Larger offering averages $2724 at Kiandra

While the average was back $745 on last year's out-of-the-box result, stud principals Ryan and Sarah Kluska were pleased to sell seven more rams and achieve a solid result amidst testing times in the sector.

There was the usual strong Eyre Peninsula buying contingent that helped the stud sell 97 of 120 rams to a high of $6000 twice.

"I was happy with the result and we achieved what we'd set out to do by putting 120 rams (20 more than 2022) in the sale and giving everyone an opportunity to get some value throughout the sale," Mr Kluska said.

"We've got buyers that always bid strongly on the big data rams then there was plenty of value for others.

"Our big thing is we've got data and strong early growth - if people want that they can get it here."

Adam Mewett and Monique Ellicott, Harquinn Farms, Keith, said their $6000 purchase appealed because of it's all round strength in growth data and wool quality.

The pair run a half self-replacing Merino, half crossbred flock and are direct marketing some of their own lamb.

The twin-born July 2022 ram, sired by Kiandra 200065, ranked in the top 5 per cent of the breed for weaning weight (7.01) and yearling weight (12.49), as well as the Sustainable Merino High Rainfall index (159.16), a selection tool that puts additional emphasis on animal welfare traits like wrinkle, worm egg count and dag in a self replacing Merino flock.

"We're chasing growth because we feedlot lambs as well," Mr Mewett said.

"Fleece weight and a fine fibre diameter are also important because wool is a micron market at the moment.

"I'm shearing wethers twice so there can be quite a big margin there."

2022 SALE REPORT: Kiandra Poll Merinos post $3469 av on bigger offering

Two Lock enterprises buying in partnership, Wheare Holdings and Goldmine Hill Farms, pursued their desired rams strongly and picked up the twin-born lot 27, also sired by Kiandra 200065, for $6000.

Craig Wheare said the two operations were both going down the non-mulesed pathway so a good breech wrinkle measurement was critical.

They also selected the ram on its staple length, fleece weight and early growth - it ranked in the top 5pc of the breed in WWT (6.35), post weaning weight (10.29), YWT (11.41), the SMHR index (158.4), as well as yearling staple length (22.93).

The Wheares run a predominantly self-replacing Merino flock with the balance of ewes mated to Suffolks for crossbred lamb production.

"The ram ticked all the boxes for the three major things we were looking for," Mr Wheare said.

"We've been looking at non-mulesed for a while and last year was the first year we didn't mules our ewe lambs.

"We haven't mulesed our wether lambs for five years and are taking that last plunge of stopping mulesing all together."

The Lock partnership was among the volume buyers also, loading up nine rams to an average of $4211.

Leading the way with a dozen, to a $2783 average, was Karwin Nominees, Field, with PA&LM Kammermann, Lock, buying nine to an average of $1889 and PFR Pastoral, Senior, securing nine to a $2044 average.

Buying eight apiece were W&P Caldow, through AWN Edenhope, Vic, to a $1900 average, and Lymn Farms, Wudinna, to a $3625 average.

KL,LM&DK Moore, Jamestown, took home six rams to a $2733 average, while Stark Grazing, Naracoorte, were successful on five to a $3000 average.

Quality Livestock conducted the sale, with David Whittenbury the auctioneer.