Average increases at Woodoona Poll Merino ram sale

Overall, the Wood family sold 67 rams from 79 offered to a top price of $5200, averaging $1678 - a $58 increase on the 2021 sale.

Another two rams sold immediately after the sale at $800 each.

Last year's top price ram buyers, R&A Simcock, Tailem Bend, returned to bid strongly on their four selections, which included the $5200 top price ram at lot 2.

The son of Nyowee J31 weighed 111 kilograms and had a 18.3-micron fleece with 2.6 standard deviation, 14.4 coefficient of variation, and 99.8 per cent comfort factor.

Anne Simcock said they had been impressed by the J31 bloodline from previous use, as well as the new Ridgway Advance offering (RA100), which featured in their four purchases, averaging $4000.

This included the sale's $4000 second-highest price ram at lot 10 - a 21.4M son of RA100 weighing 114kg, with 3.1SD, 14.3CV and 99.3CF.

"We liked the top ram for its big frame, he had a good stance," she said.

"While we were also willing to try some new genetics in RA100.

"They will go out together with our hogget ewes."

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Stud principal Nick Wood said the top price ram was the "complete package - a big tall stretchy ram".

"Nyowee J31 has bred our top price rams for the past couple of years, while it was our first offering of RA100 progeny, which also sold really well," he said.

It was also the first offering from their purchase of a Kamora Park ram (KP129) for $17,000 at the Adelaide Ram Sale, with nine lots averaging $2333.

This included one of the $3600 third-highest price rams at lot 11 going to new client JP&C Hein, Murray Bridge.

The sale's biggest volume buyers were repeat clients, the Whytes from Wyndham Station, who took 12 rams back to Wentworth, NSW, averaging $1250.

"We come here because they are good, simple sheep, with beautiful white wool on them, that do well for us at home," Gus Whyte said.

"They're also a little barer on the breech, which we think is important as we may have to stop mulesing someday."

Keilira Props, Kingston SE, also bought in bulk, taking home 10 rams to $3000, averaging $1880.

Nutrien Ag Solutions conducted the sale, with stud stock auctioneer Gordon Wood.

Nutrien Keller Livestock's James McInally said while the season had been tough, the sale result was pleasing.

"Nick and Ian [Wood] have bought some really good genetics, and it showed in the strong results they got in the top end of the sale," he said.

Nick Wood was also happy after the sale, with a few new faces in the crowd.

"Everyone is down on ewe numbers, so I was reasonably happy with the clearance," he said.

"It has been a very tough year, our season only broke in late May and we're still waiting on some good rains, but our paddock-run rams still came up well, considering the season."

Of the 19 registered buyers for the sale, only one went home empty handed.