.8 per cent comfort factor, 2.5 standard deviation, and 14.4 coefficient of variation.
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The sale attracted buyers from a broad geographical area, including Streaky Bay, the South East, KI and into NSW.
Elton Downs, Karoonda, bought lot 2 with tag 134 for $5600 - the sale's second-highest price. This ram - another Syndicate son - weighed 115kg with 9mm fat and 43.5EMD, and had 18.3M wool measuring 2.3SD, 12.6CV, 99.9CF.
Two rams were sold at $5400 each. Lot 12 - also sired by Syndicate - with tag 110 was sold to Warrananga Props, Wentworth, NSW, while lot 41, sired by Kamora Netley Park 381 with tag 560, went to CA Hampel & Partners, Meribah.
Volume buyers included AuctionsPlus bidders PI&KE Parker, Mount Benson, who bought 20 at $800 a head.
They were closely followed by Ramsden Primary, Binnum, with 18 rams, while 12 were knocked down to Kavanagh Farms, Tintinara.
A mini auction followed the main sale, with 27 rams sold averaging $835.
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Nutrien auctioneer Curly Golding said it was a great result for the stud.
"Highlights include great local support and the stud using AuctionsPlus for the first time," Mr Golding said.
Fellow Nutrien auctioneer Leo Redden said with an eye muscle depth average over 40 and good fat cover on the sheep, there was a lot to look forward to.
"These are heritable traits that will pay big dollars for the clients when they kill lambs over the next few generations," Mr Redden said.
Sandalwood stud principal Justin Boughen said with their name change, they aimed to modernise their stud and continue to breed profit drivers for their clients and the industry.
"We are very excited as a family to improve and present this type of Poll merino that can handle all corners of Australia," Mr Boughen said.
"We are very pleased with the result this year with strong support both locally and interstate through AuctionsPlus."
The auction was conducted by Nutrien, with Mr Golding, Mr Redden and Richard Miller taking bids.
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