![Sheep line up in pens ahead of selling. Picture by Jacqui Bateman Sheep line up in pens ahead of selling. Picture by Jacqui Bateman](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/f2c9ec7c-9400-4470-ba45-d5ba1b384649.jpg/r1080_984_3600_2216_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A volatile sheep and lamb market has had a flow-on impact to the state's Merino ram sales, but the hit has been less than expected.
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After a 2022 selling season that experienced plenty of full clearances, records prices and huge jumps in year-on-year sale averages, expectations were down for 2023.
But there was still plenty of positives to be found as producers still needed to buy rams and were prepared to pay for the right genetics.
After covering 66 Merino ram sales throughout the year, here is Stock Journal's list of the top 10 (single vendor) sales - based on average price.
10 - Mulloorie, Brinkworth - $2483 av
![Ron Sheppard, Hurtlegrove Pastoral Co, Orroroo, Nutrien's Josh Nourse, Mulloorie's Peter Meyer with top price Merino, Darcy Meyer with top price Poll Merino, Tim Hall, Carunna Vale, Jamestown, and Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall. Picture by Chelsea Ashmeade Ron Sheppard, Hurtlegrove Pastoral Co, Orroroo, Nutrien's Josh Nourse, Mulloorie's Peter Meyer with top price Merino, Darcy Meyer with top price Poll Merino, Tim Hall, Carunna Vale, Jamestown, and Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall. Picture by Chelsea Ashmeade](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/b6f47971-7f12-4bc7-bf33-f3300a78c4a0.jpg/r0_307_6000_3840_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Mulloorie had an incredible 2023 in the showring, culminating in claiming the supreme Merino or Poll Merino exhibit at the Royal Adelaide Show - for the second year in a row.
But it also had some great results at its on-property ram sale at Brinkworth where 69 of 70 rams sold to the top price of $11,000 and a $2483 average.
Mulloorie also holds a sale at Tintinara, which resulted in 30 of 36 rams sold to $8500, averaging $2528.
Read more here.
9 - Ridgway Advance, Bordertown - $2515 av
![Nutrien auctioneer Gordon Wood, top price buyer Glen Farr, Loxton, Devon Ridgway holding the $10,000 ram, Karen Ridgway holding granddaughter Layla Obst, David Ridgway and at front Nutrien Bordertown's Jack Guy. Picture by Catherine Miller Nutrien auctioneer Gordon Wood, top price buyer Glen Farr, Loxton, Devon Ridgway holding the $10,000 ram, Karen Ridgway holding granddaughter Layla Obst, David Ridgway and at front Nutrien Bordertown's Jack Guy. Picture by Catherine Miller](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/c26daefa-6aa7-40fe-b172-ac067105346c.jpg/r0_227_6000_3614_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Bidding was a little hesitant to start with but the sale soon hit its stride, with interest coming from five states.
The sale resulted in a 92 per cent clearance with 167 of 182 rams sold to a $10,000 high and a $2515 average.
Read more here.
8 - Rices Creek, Tintinara - $2528 av
![Mark Vandeleur holds the $8500 top price ram with Logan Hooper, Shannon McPhee, Kyle Challinger, Charlie Vandeleur, Josh Cousins, Piper Nicholls, Ryan Vandeleur, Elders auctioneer Steven Doecke and Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber. Picture by Catherine Miller Mark Vandeleur holds the $8500 top price ram with Logan Hooper, Shannon McPhee, Kyle Challinger, Charlie Vandeleur, Josh Cousins, Piper Nicholls, Ryan Vandeleur, Elders auctioneer Steven Doecke and Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber. Picture by Catherine Miller](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/2e799caf-45aa-46a0-8f51-0fd4765704f5.jpg/r0_240_6000_3693_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Even with an increased offering, Rices Creek kept its sale average within $100 of their 2022 figure, with full clearance of 116 rams to an $8500 top and a $2528 average.
The stud also holds a sale at Saddleworth, which achieved 100pc clearance of 225 rams to $10,000, averaging $2264.
Read more here.
7 - Collinsville, Hallett - $2536 av
![Collinsville general manager Tim Dalla holds the $70,000 sale topper, Collinsville Buddy 220032, with buyers Reg, Nita and Lynne Parker, Pingelly, WA, Collinsville's George Millington, Elders state general manager Bernard Seal and Elders stud stock's Alistair Keller. Picture by Catherine Miller Collinsville general manager Tim Dalla holds the $70,000 sale topper, Collinsville Buddy 220032, with buyers Reg, Nita and Lynne Parker, Pingelly, WA, Collinsville's George Millington, Elders state general manager Bernard Seal and Elders stud stock's Alistair Keller. Picture by Catherine Miller](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/37dc170e-695b-4834-8c8a-95373503be82.jpg/r0_307_6000_3694_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The SA ram sale selling season hit its highest point at the state's biggest sale.
Collinsville, which for the past three years has been held in conjunction with East Bungaree, offered 300 rams - 600 all up - with all sold to the season high of $70,000 and average $2536.
Read more here.
