Confidence in Pooginook

The stud – now owned by Macquarie Bank’s Paraway Pastoral Company- sold 219 rams to a top of $10,000 to average $1357 and gross a touch under $300,000.

Paraway Pastoral Company regional manager John Sutherland said the Pooginook Merino breeding will only get stronger as the 2007 drop rams for the sale were selected from 2700 ram weaners.

“This will only get better with 116 per cent lambs weaned in 2008 from ewes joined, offering enormous potential in 2009 with greater selection pressure,” he said.

Mr Sutherland said the 237 rams offered averaged 18.7 micron, 18.3 co-efficient of variation (CV), 3.4 standard deviation (SD), 99.4 comfort factor (CF) and 84 kilograms for body weight, which was remarkable.

Rob and Stephen Lindsay, Cora Lynn, Peak Hill, NSW, paid the $10,000 top for what they described as “a complete sheep from top to toe”, with a 16.7 micron fleece at 110kg and 19.4 CV, 3.2 SD, 99.6 CF and 75 greasy fleece weight percentage.

Tony Inder, Allendale Merinos, Goolma, NSW, again secured the second top priced ram - a 17.4 micron, 99 kilogram ram with a 99.5 CF along with a second ram for $3800 in the first run of 20 specially selected rams.

FR Barber and Company, Emrose, Baldry, NSW, averaged $2538 for four outstanding sires, while return buyers Kym Mosey, Twin Creek, Kapunda, South Australia, paid to $2800, averaging $2000 for the six rams.

Volume buyers included JH Nazzari and Company, Tambellup, Western Australia, which paid to $2600 and a $1723 average for 13 rams and Rockglen Pastoral Company, Manildra, NSW, which bought 11 rams between $1000 and $1600 to average $1327.

Mt Talbot, Toolondo, paid around the same money averaging 10 at $1300 while Bourchier Brothers, Boonagong, Tocumwal, NSW, averaged 10 at $800.

The sale was conducted by Landmark with Kevin Norris and Andrew Wishart as the respective auctioneers.