Merino rams to $3900

The multi-vendor sale included Graham and Susan Coddington of Roseville Park Dohne and Coddington Uardy Poll Merino, Yeoval, NSW, and Matthew and Cherie Coddington of Roseville Park Merino, Dubbo, NSW.

Coniston Pastoral, Ararat, purchased the top-priced Roseville Park Merino ram at lot 28, for his balance of figures and high yielding breeding values.

The ram had 18.6-micron fleece with a 3.3 standard deviation (SD), 18 coefficient of variation (CV) and a 99.3 per cent comfort factor (CF).

While it was more than they expected to pay for the ram, manager Chris Jarrett said they were committed to buy the ram for his even nourished wool and fleece weight.

The under-bidder was Bill Brewis of Murranumbla, Dalgety, NSW, who was successful in purchasing the second highest-priced ram for $3400 and another for $3200.

The rams recorded 17.6 and 19M, 2.7 and 3 SD, 15.1 and 16 CV, 99.7 and 99.6 per cent CF and Merino Production Index of 147 and 120 respectively.

Landmark Hamilton's wool manager Kevin Beaton stuck to his firm budget of $800 and purchased 10 rams to this price for his Talowra Station client.

While over in Graham Coddington's offering, the son of the $10,000 top-priced ram at Adelaide Premier Dohne Sire Sale 2013 received the highest price of $2200.

The autumn 2013 drop ram recorded a weaning weight (WWT) 2.6 kilograms, yearling weaning weight (YWT) Yfat of -0.2mm, YCFW 14.2pc and Dohne index of 121.7.

Three of Graham Coddington's Poll Merinos fetched the top-price of $2600, with two purchased by return client WA&RV Webster, Woodbury, Tasmania.

The Webster's choices, lot 1 and lot 3, weighed 111kg and 98kg, recorded 18.3 and 18.9M, 2.8 and 3 SD, 15.5 and 16 CV and 99.8 and 99.5pc CF respectively.

Following the sale, local client Gavin Bensch of Dunkeld, who purchased the other top-priced ram, upped his bid by $2 to become the highest Coddington Poll Merino buyer.

He purchased lot 4, a big bodied, autumn-drop ram for $2602. The 98kg ram measured 18.2M, 2.7 SD, 14.7 CV and 99.8pc CF.

"We invest a lot of money into measuring traits and we try to bring those traits up together, including body weight, fleece weight, worm resistance and fertility," Matthew Coddington said.

Overall the Coddingtons have had a solid sale year with 450 rams sold within nine month, including 211 at auction to av $2682.