A tough season didn’t damper the prices or spirits at the second annual Beverley Superfine Merino Stud on-property ram sale last week, topping at $3200.
There was a large crowd of buyers from across Victorian and interstate who visited the long-established stud.
The top price ram, Lot 22 tag number lime 118 was a March shorn ram, with 15.6 FD, 2.1 SD, 13.5 CV and 99.9 CF. This ram was purchased by Dorothy Sloan from Violet Town, Vic for $3200.
Ms Sloan said she picked the ram as “...he has good wool, which appeals to me and our program”.
She also purchased a further two rams, lot 20 and 44, to average $2333.
There was good support from the Tasmanian buyers, taking home a total of 12 rams. Bonneys Plains purchased five rams, top of $2600 av $1700. Lower Marshes Pastoral purchased four rams, to av $1600.Wheland & Sons purchased three rams to av $1300.
Sam Nicolson from Bonneys Plains, Fingal Valley, Tas is a repeat buyer to Beverley. As he says this wool is suited to his country, which is drier.
“I am looking for more productive sheep, while maintaining a type and micron,” Mr Nicolson said.
For the Tasmanian clients it is hard to source these sheep in their state, therefore they have to outsource to the Mainland.
Landmark agent and auctioneer Andrew Sloan said it was great to see the increase in the average from last year.
“It was a good solid sale without the over the top prices. Once again the rams had good wool, which comes from the good genetics," Mr Sloan said.
There was more interest in the March shorn rams, which is said to be the “new trend”.
John Barty, Beverley Merinos, said while the finer end of the wool job was struggling he was pleased with the day's results.
Next year Beverley will offer a new line of rams based on the One Oak 2 genetics as a separate stud called Beverley 2.
“This is to offer rams purely from One Oak blood lines to produce bigger frame, higher cutting rams for a different options for our clients," Mr Barty said.