Karawatha Park hits $2970 av in ‘best ever’ sale

GREAT depth throughout the catalogue helped push Karawatha Park to its “best ever sale”, with a phenomenal jump in average price at their 18th on-property auction at Buckleboo on Friday.

All 120 Poll Merino rams sold for an average $2970 – up more than $600 on last year – with a top price of $6800.

Karawatha Park principal Bert Woolford said the result was “outstanding”.
“It was our best ever sale, and I am blown away,” he said.
“But at the same time it was also our best ever offering.”
Mr Woolford said they had begun the season with the choice of 800 ram lambs.
“There is so much more depth, so you can get a really good, even line-up,” he said.
“They were a bit like peas in a pod, with the wool quality.
“It was as even as I’ve ever seen.”

While the sale started strong, hitting an early high of $6600 at lot two, the top price ram was not sold until lot 14, while high prices were evident throughout the catalogue, such as lot 41 reaching $5800 and even lot 116 – four from the sale’s end – having bids reach $3400.

The top price was paid for a May 2019-drop, 86 kilogram twin son of Wallaloo Park-172003, which measured n the top 10 per cent of the drop for the Australian Sheep Breeding Values of yearling clean weight fleece – 31.2pc above average – and the Merino Plus index – 176 – and Dual Purpose index – 174.5.
It had a fleece of 19.9 microns, 2.8 standard deviation, 14.1 coefficient of variation and 99.6pc comfort factor.

A first-time buyer at the 2019 auction, PC Hannon & Co, Cockaleechie, returned this year to nab the top price ram, along with three others, averaging $5000 for the lot.

EP Livestock agent Richard Hill said buyer Pat Hannon was impressed by the “exceptionally long stapled crimpy wool”.
“He was after that crimpy style of wool, quick growing staple length and the depth of the body,” he said.

The second-highest price of $6600 – for lot two – was paid by Superior Wool Merinos, Tintinara, with Classing Limited’s Bill Walker bidding on the stud’s behalf.

The ram, a son of Leahcim Poll 173122, was bred through a semen acquisition.

The 89kg ram was in the top 10pc for four key categories, including yearling weight – 8.8pc above average, as well as YCFW, at 40.7pc above average, with a 191.8MP+ and 194.7DP+. It had a 19.3M fleece with 2.5SD, 12.8CV and 100CF.

Mr Walker said the ram had “exquisite fibre”, that matched the strong ASBVs.
“Structurally, the back end was fantastic and we need better back ends in the Merino industry,” he said.

There was plenty of fierce bidding among the 44 registered buyers, with several successfully taking home a good team of rams.
The sale’s volume buyer was Longtrail Farms, Parilla, through Spence Dix & Co, which nabbed 20 rams from throughout the catalogue to $3800, averaging $2865.

Also active was repeat bulk buyer Hillsea Station, Port Lincoln, which took home nine rams to $2800, averaging $2411.

GA&MP Chapman, Orroroo, bought eight rams to $2000, averaging $1650.

River Park Farming, Port Pirie, were active in the first half of the catalogue, buying six rams to $4400, averaging $4100, while Breezy Hill Ag, Booleroo Centre, also took home six rams to $3600, averaging $2967.

Longstanding client Zibell P/L, Kimba, picked up six rams to $3200, averaging $2333, Clay Henderson, Cowell, had six rams to $2200, averaging $1433, and Nalino Props, Kimba, bought six to $4200, averaging $2867.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions with stud stock manager Gordon Wood wielding the gavel, with it also simulcast on AuctionsPlus.

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