A FOCUS from commercial buyers on animal health and welfare traits such as worm resistance and low breech wrinkle has been credited for another sterling sale result at Leahcim Poll Merinos, Snowtown, on Tuesday.
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The result was a vote of confidence in the long-term future of the sheep industry, with a full clearance of 300 rams to an average of $2619 the final wash up.
The average was back $783 on last year's astounding result, but still sits comfortable among the best sales in SA this year.
Buyers from every state were either present or online in a consistent day of selling that saw no great highs, but no lows for the stud that is renowned for its emphasis on data collection.
Stud principal Andrew Michael was more than pleased with the result, saying a full clearance of 300 rams was "massive".
He said while people were coming to Leahcim for a combination of traits, there was a clear emphasis on worm and dag score in recent years.
"I would estimate a third of the rams today will go east to NSW and because of the impact that worms have had the last three years, people now want worm resistance and animal welfare traits," Mr Michael said.
He also said people chasing low micron, high value wools had been strong.
"The commercial people buying higher value rams looking to the future with higher micron has made a difference here," Mr Michael said.
While the commercial operators were out in force, there were also a number of studs buying, inlcuding sharers of the top price purchase (with Longwinny, Tas) Penrose Poll Merino stud, Lort River, WA, and Ramsgate, Tintinara.
Penrose, operating an hour north west of Esperance, bought two rams at $8000 and $7000.
Principals Trudy and Bruce Pengilly said they been using Leahcim bloodlines for quite a few years and were chasing meat values and clean fleece weights in their efforts to breed "the complete sheep".
"We went through the catalogue this year and saw a few rams within the guidelines of our breeding values so decided to come have a look," Mrs Pengilly said.
Their $8000 buy had among the higher staple lengths and clean fleece weights in the catalogue with a YSL of 19 millimetres and YCFW of 24.1.
Ramsgate also loaded up two rams, bought for $8000 and $6500, with principal Craig Keller confident the sires would do well in their environment and for their clients.
"We've been buying here for a number of years." he said.
"That particular ram caught our eye for it's whiteness - it's a high rainfall type sheep.
"He had very good early growth rates to match that so it is a package deal that will suit our environment, and our South East and Kangaroo Island clients."
The ram had post weaning and yearling weight figures of 9.5 kilograms and 11.1kg, while also boasting a clean fleece weight measure of 22.5
Leachim regulars R&C Martin, Swan Hill, were among the volume buyers, securing 34 rams in total, averaging $1041.
Paspaley Pastoral Co, which has a number of properties in NSW and the NT, bought 30 rams to an average of $2037.
AWN Goulburn were bidding on behalf of several NSW clients, securing 45 rams in total, averaging $2293.
Another NSW buyer Hollywood Pastoral Co, Crookwell, NSW, bought ten rams, averaging $3030.
There was plenty of action on AuctionsPlus, with 34 rams sold through the platform in total.
A dozen of those, to $3500, averaging $1850, went to Marcollat Pastoral Company, Padthaway, with nine sold to HT Harslett Rural, Gladstone, to $6000 four times, averaging $5000.
Ardath, WA, enterprise Biami Farms bought eight rams to $3000, averaging $2475.
Nutrien conducted the sale, with Gordon Wood and Richard Miller sharing the auctioneering duties.
