Classings: In The Race and Classic Merino Ram Sale

Matt and Elle Lehmann’s Flairdale Poll Merinos has the goods when a balanced product is concerned. The cataloguing of this years sale team was the stud’s best ever - as if I’d never said that before!

Honestly this joint keeps impressing year by year with smart joining tactics being rewarded with an alluring animal including ever improving accuracies with ASBV’s and low breeding wastage - high tops, low culls.

The ewe hoggets boasted the same rave review!

Flairdale’s own sires doing the ‘damage’ here without too much outside intrusion taking hold. The inclusion of Pimbena genetics via the purchasing of that studs dispersed ewe lambs last year has added to the excitement.

That Classic entry Flairdale 250035 is a screamer and should attract attention at Classic ‘26 - superb skin, fluid nourishment and safe density with numbers to boot. (See photo)

The work ethic of these two has been instilled into the young kids who were quite happy to unslop the yards with buckets of dry stuff as to ensure all animals had safe passage to the classing race.

And that last photo .. never have I seen ears as big on a ewe hogget like those snorters! 🏆

FLAIRDALE ON PROPERTY SALE
COOKE PLAINS S.A.
MONDAY 17th AUGUST

Nutrien Ag Solutions Murray Bridge
Nutrien Livestock - S.A. Stud Stock
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Elders SA Livestock
Elders
Elders

Direct from Balmoral/Hamilton to Superior Wool Merinos’ Tintinara S.A. young ram cataloguing for their early September sale.

As the stud name suggests, it really was wool after wool throughout the day coupled with good growth and conformation - not hard to capture a great shot or two here, ever.

The thrust for higher EMD and Fat has certainly taken hold here thanks to SWM’s own sires bred by Mumblebone Merino
initially in cahoots with Baderloo Poll Merino, Hendowie Poll Merinos, Leahcim and more recently, Trigger Vale.

Wool quality and density has somehow survived the onslaught but these necessary traits deserves a watchful eye down the track - I’ll do it!

Always good to have a chat with Rob Harkness who keeps on keeping on all day long only to be outdone by Brooke, the mistress at the helm and master of the wand! Great day Richard! - July 24th.

💥 SUPERIOR WOOL MERINO RAM SALE
ON PROPERTY
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4th

Elders SA Livestock
Merino SA
South East Stud Merino Field Day
Classings: In The Race and Classic Merino Ram Sale

Around 2014 I was on the side of the road at a steep embankment near Cascade WA next to a truck that was trying to fall over due to a tyre blowout when the phone rang that I had to ignore - if I’d answered it that stock carrier could have ended on its side! 🥴

I got back to AWI’s Geoff Lindon and he asked if I would consider being part of an upcoming project involving Merino ewe classing across their lifetime in tandem with recording and measuring every trait possible including eventual genomic data.

Five sites across the nation (not SA!) involving 138 specially selected Merino sires of all descriptions were used to create progeny that were scrutinised across their lifetime.

The MLP (Merino Lifetime Ewe Project) was established heavily backed by AWI.

This culminated in 6/7 years of early AMSEA then MLP classing for Elders Hamilton’s David Whyte (aided by Andrew Howell), and myself at Tuloona near Harrow Vic. owned by, now established legends, Michael and Jane Craig and their excellent staff, Sean and Marina.

2015 and 2016 drop progeny started the ball rolling.

This post could go forever such is all of the outcomes and information gleaned across all of the trial work. MLP information rollout forums are happening right now with the one involved here at the Balmoral Sport Complex.

Stay tuned for summary literature
from this project that is loaded with information that helps us understand more about these majestic animals as well as dispelling many a myth! - (July 23rd).
Australian Wool Innovation
BCS Agribusiness

The South East Stud Merino Field Day was more boisterous and noisier than Bendigo Sheep Show and loaded with relevant genetics to complement our incredible dual commodity markets at the minute.

Classings are proud sponsors of this event made easier by the amount of our clients’ studs involved and those that support our Classings Classic sale all flaunting superior animals.

Hats off to the committee for keeping the day extremely aligned to what’s necessary on such a day - promoting studs and genetics to commercial woolgrowers and studs alike - no time wasting, irrelevant to the industry, judging, ribbons and tweed!

The photos reflect the feeling of the day with so many punters excited about the prospects of a ripper season, green pasture, healthy stock, budget-able wool market, well over 100% weaning rates and skyrocketing meat pricings.

Exciting times!💥👏🏼

Ramsgate Poll Merinos
Superior Wool Merinos
Coleburra Poll Merinos
Benefield Poll Merino
Ridgway Merinos
Gunallo Stud
Ridgway Advance, Poll Merino
Kelvale Poll Merinos
Calcookara Stud
Nantoura Poll Merino Stud
Lee Slape
Pepper Well Poll Merino's
Flairdale Poll Merinos
Darren Dob O'Brien
Mernowie Poll Merinos
Leahcim Poll

First sale off the ranks for the year for me today at Darren Dob O'Brien and Jodie Reseigh-O'Brien’s O’Brien Poll at the Wudinna Showgrounds S.A.

Considering a temporary mass exodus from stock to more cropping in the area, the sale went well with a few familiar faces of old not present but a few fresh versions filling that space.

Angas Richardson, Boothby Downs near Tintinara with dad Mark, were the successful new custodians of Lot 9 pictured and parting with $12,000 in the process - Duane Symonds, McPiggery, Lameroo S.A. was runner-up.

Bred by Wallaloo Park Merino, 220960, OB250770 displayed all of the phenotypic and measured traits this joint is renowned for including YWT 13.5 YEMD 2.2 YFat 0.4 WR 0.3 CS 0.44 & YCFW 19.1.

Clients (and friends!) Celia and Neville Kernick, Bruce Heddle, Matthew Pym and Milton Cross bought around ten between them as to influence their various enterprises particularly where early growth, muscle and a good balance of welfare traits including dag and worm resistance is concerned. All of these in the $2,000- $3,800 range.

64 rams in the main auction averaged $2,171 with some of these potentially being displayed at Classic’26.

Nutrien Livestock - S.A. Stud Stock
Nutrien Ag Solutions Livestock - Eyre Peninsula
Merino SA
Classings: In The Race and Classic Merino Ram Sale

Nervous!👌🏼👏🏼

⭐SAVE THE DATE | Ramsgate Poll Merino Sale
📆 Tuesday 11th August 2026
☎️ Steven Doecke | 0427 817 323
📲 AuctionsPlus | https://auctionsplus.com.au/auctions/sheep/ramsgate-poll-merino-sale/128468

Follow the below link to learn more about our upcoming sales!
https://tinyurl.com/msb2935a

Ramsgate Poll Merinos | Elders Keith