Wallaloo Park ram to $18,000

Presentation of the Carter family offering was first class in their brand new igloo where the light and space enabled buyers to see the wool and frame easily and without pens obstructing a view of the rams.

South Australian buyers Joe and Sally Keynes, Lorelmo Keyneton Station, Keyneton, SA, outbid strong competition from well-known studs in NSW for the $18,000 top-priced ram - lot 2 a poll son of WP 54.

Mr Keynes said the ram would improve frame, wool cut and carcase and give him polls with depth of frame and lift carcase and wool per hectare.

Classings Ltd, Murray Bridge, SA, purchased 16 rams for various clients including an $8000 horned ram by WP 54, which was destined for WA and a poll ram by WP 188 at $7500 for Ridgway Advance, Bordertown,SA.

Karawatha Park stud, Kimba, SA, took advantage of the excellent line of stud rams selecting four to $7500 twice.

NSW stud Gullen Gamble topped up their Wallaloo Park-blood sires with two at $7000 and $6000.

John Flanery, Galong, NSW, also paid $7000 for his pick early in the sale.

Alan [Smokey] Dawson, Winyar, Canowindra, missed his early selections, but was pleased to pick up a poll son of WP 188 for $6000.

Another stud using Wallaloo Park bloodlines was Borung Poll Merinos, Waikerie, SA, who went to $6500 for three poll rams.

Regular client MR&SK Barr, Newdegate, WA, was one of the major buyers again this year selecting 13 horned rams to $5000.

Rockview Partnership, Nareen, were among the volume buyers taking six rams; along with Shingle Hut Past Co, Wycheproof; Northwood Partnership, Karabeal; Webb Family, Natimuk; Heard family Trust, Tooan; and many others from all areas of Victoria plus NSW, SA and WA.

Both John and Trent Carter were pleased with the result and happy that clients were all able to secure rams to suit all budgets.

Overall the 158 rams sold averaged $2266 - only slightly down on last year - with buyers picking up several of the rams passed in through the sale.