White River achieves equal stud record for Poll Merino rams

The White River 546 family ram was sold a Lot 3 for $24,000, equal with last year's stud record, after strong competition from the gallery.

Purchased by Mark Hoffrichter, Maramville stud, Ceduna, the ram had figures of 20.6 for micron, 2.6 for standard deviation, 12.7 for coefficient of variation and 99.8 for comfort factor, with 6.4mm for fat depth and and 44.9mm for eye muscle depth.

A total of 150 from 150 Poll Merinos sold at auction, to an average of $2631.

Stud principal Wes Daniell said the top price ram's wool was the best the stud had ever offered.

"He had a long stapled white crimpy wool and was up there with the best," he said.

"He was just a nice, long and stretchy ram out of the very successful White River 546 family which will do well at Maramville."

In the Merinos, Lot 13 made the top price of $18,000 and was sold to David Lindner, Wonga Pastoral, Morgan.

It had figures of 20.3 for micron, 2.4 for SD, 12 for CV and 99.8 for F, with an 8mm FAT score and an EMD of 45.6.

The ram was one of the final Merinos sold through the stud, who will exclusively offer Poll Merinos from next year's auction.

Mr Lindner said he was proud to take home of the final Merinos offered through the stud as his family had been buying rams from White River for four decades.

"To take home the top Merino today after about 40 years of buying White River rams is pretty special," he said.

"He had a great type of wool with a nice body and not overly thick but with good cutting ability.

"We run a commercial flock with our own stud line, so he'll be going into the stud line to breed our own rams for a February drop."

Elders auctioneer Tony Wetherall said as the industry moved towards Poll Merinos, the timing was right for White River to offer their last horned rams.

"White River is renowned for its genetics in the Merino and the Poll Merino industry," he said.

"That's shown through the strong competition right through the catalogue on both the poll and horn rams.

"It's great the final Merino offered at White River went to a good home at Wonga who have been loyal clients for many years.

"He's got great wool on a modern body and will fulfill their needs in Morgan."

Merinos sold to an average of $3620, with a full clearance of 10 from 10 rams while the sale's overall average was $2893.

Volume buyers on the day included Lairg Station, Sheringa, who purchased 41 rams to a $1600 top and an average of $1255, while West Wimmera Beef, Nhill, took home 34 to a $5800 top and an average of $3152.

"West Wimmera Beef have buying have been for a long time and they were shopping right in the very front of the sale but also still there at the end of the catalogue as well," Nutrien stud stock's Gordon Wood said.

"They found some some good animals that suit their country and were happy to pay a good price for them.

"Lairg are generally the volume buyer every year and like the White River rams because they work well in their environment."

A total of three rams were also sold through AuctionsPlus.

Looking ahead, Mr Daniell said he was excited for future progeny.

"We purchased a new sire from Moorundie a few weeks who was just exactly what we were after," he said.

"Going forward with just Poll Merinos we really want to really want to up the ante and the quality so we can track new ram breeding clients and new commercial clients.

"He's an exciting prospect and his rams will be on offer in 2025 but we've also got some really successful bloodlines through the stud that will continue to produce great progeny as well."

The sale was conducted bye Nutrien and Elders, with Mr Wood and Mr Wetherall sharing auctioneering duties and Nutrien manning the desk.