Price analysis: Ram sale averages increase

See how prices compared in an analysis of 145 ram sales across Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania this spring.

All sheep breeds were in high demand this spring ram selling season.

An analysis by The Weekly Times of the 145 ram sale results recorded during the spring season so far — there are some auctions still to come — shows the clearance rate between Merinos and meat breeds are almost identical.

But where the breed groupings differ is price. Merinos were worth almost half the money prime lamb breeders were.

And the meat focused breeders saw an increase in the average price that was almost triple the increase recorded by their woolly cousins.

There were 95 Merino and Poll Merino ram sales and 50 meat breed ram sales recorded by The Weekly Times in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and NSW this season.

At those sales 5631 prime lamb breed rams sold, from 5932 offered, for a clearance of 94.92 per cent, while 10,226 Merino and Poll Merino rams sold from 10,767 offered, for a clearance rate of 94.97 per cent.

Although the analysis does not cover all of the ram sales held, it gives a clear picture of the trend where averages across all ram sales were up significantly on last year.

Only a small number of studs recorded a dip in their average, compared to last spring.

The 95 Merino and Poll Merino sales had an overall average price of $2142, while the meat breeds sold for almost double that at $4043.

Averages for most ram sales increased this spring. Picture: Chloe Smith.

Across the board averages increased anywhere from $50 up to more than $9000 on last year, however 8 per cent of Merino ram sales and 6 per cent of meat breed ram sales reduced their averages.

The average price increase for the 50 meat breed ram sales was $1479, while for the 95 Merino and Poll Merino sales the average price increase was $551.

Some of the standout average increases were: Tattykeel Australian Whites at Oberon, NSW, increased their average by $9053 on last year to $17,856 for 240 rams and Valma Poll Dorsets from Tasmania increased their average $3489, to $5194 for 44 rams.

Wallaloo Park Merino and Poll Merino, Marnoo, increased their average $2059 on last year to $4790 for 181 rams.

Top price records were also smashed this year, with 35 Merino and Poll Merino ram sales and 17 meat breed sales recording top prices of $10,000 or more.

The standout sale this spring was the new Australian record for a meat sheep breed with Tattykeel Australian White stud selling, Tattykeel White Gold, for $165,000 to Flaxley Australian White Sheep, Flaxley, South Australia.

A new Australian Poll Dorset record was set, with a ram from the Valma stud selling for $41,000 and Collinsville stud, Hallett, South Australia set an Australian on-property Merino record of $88,000 for a 21.9 micron Poll Merino ram.

Collinsville general manager Tim Dalla, Elders Ben Finch and Tony Wetherall, George Millington, stud principal and Tony Brooks, Brooks Merino Services with the $88,000 ram. Picture: Tegan Buckley, Mallee Marketing