SALE SUMMARY
2022 2021
Offered 102 72
Sold 76 71
Top $4200 $4200
Av $2043 $2173
TINTINARA-BASED stud, Ramsgate, put a large offering of 102 Poll Merino rams under the hammer at its on-property sale on Tuesday, and reached its best ever top price for a consecutive year.
In the sale breakdown, 76 rams were sold from 102 offered, to a $4200 top price two times for a $2043 sale average.
Narilla Pty Ltd, Milang, secured the first ram to make the $4200 top price.
The first ram knocked down for $4200 was a 100 kilogram ram sired by Sohnic - 181195, that was bought at the 2019 Classings Classic.
The May 2021-drop ram had 19-micron wool with fleece measurements of 2.8 standard deviation, 14.7 coefficient of variation and 99.6 per cent comfort factor.
It was clearly a trait leader for post-weaning weight at +6.5, yearling weight +8.8 and yearling staple length +15.3 with DP+ 174.
The Landseer family have bought at Ramsgate for a few years, as the free-growing wool with good length, suited their operation.
Buyer Glen Landseer said the stud's frame size was also attractive.
"We have been trying to get more frame in the ewes to grow more wool.
"The top ram had a long body, with good style. We will use that ram in January for a later lambing."
Narilla bid on three rams successfully, averaging $3933.
The next buyer to make the final bid on a sale-topping ram was J&J Keller Holdings, Coonalpyn.
But Josh Keller had to be patient to bid on his chosen ram, as it came in at lot 30.
The Kellers have bought at Ramsgate for about a decade.
"We like where they are going with meat and wool production, it makes a good package," Mr Keller said.
The Keller's run about 200 Merino ewes and will join ewes in December for a May lambing.
Also sired by Sohnic - 181195, the ram carried fleece measurements of 18.2M, 2.5SD, 13.7CV and 99.8PC CF.
It was a leader for yearling staple length at +18.9 with DP+ 162 and it had positive figures of .5 for eye muscle depth and .7 for fat.
The Keller family secured a further two rams, averaging $3800.
The second-highest price of $3800 was made four times, with Narilla and Biilyana Park, Kyancutta, taking two each.
It was Keilira Props through Elders Kingston that bought the most amount of rams on the day, taking home a draft of 17 to $3200, av $1823.
Netallie Trust through Elders Broken Hill had buyer Bill Walker doing the bidding, and secured eight rams to $2000, av $1225.
GR Foster & Co through Elders Naracoorte bought six rams to $3600,av $2600.
Vendors Jed and Craig Keller were pleased with the sale's result.
Craig said it displayed the stud's depth of quality.
"It was fairly selective buying and buyers were happy top pay what they did for rams."
Jed said the stud had focused on improving meat traits including eye muscle and early growth rates.
"This focus has helped to produce moderately framed sheep too."
The sale was conducted by Elders Keith, and auctioneers Steve Doecke and Laryn Gogel took the bids.