SPRINGVALE North hit a top of $5200 twice at their 21st annual Poll Merino ram sale in Burra on Friday.
Lots 2 and 7 had Nutrien Ag auctioneer Richard Miller in full action as he kept up with the two bidders taking part in the fierce sale, which achieved a total clearance of 100 rams, averaging $2085.
Weighing a whopping 136 kilograms, Lot 7 was purchased by new client Brenton Collins, of GJ&HJ&DJ&BM Collins.
Lot 7's 21.7 micron fleece had 3.8 standard deviation, 16.2 per cent coefficient variation, 98.3pc comfort factor, 121.4 greasy fleece weight, 38-millimetre eye muscle depth and 1mm fat depth.
Mr Collins said this ram (and his other Springvale North purchases) would head to Viewmont Station, near Menindee Lakes, NSW.
"We are looking for good crimping wool and a good body...and good doers," Mr Collins said.
With 100,000 acres along the Darling River, Mr Collins said they ran about 10,000 sheep and lambs.
Having had good rains, Mr Collins said the rams would complement their self-replacing Merino flock and allow them to grow their ram numbers.
Standing at 128kg, Lot 2 was purchased by last year's top bidder Jason Treloar, Treloar Farms, Keyneton, who went home with five in total.
Its 20.5M fleece had 3.1SD, 14.3CV, 99CF, 100.8GFWT, 40EMD and 10mm fat.
Mr Treloar said they were chasing rams with a deep barrel and heavy bone, as well as good crimped wool, nice muzzle and head.
Having lost the majority of their flock in the 2014 fires and buying what was available to restock, Mr Treloar said they now knew exactly what they were aiming for.
By purchasing the higher end ram, Mr Treloar said they could fast track their breeding program to reach higher classing animals.
"It used to be a 50:50 cull, but it's now getting harder to cull them out," he said.
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Bidding was strong for the day with a handful of rams at the back end of the catalogue fetching well into the thousands, including Lot 86 which made $3300.
With full clearance of 100 rams achieved to an average of $2085, just $11 shy of last year's average, Springvale North stud principal Peter Stockman was pleased with the result.
He was also happy to see some new faces among the 23 registered bidders and pleased to see repeat clients return.
"It was fantastic to have been able to maintain that average," Mr Stockman said.
As with many of the northern breeders, the first half of 2022 presented drier than favourable conditions and Mr Stockman said their wools were reflective of this.
"The wools are reflecting the dry conditions faced after shearing, with extra feed required in order to see them through."
"Paddock reared, they have encountered all of the elements through the season, recently enduring six inches of rain in the last five weeks," Mr Stockman said.
Rams will make their way throughout the state from the West Coast to Kangaroo Island, the Mallee and north.
Volume buyers included return clients, L&AO Thomas, American River (KI), who purchased 12 rams to a top of $5000 and an average of $3200.
Others (all taking eight rams) included Tikalina Station, Cockburn, to an average of $825, N&C Klingner, Jamestown, averaging $1237.50, DW&DM Williams, Carrieton, to an average of $875 and AD Hutchings & Co, Minnipa, averaging $2587.50.
Nutrien Ag auctioneer Richard Miller said to average within $11 of last year's sale was a credit to the Springvale North team.
"They've received reward for effort on a really even and consistent lineup," Mr Miller said.
"They have a loyal group of long term supporters, with rams for every budget."
Mr Miller said the Springvale North lineup consisted of rams with good wool and good frames that performed well right across the state.
"It certainly is a very, very good product. They are predictable sheep that will go on and do the right thing. I look forward to seeing the progeny of those rams down the track," he said.
