WHILE some may consider Friday the 13th an unlucky date, it certainly wasn't for Radnor Poll Merino and Merino last week at Langhorne Creek.
At Radnor's 37th annual field day and auction, a healthy buying crowd competed strongly on the consistent lineup to push the main sale average up a considerable $304 on 2020.
In the main auction, 60 rams of the 70 offered were sold to a top of $3400 and average of $1310, while 23 of 29 rams were sold in the mini auction to a top of $1000 and $604 average.
Nine of the ten horned Merinos in the main sale sold to $1100, averaging $778, while the 50 Poll Merinos sold averaged $1432.
Radnor principal Steve Koehler said the family were pleased with the sale result and accredited the significant average increase to an industry-focused breeding program.
"We think we've been breeding the type of rams people want - big-framed barrelly animals that are early maturing and have crimpy, white wools that test well," he said.
Purchasing the top-priced ram, and receiving a Tridectin drench from Nutrien Ag Solutions Murray Bridge, were Radnor regulars Roger and Gail Duell, Bowhill.
The family have bought at every on-property sale held by the Langhorne Creek stud and run an 1100-head self-replacing Merino flock.
"The $3400 ram is a heavy wool-cutting, big framed ram with nice white wool," Roger said.
"We take a lot of pride in our sheep and we always come here to buy a few rams each year."
The 98.5-kilogram ram, sired by a Hercules family Charinga father, carried a 19.3 micron fleece, with 2.8 standard deviation, 14.5 coefficient of variation, 99.3 per cent comfort factor. It had an eye muscle depth of 43 millimetres and 6mm fat depth.
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus and the platform was responsible for the successful bids on the two second-highest priced rams at $2800.
Rams were sold to buyers from across SA and interstate.
Richard Anderson, Broken Hill, NSW, was the volume buyer once more, successfully bidding on 36 rams across the main and mini auction to a high of $1400 and average of $683.
Buying eight rams to $2400, averaging $1288, was Stewartdale, Naracoorte.
T&V Bolwell, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, secured six rams to $2000, averaging $1317.
Andrew Howard, AM&SK Howard, Truro, bought five rams to a top of $1200, averaging $1000.
Interstate buyer Errol Bishop, Temora, NSW, bought four rams to $1600, averaging $1200.
Hillview Merinos, Mount Pleasant, bought four rams to $1800, averaging $950.
In his opening remarks, Elders stud stock's Tom Penna said the Radnor auction offering was improving in consistency and depth every year, with quality commercial-type rams on offer.
Elders Murray Bridge and Nutrien conducted the sale, with Mr Penna the auctioneer.
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