BOTH stud and commercial buyers competed strongly in another outstanding sale for Glenville Merino and Poll Merino stud near Cowell on Tuesday.
It was the Smith family's 61st on-property auction and despite some reservations as to what impact some previous clients' move away from Merinos would mean, a main sale full clearance and strong average was an "unexpected surprise" for the Smith family.
Once the final hammer fell, 159 of 159 rams were sold to a top of $18,000 twice and average of $2942.
A further 12 of 24 rams sold in a mini-auction, averaging $775.
The main sale average was slightly back on 2021, but principal Daryl Smith said it was still "an unbelievable result" and "way better than anticipated".
"There would have been eight buyers from last year's sale not operating today," he said.
"We reduced the offering in the main sale by ten thinking we may struggle to clear them but that wasn't the case as we mangaed to sell half of the mini auction so we're very pleased.
"We're grateful for our repeat clients and several new buyers that stepped up."
The front row kept spotters busy, with studs willing to dig deep to secure their desired ram.
Four reached five figures, with two making last year's sale high of $18,000.
The 14-month-old, March-shorn, lot five Poll Merino ram, which sold to Maramville Poll Merino, Ceduna, had a greasy fleece weight percentage 31 per cent above the sale cohort.
It carried a 20.8 micron fleece, with 2.9 standard deviation, a 13.6 coefficient of variation and 99.6pc comfort factor.
Maramville stud principal Mark Hoffrichter said the ram's wool quality and bloodline made it their top pick.
"It has bold, nourished, crimpy white wool, with good figures," he said.
"He has come from the Glenlea Park Smithy ram that sold for $100,000 (at the Adelaide Ram Sale in 2019)."
Also reaching $18,000 was the lot 14 Poll Merino, bought by repeat client Alma Merinos, Booligal, NSW.
The ram was 16pc above the sale cohort on GFW and 12pc above on bodyweight, carrying a 20.5 micron wool, with 3.5 SD, 17.2 CV and 99pc CF.
NF,EA&RM Loffler, Truro, paid $10,500 for lot 19, while Whitehill Merino, Emu Downs, won the bidding battle on lot nine for $10,200.
Lot four was bought by Walkindyer Poll Merino, Northampton, WA, for $6600 and lot 12 to Deloshanda Merino and Poll Merino, Kielpa, for the same price.
CD Watson & Co, Tooligie, bought four rams to $5200, Venus Plains, Port Kenny, secured two to $7000 and Girdham Holdings, Melrose, five to $6600.
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The sale simmered down through the back end of the catalogue, allowing volume buyers the opportunity to fill their books.
Smith Partners Belton, Carrieton, led the way in volume terms, buying 15 rams to $2000 in the main auction and a further two in the mini auction.
Barmont Nominees, Streaky Bay, bought ten rams to $2800, with RJ Norris, Cowell, buying nine to $2200 in the main sale and one in the mini auction.
Mundallio Pastoral Company, Port Augusta, secured nine rams to $3400, with JL Parsons, Kimba, buying eight to $2600.
Taking home seven rams to $3000 was WJ Sampson & Sons, Warramboo.
Each taking six were Hornsdale Props, Hornsdale, Pine Lodge Pastoral, Cowell, and Hope Downs Farming, Poochera, to $4200, $2000 and $5000 respectively.
There was plenty of action on the box as well, with 14 rams bought through AuctionsPlus.
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Nutrien stud stock's Gordon Wood said a full clearance at close to last year's average was a fantastic result under the circumstances.
"We knew coming into today that we'd lost some volume buyers and that it'd have an impact on the sale, but when you've got this volume of rams the dynamics of the sale can change and allow someone else to step up," he said.
Mr Wood said the abundance of stud clients could be attributed to Glenville's "consistency in numbers".
"They've got a lot of ewes and are consistent in the way they breed, so people can come here and buy with confidence knowing they'll get repeatability and reliability, which is worth its weight in gold," he said.
Nutrien conducted the sale, with Mr Wood the auctioneer.