Ramsgate Poll Merinos posts strongest sale result with $2247 average

At their 15^th annual sale on Tuesday, the Keller family sold 75 out of 80 rams in their main auction for a $2444 average, as well as another 18 in the mini auction for $1127 average.

Overall they sold 92 of 106 lots for a $2247 average.

This was well up on the 76 out of 102 rams which sold in 2022 for a $2043 average.

The impressive catalogue featured well structured rams with plenty of staple length in their wools.

Many were high ranking on MerinoSelect for yearling clean fleece weight and staple length but it was lot 8,- in the top 10 per cent of the breed for both CFW and MP+ index which made the $8000 sale high.

Classings Limited's Bill Walker bought the 18.1 micron ram on behalf of Eyre Peninsula stud, Nantoura at Wharminda, impressed by the make up of the ram and its fine micron.

"He is a safe ram, his skin is spot on and the wool is free growing off it with good nourishment," Mr Walker said.

"The numbers are also very good to go with it with a yearling clean fleece weight of 31.8, a staple length of 15.7 which is unbelievable and a MP+ of 181," he said.

Its other wool tests included a standard deviation of 3.0, coefficient of variation of 17.1 and comfort factor of 99.4pc.

The May 2022 drop was a son of Sohnic 181195- a ram which also sired Ramsgate's 2022 sale topper.

Long-time repeat clients SN&GP Brophy, Tintinara, outlaid $5800- the sale's second highest price for lot 3, a great carcase sheep which was by Nantoura 190061.

Despite buyers from the Eyre Peninsula to Kangaroo Island lifting their sights on their top picks, the sale's biggest bidders were also able to find tremendous value for money.

Jason Holloway, Keilira Props, Keilira and Elders district wool manager Steph Brooker-Jones who have been buying from the stud for 15 years put together 11 rams for a $1545 average.

"They are easy doing sheep that do well for us and can handle the water," he said.

First time buyer MJ&M Tremaine, Kingscote, took home eight rams to a $2400 high for a $1337 average, with six of these in the mini auction.

Two other new buyers left their mark with MD &DJ Lomas, Nelson, Vic, securing eight rams to $2400 twice and averaging $1913 for them while KJ&J Hand, KiKi bought seven rams for a $1171 average.

Ramsgate stud co-principal Craig Keller was pleased the strong interest in their sheep at the South East Field Days at Keith last month had translated into a great sale.

"It was a great endorsement for our breeding program given the softish market for wool, surplus sheep and lamb to have such a strong result, we are really happy," he said.

"We had about half a dozen new buyers which is a bit of an endorsement of what we are doing too."

He said their foresight to breed plain bodied sheep and ceasing mulesing in their flock about four years ago was paying off. They are now concentrating on lifting their eye muscle and getting positive fat without losing the fertility and wool cut and quality.

After about six years as MerinoSelect members Mr Keller said the accuracy of the figures was increasing and the numbers were reflecting the visual appearance of the sheep.

Elders southern livestock manager Laryn Gogel- who shared the auctioneering duties with Steven Doecke- said it was the most consistent line-up that Ramsgate had offered with wools to handle all climates and carcase merit in the rams.

"If they are not 90 kilograms they are 110kg so we have big body sheep with plenty of frame and stretch and that real sweet wool that is white and bright that can go south and to the (Kangaroo) Island," he said.

Ramsgate also had on display its three rams reserved for the Classings Classic sale at Murray Bridge on Monday, September 4.