Mallee Hill stud at Ceduna will offer 70 Poll Merino rams at its 20th annual on-property ram sale on Friday, August 8.
The sale follows Mallee Hill’s third-place finish in the Eyre Peninsula Merino Breeders’ Association Expo EP Champion Autumn Shorn Hogget of the Year competition at Wudinna earlier this month.
Stud principal Warren Beattie said the line-up for this year’s sale included some of the best he had ever offered.
It includes progeny from Mallee Hill’s Kamora Park (KP 115) ram, bought two years ago for $22,000 at the Adelaide Ram Sale, along with Glenlea Park and Roemahkita sires.
“The Kamora Park ram has crossed well over Glenlea Park ewes, producing progeny that are really white in the wool, they have a rich, bold, crimping wool style, stockier frames and deceivingly heavy body weights,” Warren said.
“Off the Glenlea Park and Roemahkita sires, the rams are also showing very white wool, and a lower-than-average micron.
“In this line up, we are offering some of the best depth of rams that we’ve ever had, with the sale rams looking as strong and robust as ever, showing width and depth, and good bone.”
To mark the stud’s milestone sale, one ram (lot 17) will be offered for auction and proceeds donated to Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
Warren said his own personal experience with the RFDS following a farm accident six years ago had prompted he and wife Erikah to make the decision to donate to the service.
“It’s our way of giving a little back to the RFDS and supporting them, because they were there to support me,” he said.
“I got caught up in some farm machinery one night, and an ambulance came to get me before the RFDS flew me to Adelaide.
“I thought that this, being our 20th annual sale, was a good time to show our gratitude and give some support back to them.”
Quality Wool’s Damien Johnson will lead the annual on-property sale.
Mallee Hill also uses the classing services of industry professionals Tony Brooks of Brooks Merino Services and Tasmanian classer Andrew Calvert.
Warren said Mallee Hill sheep were bred for “do-ability” and Australian conditions, particularly in tough years like is currently being experienced.
“They are bred to stand up under very low humidity, dusty conditions, and as an ex-shearer, the first thing I concentrated on when I started out was getting the wools to keep the dirt out as much as possible,” he said.
“I think everybody in SA has done it pretty tough this year, and the sheep market now is a reflection of where the sheep numbers are. But anybody still lucky enough to have spent money to keep their sheep – obviously spending a considerable amount on feed – they are hopefully going to reap the rewards.
“I think if you’re going to run a sheep, you might as well run the best one you can, and I believe Mallee Hill can get you there with the best possible sheep to suit dryland farming.”
This year’s sale, to be conducted by Quality Wool and Livestock, will begin at an earlier time of 1pm, following inspection from 10.30am, at 1273 Carpenter Corner Road.
Inspection of rams prior to sale day is available by appointment.
