ROCK-Bank Merino stud achieved a total clearance at their annual on-property sale on Monday.
The Victoria Valley based stud sold a total of 47 Merinos and Poll Merinos for an average price of $1225 and a top of $3200, which was paid for a stylish, ultra-fine ram.
The sale-topping Walter son, from Rock-Bank's successful Ringmaster family, was the sole purchase of Russell Hartwich, Kelseldale Merino Stud, Ballyrogan.
Mr Hartwich said his family had been buying Rock-Bank rams for some 25 years and the ram purchased at this sale would be joined naturally to select stud ewes in late spring.
"He has the wool type we like and we hope he will enhance what we already have," Mr Hartwich said.
"He has very rich wool, good confirmation and a nice, square shape."
This assessment of the ram's wool was backed up by its measurements – weaner micron of 16, a standard deviation of 2.1M, a co-efficient of variation of 14M, 100 per cent comfort factor and a curvature of 71.
One of the underbidders was the Rayner family, Pomanara Merino stud, Sallys Flat, NSW. Robyn Rayner and son Luke made the 12 hour drive to attend the Rock-Bank on-property sale for the first time. They secured two other rams av $2400, including the second top-priced ram – a 16.7M Tim son, for $3100.
"This ram has beautiful wool, a good body and soft, productive skin; it cut an amazing 3 kilograms (greasy at 141 days), so you couldn't ask for much better," Ms Rayner said.
other buyers came from as far as Gippsland and even King Island, Tasmania.
Volume buyers included Kevin Wilde, Bayindeen, who bought 10 rams including one for $1000 and nine for $800; DJ&PM Byrne, Beaufort, who bought nine rams to $1600, av $1011; and Bill Rogerson, Casbern Park, Glenthompson, who bought seven to $2200, av $1228.
Mr Rogerson said he picked the draft on their woolcharacter of long stapled, bright and defined crimp, on a good frame and feet. He plans to join them to maiden Merino ewes in November.
He said he had bought Rock-Bank sires for more than a decade and they had proven to be good dual-purpose types – as well as averaging an 18M wool clip, Mr Rogerson has also topped three of the past five special first-cross ewe sales at Hamilton with Rock-Bank sired ewes.
Rock-Bank principal John Crawford was pleased with the full clearance and said the sale represented good value to the three new clients and the solid base of return clientele.
He said there wasn't the same stud interest that had boosted the sale in previous years because they had bought up in the past few years and were also buying semen from the stud.
"But the wheel will keep coming around because we're on the right track with the largest body size in the ultrafine and superfine Merinos in Australia, while maintaining the microns and wool quality," he said.