BELBOURIE MERINOS and POLL MERINOS
- 40 of 50 rams sold to $3600, av $1358
Belbourie Merinos and Poll Merinos’ efforts to increase wool cut has been well received by return and volume buyers.
The Marnoo-based stud’s annual on-property sale achieved a strong 80 per cent clearance, with 40 of the 50 Merino and Poll Merino rams offered sold. Competition from the return clients pushed prices up to a $1358 average and a $3600 top price, which was paid by David Coad, Moyston, for a B1223Syn son.
The 109.5-kilogram horned sire was among the seven shedded rams offered for sale, and it measured 18.2-micron, 2.7 standard deviation (SD) and 14.8 co-efficient of variation (CV).
Mr Coad has been buying Belbourie rams for 39 years, and this year purchased two rams, the other being another shedded B1223Syn son, for which he paid $2800. The ram measured 19.8M, 2.8 SD and 14.1CV.
He said the two rams were well grown and seemed to be good wool cutters, which he hoped would enhance what he was already doing in his flock.
He said they’d be instrumental in rebuilding his flock, after he lost 1100 sheep, including all his rams and many ewes in the January Moyston fires.
“It was a tough start to the season, and now the weather is making it a tough end,” Mr Coad said.
Belbourie principal Paul Hendy was pleased with the result and said clients had responded well to the family’s efforts to maintain wool quality and quantity on big, long, deep-bodied animals, which the top-priced ram exemplified.
Among this year’s volume buyers was another long-term client Darren Petrie.
The St Arnaud farmer bought five rams paying to $1300, av $1060. He chose rams with big frames, a good quality and quantity wool cut. He said he was moving to a broader micron to increase volume.
Volume buyers included Higgins Pastoral Company, Willaura, which purchased four rams to $1600, av $1550; Terry Robertson, Pinehut, Horsham, with four rams to $1200, av $1050; and N&B Wende, Frances, South Australia, with four rams to $1400, av $1150.
