WURROOK MERINOS
- 86 of 88 rams sold to $3400 twice, av $1372
WURROOK Merino stud, Rokewood, was well supported by long-term clients at its annual on-property ram sale on Thursday.
Eighty-six of 88 rams sold to an average of $1372, which principal Paul Walton said was good considering the rapidly drying season and the state of the fine wool market.
“We and the buyers are happy; there was value in the sale result for our regulars,” Mr Walton said.
He was pleased the team had put together an even sale draft to offer to the mostly return clients who came from throughout Victoria. He said they continued to buy at Wurrook, in some cases for decades, because the rams were breeding predictably for them.
The sale topped at $3400 twice. The first ram to reach the equal top price was a Merryville 81 (Hamilton Giant) son, identification tag 16, which was purchased by long-time supporter Andrew Leask, Tiree Pastoral, Benalla. Mr Leask said the ram had impressive frame and size and “…beautiful, crimpy, white, well-nourished wool”.
Its wool measured 17.4 micron, 2.6 standard deviation (SD) and 100 per cent comfort factor (CF).
“I bought a ram by the same sire last year, and I’ve been absolutely impressed by his lambs,” Mr Leask said.
He has been using Wurrook genetics for about 10 years in his 1500-ewe flock and at last week’s sale bought two rams, av $3300.
The other equal-top priced ram was sold to the Kelly family, Strathfieldsaye. The 16.5M ram was sired by Wurrook 22 from the Ringmaster family. It also had an impressively low SD of 2.2 and a 100pc CF.
The Kelly family secured the most rams of any buyer, with nine av $1767.
Other volume buyers included Wurrook’s neighbour Jim Boyle, with eight at $800 each; Dennis Banks, Hothorpe Grange, Mt Mercer, with seven at $800 each; and Fox & Lillie agent Eamon Timms with six av $1417.
Terry and Shayne Bedggood, Napoleons, secured five rams av $1160. Shayne said the family had been buying Wurrook rams for 40 years because of their stylish, white, bright wool and handling. They plan to join the rams they purchased at the sale in late April to the younger of the 4000 breeding ewes.
