Dahlitz family announce future plans for Roemahkita Poll Merino stud after strong sale

At their 33^rd annual auction on Tuesday, Joe and Tracey Dahlitz sold 109 of 110 rams for a $2475 average - just $153 shy of last year's stellar sale.

But the big news of the day was the post sale announcement by Mr Dahlitz that their clients of more than 30 years, the Watson family were taking over the stud.

It was fitting Xavier and Sherie and Aaron and Claire Watson, along with Aaron and Xavier's mother Dianne, who run about 5000 Merino ewes over four properties at Tooligie, Brimpton Lake and Yallunda Flat were also the top price buyer.

They went to $10,000 for lot 15, Roemahkita 220101, an AI bred son of Kamora Park 200089 (a grandson of Willandra Poll 180447).

The 17.2M sheep had outstanding wool tests including a standard deviation of 2.8, coefficient of variation of 16.2pc and 100pc comfort factor.

The sale topper weighed 118.5 kilograms and had a eye muscle depth of 45.3mm and fat depth of 8mm.

"He was a very big sheep especially for being born a twin, structurally extremely correct with great eye muscle and fat and his fleece was very soft, white and long stapled," Mr Dahlitz said.

Other strong sales in the front of the catalogue including lot six- a 19.6M ram which sold for $8200 to GS Keatley, Keith while Grant and Col Barnes, Whim Park, Wilmington, paid $8000 for lot 3, a 17.9M ram which was raised a triplet.

Three buyers secured a double digit tally of rams led by LS&JM Newton, Elliston, with 13 to a $2200 top. Baines Bros, Cummins, took home 11 rams to a $4200 high twice and GA&DJ Giddings, Wanilla bought 10 rams.

Three new buyers were successful: MA Arbon, Tooligie bought seven rams to a $4000 high, Blacker Partners, Cummins secured five rams to a $7000 high and two to Skinner Brothers, Karkoo to a $3200 high.

Nutrien SA studstock manager Gordon Wood described the 33th auction as a "very buoyant sale with plenty of buyers operating right through the sale.

"There were a lot of rams started at $1600 which got to $4000 or $5000, the vibe seemed to be buyers trying to pull the sale back but the competition was strong enough for it to hold up," he said.

"To sell four more rams and only be down $153 in average in the current environment is a very good result."

Mr Dahlitz said they were "extremely pleased" with the result and also excited about securing the future of the stud.

"We never wanted to let our clients down by selling up and walking away or dispersing the stud but for the past two or three years we had been thinking how best we could step back," he said.

He said they were looking forward to offering next year's sale rams in partnership with the Watsons with their last event as studmasters the 2024 Royal Adelaide Show.

After this the Watsons will take control and hold their first sale in 2025 although the Dahlitzs will assist in the background after the handover.

The sale and inspection day is set to remain at Roemahkita for the foreseeable future.

"It has been a huge passion of ours and so much more than a business so it is pleasing to find the right fit with Aaron and Xavier who have the same passion with a very good eye for excellent stock," Mr Dahlitz said.

"They also have four young boys so the future longevity of the stud is in good hands."

Aaron thanked the Dahlitz family for the opportunity to continue the stud and said "breeding and genetics had always been of huge interest to them."

He said his late father Chris had a passion for wool which he had passed onto them.

"We can't wait to dive in, we have been buying rams here for a long time and are really excited with the direction that Joe and Tracey have been steering the stud in, especially in the last few years," he said.

"We hope to continue supplying a profitable, easy care Merino to our clients with strong emphasis on constitution, wool cut and quality, and fertility."

Nutrien and Elders conducted the sale with Gordon Wood and Tony Wetherall the auctioneers.