^ David with the $7,400 lot 1 ram, buyer Sam Przibilla, A&M Przibilla, Riverton, and Elders Tom Penna.
MERNOWIE Poll Merino stud’s even line-up of commercially-relevant Poll Merinos attracted solid support at the Marrabel stud’s 31st on-property sale on Friday.
In the breakdown, 92 of 102 rams sold at a $1873 average, with the sale top of $7400 surpassing last year’s price peak by $1600.
The top price was achieved as soon as bidding got under way, with the $7400 ram catalogued at lot 1.
This ram was a big volume sire with an impressive 120-kilogram bodyweight and a yearling clean fleece weight figure of 23 to match. It was knocked down to Sam Prizibilla, A&M Przibilla, Riverton, who selected the sire for its bodyweight, mi- cron and staple length.
The Przibillas are shearing every six months and like the direction the Mernowie breeding program is headed in, with good wool and great carcase shape.
Another highlight in the line-up was Mernowie 512, the stud’s Fibre Meat Plus class winner at the recent Royal Adelaide Show. Offered at lot 2, this ram was snapped up by Alex Horne and Leonie Mills, Morley stud, Cowell, for $7000. Mr Horne selected the ram at Mernowie’s inspection day in August.
Mernowie 512 had impressive balanced Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 7.6 yearling weight, 23 YCFW, 0 yearling fat and 0.4 yearling eye muscle depth. Ms Mills said 512 would be an “outstanding impact wool sire, being 16.7 micron and sired by the top breeding sire Willandra Desmond”.
The sale’s stellar start continued, with previous top price buyers the Groves family, Karawa, Booleroo Centre, securing lots 4, 5 and 6 to $6800, averaging $5133.
Regular Mernowie supporter Grant Burge, Burge Estates, Tanunda, took 23 rams to $3000, averaging $1726.
“We select for plainer types with good wools and carcase figures that are true dual-purpose sheep that suit our high rainfall properties,” Mr Burge said.
Competition throughout the sale came from I&M Kelly, Lock, who bought six rams to $2800, averaging $1883.
Other volume buyers included Miller Partners, Riverton, with six rams to $1500, averaging $1050, and Andriske Farms, Loxton, with four to $3000 three times, averaging $2800.
LW&SD Tiller, Balaklava, bought four rams to $2400, averaging $1900, while Neal Props, Eudunda, secured four rams to $1800, averaging $1400. Prostock Mount Compass was successful on 10 rams for clients.
Mernowie principal Ian Rowett was happy with the outcome, especially given some buyers were not able to operate due to seasonal conditions.
“We put up the same number of rams to ensure value for our clients,” he said. “There was very good competition at the top end.”
Elders Roseworthy con- ducted the sale, and auction- eer Tom Penna compliment- ed the line-up for its carcase shape and positive fats.