Wallaloo Park team effort gets top ram result

Wallaloo Park at Marnoo is having a cracking run this year, with the Carter family selling a polled ram for big bucks in Adelaide, then impressing clients at their on-property sale.

Craig Trickey, John McGrath, Stephen Chalmers and Russell Sloan from Coriyule were the buyers of an $11,000 ram at Wallaloo Park Ram Sale. Picture: Chloe Smith

THIS spring has been one to remember for the Carter family at Marnoo, full of challenges but also some big highlights.

After breeding Merino rams for many decades, Victorians John and Jenny, along with son Trent and his wife Kate were unable to see one of their rams sell for their best-ever price — $76,000 — at the prestigious Adelaide Stud Merino and Poll Merino Ram sale in South Australia earlier this month.

The sale of the top ram was only made possible thanks to help from several SA Merino studs and agents, who transported and cared for the Wallaloo sire to get him to Adelaide, Trent said.

Several other interstate studs had to cancel their entries due to border restrictions.

“It was fantastic that the SA stud breeders accepted the ram to the sale at late notice, and then we had so much support to get him over the border, we’re very grateful,” Trent said.

“It was just a shame that my father couldn’t be there to see the high price.”

The Adelaide sale-topping ram was bought by Paul Cousins, Cousins Merino Services, on behalf of Kamora Park, Sandalwood and Seymour Park Poll, Narrogin, WA, with semen shares selling to Brimanna, Jaburee, Minta, Woolkabin and Kedleston Park studs.

Last week Wallaloo Park held its annual on-property sale, selling 175 rams from 200 offered during the auction to an average of $2731 and $16,000 top, to Richard Harkness, Superior Wool Merinos, Tintinara, SA.

Trent and Kate Carter from Wallaloo Park at Marnoo with the $16,000 top-selling ram from last week’s on-property sale. Picture: Chloe Smith

However, Trent said a technical glitch with online selling saw several large clients unable to bid. The remaining rams were all sold immediately after the hammer fell.

“We had about one third of the rams sell via AuctionsPlus, to a vast spread of clients interstate who couldn’t make it and 25 per cent were to new clients looking for rams with breeding values,” he said.

Trent said buyers favoured rams with good post weaning weight figures this year.