6 - Leahcim, Snowtown - av $2619
![Nutrien Jamestown's Tom Allen, Nutrien stud stock's Gordon Wood, and Leahcim's Alistair Michael congratulate Trudy and Bruce Pengilly, Penrose Poll Merinos, Lort River, WA, on their $8000 purchase. Picture by Quinton McCallum Nutrien Jamestown's Tom Allen, Nutrien stud stock's Gordon Wood, and Leahcim's Alistair Michael congratulate Trudy and Bruce Pengilly, Penrose Poll Merinos, Lort River, WA, on their $8000 purchase. Picture by Quinton McCallum](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/0a5cfd32-72bb-45a4-91c7-be24fe3ee19f.jpg/r0_274_5355_3297_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Buyers from every state were present, either in person or online, for the Leahcim Merino sale at Snowtown.
With a strong focus on good data, the sale sold all 300 Merino rams offered to a top of $8000 and average of $2619.
Read more here.
5 - Kiandra, Senior - $2724 av
![SA's top 10 Merino ram sales highlighted in 2023 SA's top 10 Merino ram sales highlighted in 2023](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/fd6b9b67-6679-4dd8-80d0-a1ebeb0b702f.jpg/r0_270_5184_3186_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It was another case of an increased offering not necessarily being a bad thing as Kiandra as another 20 rams went under the hammer at Senior, near Bordertown.
All up, there was 81pc clearance with 97 of 120 rams sold to $6000, averaging $2724.
Read more here.
4 - Glenville, Cowell - $2787 av
![Elders Cowell's Dylan Jaggy, Glenville stud principal Klay Smith, Nutrien's Matt Kerin and Lachie Crabb and Glenville stud principal Daryl Smith with the stud's $16,000 ram. Picture by Katie Jackson Elders Cowell's Dylan Jaggy, Glenville stud principal Klay Smith, Nutrien's Matt Kerin and Lachie Crabb and Glenville stud principal Daryl Smith with the stud's $16,000 ram. Picture by Katie Jackson](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/d0008a7b-ed47-420e-b3c0-eb09f352dd22.jpg/r0_57_4288_2592_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
There was a mix of stud and commercial competition at the Glenville sale at Cowell, with full clearance of 160 rams to a $16,000 top and an average $2787.
Read more here.
3 - SWM, Tintinara - $2846 av
![SWM stud principal Richard Harkness holds the $9200 sale topper with Elders district wool manager Trevor Smith, buyer Alison Henderson, Hendowie Poll Merino stud, Caltowie, Quality Livestock's Dave Whittenbury, Elders' Steven Doecke and SWM's Darius Cosgrove. Picture by Catherine Miller SWM stud principal Richard Harkness holds the $9200 sale topper with Elders district wool manager Trevor Smith, buyer Alison Henderson, Hendowie Poll Merino stud, Caltowie, Quality Livestock's Dave Whittenbury, Elders' Steven Doecke and SWM's Darius Cosgrove. Picture by Catherine Miller](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/dd058471-3428-4ad9-8ce5-50bb5c1cb62f.jpg/r0_0_6000_3627_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
While the average was back on last year, there were more rams sold at SWM, Tintinara - and it still made the top three for averages across the state.
There was full clearance of 120 rams to a top of $9200 and average $2846.
Read more here.
2 - White River, Minnipa - $2893 av
![Buyer Mark Hoffrichter, Nutrien's Gordon Wood, White River's Freddie, Claire and Wes Daniell, Elders stud stock's Tony Wetherall and classer Paul Cousins. Picture by Katie Jackson Buyer Mark Hoffrichter, Nutrien's Gordon Wood, White River's Freddie, Claire and Wes Daniell, Elders stud stock's Tony Wetherall and classer Paul Cousins. Picture by Katie Jackson](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/b52c5a8a-11b0-48cd-a0ef-49c5646358f0.jpg/r0_0_4288_2630_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It was an end of an era at White River in some regards, with the final horned rams going through the selling ring, but there was also a look to the future with the $20,000 top price an equal stud record.
All up, the full run of 160 rams averaged $2893.
Read more here.
1 - Glenlea Park, Brimbago - $4065 av
![Dale Bruns, Glenlea Park stud's Marianne and James Wallis, Spence Dix & Co's Luke Schreiber, Nareen stud managers Asta Vickery and Henry Burbury, Nareen, Vic and Will Lynch, Boorana stud, Woorndoo, Vic with the $28,000 sale topper. Pictures by Catherine Miller Dale Bruns, Glenlea Park stud's Marianne and James Wallis, Spence Dix & Co's Luke Schreiber, Nareen stud managers Asta Vickery and Henry Burbury, Nareen, Vic and Will Lynch, Boorana stud, Woorndoo, Vic with the $28,000 sale topper. Pictures by Catherine Miller](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/fc1a1ff3-2d27-4705-9f73-1a4c842a261e.jpg/r0_307_6000_3694_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Taking place somewhat early in the Merino selling season, Glenlea Park set a very high benchmark for 2023.
The average was $221 back on the stud's 2022 state record-breaking high, while 147 rams sold from 154 offered - a 95pc clearance - with bidding reaching a top of $28,000 and an average $4065.
Read more here.
Honourable mentions also go to Roehmakita, Cummins; Karawatha Park, Kimba; and Ramsgate, Tintinara.