AT Mulloorie Merino and Poll Merino stud's inaugural South East on-property auction last Thursday, 30 of the 36 June 2011-drop rams offered sold to a credible $930 average.
The Meyer family, Brinkworth has established a wide client base across South Australia and last week, broadened their appeal - nearly all their clients were newcomers from the South East and western Victoria.
Brett and Toni Meyer moved to Tintinara in 2004 after the family bought the property to expand its operations.
In ensuing years, many Merino enthusiasts in the area had seen Mulloorie's solid, robust rams at South East Merino Field Days.
The opening lot-sired by one of Mulloorie's home-bred rams set the pace for the auction, knocked down for the sale top of $2900 to Fox & Lillie Rural's Andrew Hendy, Horsham, buying for an undisclosed client at Kaniva, Victoria.
"He saw him at the Keith field day on Tuesday and was impressed with its structure and size and the nice, even wool all over," Mr Hendy said.
The 17.4-micron topper stood tall in the pen and had tremendous wool figures including a standard deviation of 2.9, 16.5 per cent coefficient of variation and 100 per cent comfort factor.
AE&CM Tucker from Bordertown made their sole bid of $2000 count, securing the second-top-priced ram in lot 5.
Poll Merinos made up the majority of sale rams, with 25 selling for av $924. The five horned rams topped at $1300 twice, av $960 and four of these sold to Pivirry Partners, Tintinara.
Volume buyers included Roy and Colleen Doecke, Tintinara with four rams for av $875, and Maczkowiak Bros, Murray Bridge who bought four rams between $500 and $600.
The successful sale capped off a fantastic week for the Meyer family who won the grand champion restricted Merino ram at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show the previous weekend with a medium-wool horned ram.
Stud principal Peter Meyer said breaking into a new area was always a challenge but was very happy with the results.
*Full report in Stock Journal, August 2 issue, 2012.
