MULLOORIE stud's newest client Broadoak Merinos and Poll Merino, Canowie Belt, has secured the top Poll Merino and Merino ram at this year's sale.
The Hams family put on a strong competitive front, coming out in hot pursuit of Poll Merino ram Lot 24 at the Meyer family's 33rd annual sale at Brinkworth on Monday, paying $13,500.
Lot 24 weighed in at a solid 118 kilograms, had an eye muscle depth of 41 millimetres, fat measurement of 7.5mm, micron of 17.6, 2.7 standard deviation, 15.3 coefficient of variation and a comfort factor of 99.8 per cent.
Broadoak's Allan Hams said he had spotted the ram while visiting the Northern SA Merino Field Days held at Jamestown earlier this year.
"It's a new line of genetics for us," he said.
"We are looking at structure, lustrous wool, that wool density and a good surface on them. This breed, the Mulloorie, will fit in well at home. They're exactly what we are after."
Mr Hams and his family run about 3000 breeding ewes and sell stud sires through private selection with clients based in NSW and north eastern SA.
His selection of three Mulloorie sires will be turned out for breeding in October - with specific ewes chosen for each.
Mr Hams also spotted Lot 12, a Merino ram that he secured for the top price of $9500.
The ram weighed in at 126kg, with 21.7M, 3.3SD, 15.2CV, 99.5CF, 41EMD and fat score of 8.5.
There were 23 registered buyers present to get a share of the Mulloorie breeding line.
In the breakdown the Poll Merino sale had 57 of 60 rams sold to a top of $13,500 and an average of $3177, while all 10 Merino rams were sold to $9500, averaging $2455.
Volume buyers for the day included repeat clients NM&DS May, Elliston, who took eight rams for a top of $7000 and an average of $2756; last year's top bidder BL O'Keefe, Walgett, NSW, took seven rams to a top of $7250 and averaged $4357; while Mern Merna Station, via Hawker, took seven to a top of $1250 twice, averaging $1042.
Adam Gill, Mern Merna Station, said they would use these rams to put with young hogget ewes.
Based about 30 kilometres north of Hawker, Mr Gill said each year they bought about 10 rams from the Meyer family.
He said these rams would help them to build their numbers following dry years.
On the back of a successful Royal Adelaide Show, Mulloorie principal Paul Meyer said it was the icing on the cake and topped off a brilliant year.
Having recently put good money into genetics, he said he looked forward to seeing what those sires put on the ground.
While he said they still had a number of station orders to fill, they were pleased to finish the season on a high.
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With new and repeat clients present on the day, Mr Meyer said it was great to see the O'Keefe family back again. Having bought the top ram in 2021, Mr O'Keefe was only just pipped at the post by the Hams family for the top at Monday's sale.
Elders auctioneer Tom Penna said what made the day at Mulloorie was the stud interest.
"We have four stud buyers here. They look at the way the rams stand up, that they are good on their feet and have nourished wools," he said.
"There was plenty of good buying for the station people, too."
The sale was conducted by Elders, with Mr Penna auctioneering, and was interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
