A ROCK-BANK Merino ram sold for $20,000 this week, the stud’s second highest on-property sale result.
The price paid for Lot 4, a 15.7 micron ram, by Morgiana’s Venning family, as Rock-Bank’s highest on-property price since 2002, when a ram was sold for $40,000 to the Mt Sturgeon Merino stud. Rock-Bank also sold a ram privately for $50,000 in 1997.
Joint selling agents Landmark, Arcadian Wool, and Jackson of Geelong sold all 50 rams offered for an average of $2679, an increase of $583 on last year’s result. Rams were sold to breeders in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
Bradley Venning of D.L. and M.J. Venning Partners, Kilmarnock, said the $20,000 ram would infuse new genetics into the family’s flock to produce rams. The Vennings are long-time Rock-Bank clients and shear about 10,000 sheep, 20 kilometres west of Hamilton, in south-west Victoria.
Mr Venning said the ram had the right wool type and skin with scale. It would help the flock maintain its clip diameter in the 16-18 micron range.
Losing bidder for the top-priced ram was the Leenavale Merino Stud of Sorell, Tasmania.
Benayeo breeder Kym and Leonie Sambell paid $6500 for lot 46 and $5250 was paid for rams by the Beverley Merino Stud at Redesdale and Ambleside from Berrybank. New South Wales breeders Paul and Gwen Jarick paid $5000 for lot 47.
Beaufort wool producer David Byrne paid from $100-$2800 for six rams and Violet Town breeder Andrew Gledo paid to $2600 for five rams.
A ram was also sold for $2200 with the proceeds donated to the Mulleraterong Centre Inc in Hamilton which holding its fund-raising Hollywood Ball on October 15.
