LOYAL clients set the scene for a successful auction at Rices Creek ram sale at Saddleworth on Tuesday, after the Bowden family, a client of almost 70 years, made the final bid on the $7200 top price ram.
In the sale breakdown, the stud achieved full clearance of a 150 rams and recorded a healthy $2456 sale average.
It was a Bowden family effort, with Philip, John, Michael and Mitchell, Riverton, all jumping in to pick out the top price ram that made $7200.
The ram weighed 124 kilograms and was by a Rices Creek syndicate.
Its fleece measured 20-micron with 2.6 standard deviation, 12.6 coefficient of variation and 99.9 per cent comfort factor.
It had 39.5 eye muscle depth and 6.5 for fat with a greasy fleece weight percentage of 102.
Philip said the family had continued to source Rices Creek genetics after decades of good results.
"Our wool is finer - we have bigger sheep with a bigger carcase.
"Our grandfathers would have worked together and that relationship has lasted with Rices Creek."
The family shear about 4500 Merinos and the $7200 ram will be put into a nucleolus flock in December, to breed flock rams for the large operation.
They usually buy a ram at the top end of the sale, and this particular ram had a sire head, with white wool and a long staple, that attracted the Bowdens.
The second highest price was $6200 and this ram was snapped up by HB Rural, Warnertown.
This ram weighed 129kg and had a 20.5M fleece, 3SD, 14.5CV and 99.7pc CF.
It had 42EMD and 6 fat, with a GFW pc of 127.
HB Rural secured a further three rams, averaging $4500 across the four.
The sale had multiple vendors take advantage of the quality genetics on offer.
Walmona Pastoral, Truro, was very active in the bidding tussle, securing 19 rams to $3200, averaging $2047.
Sparks Farming, Spalding, competed strongly to build its team of rams, after making the final bid on 13 rams to $4200, averaging $2469.
GR&CE Finlay, Quorn, bought eight to $3400, averaging $2187, while CD&JG Sampson, Warramboo, bought seven to $3600, averaging $2500.
Rices Creek principal James Vandeleur said the sale result reflected the quality throughout the lineup. "Each year, our wool quality is improving."
The sale's auctioneer duties were shared by Quality Wool's David Whittenbury and Nutrien Ag's Leo Redden.
Vanessa Binks
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
