A loyal stud client helped Rices Creek Poll Merinos reach a sensational top of $10,200 at its eighth on-property sale at Saddleworth on Tuesday, with the sale-topper's excellent structure and bold crimpy wool turning heads and lighting up the bidding battle.
The top price was achieved early on in the sale, at lot 2, and started off a very successful sale for the Mid North stud, with a full clearance of 150 rams on offer, averaging $2584 - a $209 improvement on last year's sale average.
Sharlu Park's Luke Saegenschnitter, secured the top price ram, with the Truro stud having now secured the sale topper at Rices Creek three years running.
The ram was sired by Rices Creek 1931, which was 2019 Ram of the Year at the Jamestown Show. With Mr Saegenschnitter having previously chased Collinsville Imperial 20 genetics when buying from Rices Creek, he wanted to try a different bloodline this year.
"The Imperial 20 sons have been really good for us, but we wanted to target something different, and Rices Creek 1931 traces back to White River genetics," he said.
"(The sale-topper) had great structure, and well-nourished white wool, it will be a good fit for our stud.
"We have people chasing Rices Creek bloodlines in our own sale, so it makes sense to keep coming back and buying from here - the sheep here are very good."
RELATED READING: Sharlu Park Poll Merino and Merino stud sale tops at $5600
Weighing 111 kilograms, the $10,200 sire had a 46-millimetre eye muscle depth and fat depth of 9mm, with a fleece measuring 21.2 micron, 2.8 standard deviation, 13.2 coefficient of variation, 99.9 comfort factor.
Taking second top-price honours was lot 4, a 115kg ram sired by Mianelup 751, carried fleece measurements of 19.5M, 3SD, 15.5CV, 99.8CF and a yearling greasy fleece weight of 135 per cent, compared to the rest of the offering.
It was secured by repeat clients JW&PJ Bowden, Rhynie.
Rices Creek stud co-principal James Vandeleur was 'thrilled' to achieve a full clearance of an increased offering this year, having offered roughly 20 more rams than last year's sale.
Carcase is so important, particularly with the way meat prices are at the moment.
- JAMES VANDELEUR
"We put a few extra in just to make sure everyone got what they needed, and there was good buying right through the sale, including at the bottom end," he said.
Mr Vandeleur was pleased to have considerable stud and commercial interest at the sale.
"It's always pleasing when there is stud interest, and we had about five studs buying this year from across the state, as well as a good number of commercial clients including a number of new faces."
The stud is aiming to breed true dual-purpose sires, with a particular focus on eye muscle and fat depth. The 2021 sale team averaged 108.5 kilograms as of mid-August, with a 44.78EMD and 8.04 fat depth.
"Carcase is so important, particularly with the way meat prices are at the moment," Mr Vandeleur said.
RELATED READING: 'Bale filling' ram tops at $8600 for Rices Creek in SE sale
A contingent of loyal clients buoyed the sale, with Sparks Farming, Spalding, leading the charge, taking 15 rams to $3400, averaging $2267.
Hagger Partners, Jamestown, secured 12 sires, paying a top price of $3200 and averaging $2467, while Walmona Pastoral, Truro, bought nine rams to $3400, averaging $2400.
Eight rams were knocked down to CD&JG Sampson & Sons Trust, to a top price of $3400, averaging $2725, while Jerel Fromm, Minnipa, bought eight to $3200, averaging $2600.
GR&CE&PD Finlay, Quorn, secured eight sires to $3000, averaging $2363.
The sale was jointly conducted by Quality Wool and Nutrien, with Quality Wool's Simon Seppelt and Nutrien's Leo Redden on the rostrum.
"It was a great result and reward for the hard effort the Vandeleurs keep putting in to get their sheep to where they are," Mr Seppelt said.
"The Imperial 20 sheep continue to shine, that sheep is going to leave a legacy for the Vandeluers and other studs as well, the genetics will just keep going and going.
Mr Seppelt said a few repeat buyers had bought more rams than normal, to accommodate their own flocks rebuilding, which was pleasing to see.
"There is a lot of confidence around wool and sheep production at the moment. A lot of people have come off some pretty dry times in the past three years, I really get the impression that people are in a genuine restock for Merino sheep, they can see a really bright future for Merinos.
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Claire Harris
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
