Classings: In The Race and Classic Merino Ram Sale

13/10/2026

Good morning!🔥

10/10/2026

A solid classing week on Kangaroo Island SA with stud and commercial classing filling the week before Ella Matta Merino sale on Friday 9th October.

The important part of that day began at around 4pm after a mind blowing marathon White Suffolk & Composite sale at record averages, hogged most of the daylight!

Five Poll Merino rams sold to studs and averaged $5,200 to a top of $6,000. Forty nine of fifty two commercial Poll Merino rams averaged just over $2,700 so perhaps you could say the overall merino average sat at around $2,800.

The Heinrich clan allowed me to choose a Reserve ram that I’d classed in previously to be part of the selling team due to three kept from the same sire (that is still alive!).

Hence Lot 1A was created that in turn topped the sale and I secured for $6,000 on behalf of Karawatha Park, Buckleboo SA. Runner up bidder here was a determined Andrew Mitchell, Chelwood Farms, Mintaro SA who was well aware of the rams’ credentials.

I won’t rave too much but the exclusive fibre this bloke, EM250247 bred by Ella Matta 230066 exhibited was second to none in the sale. His backend setup was tremendous and stood really well on four, short and upright pasterns.

His extensive list of high end ASBV traits including the ever important welfare numbers was all part of the attraction right through to IMF and eating qualities. The fibre was ‘New England white!’

To wrap up Classings involvement in the sale I also bought Lot 2 for $5,500 for the jewel of Cowell, Calcookara Stud, Lot 7 at $5,000 for the Hollywood aligned, Coleburra Poll and 6 excellent flock workers for Lachy and Kels McKenzie, Barossa Valley SA.

A mention and a welcome to Nigel Kerin,
Kerin Poll, Yeoval NSW who couldn’t resist a popular Lot 3 at a super realistic $5,000 bred by Ella Matta super sire EM 230390.

💥 Ella Matta to host a feature display at Classings Classic 2027 please!

07/10/2026

Can’t rave enough about the professionalism of the Clare Valley Events Co crew.

Quick yet efficient setup and dismantle of this epic 66 metre monster instils confidence in knowing that we have things covered to display the nations’ best genetics under one roof.🔥🏆

07/10/2026

KI Luxury!🔥

30/09/2026

💥CLASSIC’26 - Monday September 7th -

28/09/2026

After a successful On Property sale ten days previous where a total clearance of 150 rams averaged just over $3,000, it was time to launch into the ewe hogget classing at Karawatha Park, Buckleboo SA.

The country here looked as good as I’ve ever seen over my four decades of classing here backed by similar comments from Bert Woolford. A wet classing day came as no surprise to add to the enjoyment of season.

A rewarding day for all present in witnessing intense quality across the whole day’s classing visually and backed up with trait leading ASBV’s - the animals looked like their numbers.

Our top ‘U1’ class contained some of the best ewes this country has on offer and I’m lucky enough to be around the place to witness such astounding specimens!

Of interest to me was a Karawatha Park homebred sire that threw high class progeny in the ram sale including the sale topper.

That ram KARPARK 251308 hosted an exotic skin punching out the elite stuff with YCFW 42.2 YWT 10.7 YSL 18.3 YEMD 1.2 YFat 0.9 YFD -1.1 SM 166 @16.7u tested in April.

His sire, KARAWATHA PARK 240078 (used as a ram lamb), debut with hogget progeny this year that were extreme with every facet that makes our Merino industry so unique. Growth and muscle in tandem with seriously high quality fibre and density with micron stability was exhibited all day.

His sire was Ella Matta 220275 that in turn was sired by Wallaloo Park Merino 172032.

Cull rate was absolutely minimal.

I’m hoping he will be represented in this years South Australian Merino Sire Evaluation 2026 joining/2027 drop.

I slid all the way to Nantoura Poll’s sale the next day yet enjoyed what the scenery had on offer across the entire journey.
- August 24th

Dion Woolford Barb Woolford Chelsea Kay Woolford Nutrien Ag Solutions Livestock - Eyre Peninsula

26/09/2026

Sometime in the ‘60’s my father Don began classing for Bob Everett which evolved into the creation of Lone Gum Merino, Crystal Brook SA.

Sixty years later the brand still exists, better bred than ever yet no On Property sale with only the very best selling to a handpicked group of commercial supporters.

Sourced genetics have had a large bearing on Lone Gum’s direction over the decades. Wallaloo Park, Leahcim, Gunallo, Ridgway Advance, and an exciting infusion from Ramsgate Poll sees the place in good stead.

Stuart and this loyal Classer have kept up the quality tempo for the last three decades.

Stuart’s enthusiastic daughter Rachel Jones and husband Ian are now adding the tech necessary to strengthen up the measurement sector and subsequent higher accuracies with ASBV’s.

Recent accolades and a recent post involving Butch and Jodie Dunn’s prized wool clip add to the magnetism of the joint. A recent ewe hogget test of Anthony Pfitzner, Point Pass SA was second to none on its sample after sample quality at Classings Lab.

The Pym family’s Merino flock at Rockleigh SA owes its high calibre fibre/meat combination to its majority based Lone Gum genetic.

This year’s grading of the young rams and classing of their half sisters was a sight to behold as reflected here with the days’ captures … August 21st

26/09/2026

23/09/2026

You might remember a post from back in June of the very best ewe hogget classing at Jodie and Butch Dunn’s of all time considering the top season allowing ‘our’ genetics to exhibit itself in express mode.

Reward follows with the pictured accolade a testament to persistence and tenacity in often testy conditions near Penong SA.

16.4u 74mm. 65% yield 40nkt at 1660c
and 3.5kg skirted at only 6 months growth a hint at what almost sole genetics from the Everett family’s Lone Gum, Crystal Brook SA can punch out add a little bit from Penrose Poll Merino a few years back.

Quality Wool

23/09/2026

There aren’t too many flocks in SA that can quote genuine superfine status but when you handle quite a few samples that test in the 14-17u range, loaded with softness and a whiteness not typical of most SA wools, you realise Peter and Margie Englands’ Blackford, Kingston SA samples have hit Classings Lab!

Photos require no commentary …