About Us

David, Margaret and Harley Smith run Malleetech Poll Merino Stud which is located in the Murray Mallee 10 km south of Geranium in 400mm rainfall country.

We aim to breed sheep that produce a better financial return to the sheep owner. To achieve this aim, the flock is fully pedigree recorded with wool and body (including eye muscle depth and back fat) traits being measured to produce reliable Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV's). We aim to cut plenty of wool and produce lots of quick growing lambs.

We use the Sheep Genetics Sustainable Merino index to rank our animals after visual traits have been assessed.

Sustainable Merino has a strong focus on increasing fleece weight, growth and lean meat yield, and reproduction, whilst maintaining staple strength and fibre diameter. It also focuses on reducing worm egg count, dag and wrinkle. This index is suited to producers with a strong focus on sustainability, with a balance between wool, meat and reproduction.

Malleetech sheep are bred tough to perform in Mallee conditions with minimal hand feeding.

Malleetech ASBV's are often trait leaders and most rams sold are in the top 10% of Australia.

Meet the Family

David Smith

Stud Principal and Founder

Harley Smith

Stud Manager and Pregnancy Scanner

Margaret Smith

Advisor

PXL_20240430_070700640_exported_799_1719

Douglas

Sheep Handler

How a Helmsman Auction Works?

At Malleetech we run a Helmsman Auction on sale day which allows our ram buyers to make the best decisions for them, without the pressure of time or the fear of missing out

1. On arrival, the intending purchasers register at the bid table and receive a a buyer number or register online with Auctionsplus.

2.

3. When the sale commences, all rams are on the market simultaneously. You may bid on any ram, regardless of lot number, by filling in a card and handing it to a 'runner' or through Auctionsplus.

5. All rams are displayed for inspection as usual, with relevant information provided in the catalogue or with pictures and details on Auctionsplus.

4. You may open the bidding at its "upset price" and further bids in multiples of $100 will be accepted. There is no limit on the size of bid.

Bids are recorded with the buyers number on a large board adjacent to the ram display area. You can bid on any number of rams at once and can see at a glance whether your bid still stands or has been overbid. Auctionsplus will also show the winning bidder and price.

6. There is no pressure to commit yourself to another bid. If your first choice ram goes over the limit you can still bid on any other ram on sale.

7. A bid once submitted and recorded cannot be retracted, and the person responsible for submitting such a bid will be responsible for it until it is overbid.

8. Further bids would trigger the same process until no more bids are received in a specified period, which would signify the end of the sale. (Note that the bidding interval may remain at two minutes throughout or may be shortened progressively to as little as 15 seconds to speed up the sale.)

The Benefits

You have more time to consider lodging a bid. You can place genuine bids on any ram of your choice at any time during the sale period.

You have the opportunity to reassess each lot during the sale period without any pressure to make an instant decision.

You have the opportunity to take home the rams you want , irrespective of lot order. For example, having been out-bid on lot 36, your first choice, you can move back to your second choice ram earlier in the catalogue, for example lot 7.

If you need more than one ram , Helmsman gives you flexibility and time to average your purchase costs.

About Us

Meet the Family

How a Helmsman Auction Works?

At Malleetech we run a Helmsman Auction on sale day which allows our ram buyers to make the best decisions for them, without the pressure of time or the fear of missing out

1.

On arrival, the intending purchasers register at the bid table and receive a a buyer number or register online with Auctionsplus.

2.

3.

When the sale commences, all rams are on the market simultaneously. You may bid on any ram, regardless of lot number, by filling in a card and handing it to a 'runner' or through Auctionsplus.​

5.

All rams are displayed for inspection as usual, with relevant information provided in the catalogue or with pictures and details on Auctionsplus.

​

4.

You may open the bidding at its "upset price" and further bids in multiples of $100 will be accepted. There is no limit on the size of bid.​

Bids are recorded with the buyers number on a large board adjacent to the ram display area. You can bid on any number of rams at once and can see at a glance whether your bid still stands or has been overbid. Auctionsplus will also show the winning bidder and price.

6.

There is no pressure to commit yourself to another bid. If your first choice ram goes over the limit you can still bid on any other ram on sale.

​​

7.

A bid once submitted and recorded cannot be retracted, and the person responsible for submitting such a bid will be responsible for it until it is overbid.​

8.

Further bids would trigger the same process until no more bids are received in a specified period, which would signify the end of the sale. (Note that the bidding interval may remain at two minutes throughout or may be shortened progressively to as little as 15 seconds to speed up the sale.)

The Benefits

When the sale commences, all rams are on the market simultaneously. You may bid on any ram, regardless of lot number, by filling in a card and handing it to a 'runner' or through Auctionsplus.

You may open the bidding at its "upset price" and further bids in multiples of $100 will be accepted. There is no limit on the size of bid.

A bid once submitted and recorded cannot be retracted, and the person responsible for submitting such a bid will be responsible for it until it is overbid.