North East Merinos
41 of 48 Merino and Poll Merino rams sold to $3750, av $1691.
BUYERS from East Gippsland, the south-west and southern NSW boosted competition at the North East Merino Breeders’ 21st annual sale on Tuesday.
The $1691 average was $166 above last year’s result across the same number of rams sold, 41.
Stuart Fox, Fox Pastoral Company, Merton, bought three Toland Poll Merino rams including the sale-topping ram at $3750. He also bought the ram that won the all purpose award for $3500, and another for $3000.
“They had the balance of wool and carcase traits,” Mr Fox said.
The top-priced ram’s wool measured 18.7 micron, 3.5M standard deviation, 18.5 per cent co-efficient of variation and 99.7pc comfort factor. It measured 83 kilograms, 7 millimetres fat and 37mm eye muscle depth.
Mr Fox said they’d been using Toland rams for about eight years as they were trying to get more dual purpose type Merinos. The rams will be put out with ewes in March.
Another repeat buyer Ray Penberthy, who manages the Prowse family’s farm at Violet Town, also secured three rams. He paid to $2000 twice, av $1833 for the Kilfeera Park rams. These were in addition to four Kilfeera Park rams he purchased at Sheepvention, Hamilton, last week.
Mr Penberthy chose the rams on their wool style (with all their microns measuring 16.8-18M) and said while they had a finer flock, they were looking to increase the clip’s volume.
“The rams have dense fleece and the wool is nice, bright and stylish,” he said, adding he picked rams with a good sized body with a spring of rib.
The North East Merino Breeders Group president Simon Riddle said the strong sale result reflected the “exceptional” standard of the rams offered.
“The sheep here are heading to true all purpose types that are fast growing, with strong carcase traits and great wool,” he said.
Mr Riddle said it was terrific to have new clients from regions around Geelong and Bairnsdale.
He said the strong crowd also included repeat local buyers.
Bindawarra stud offered rams for the first time in the sale and although based in Gippsland, its team has family ties to the north east. It was a successful debut, with Bindawarra selling all four of the rams offered for a top of $2600, av $1850.
Toland Poll Merino sold all 12 rams offered, av $2438; Koole Vale sold all eight rams av $1213; Kilfeera Park sold seven of eight, av $1471; Wirrate sold seven of eight, av $1429; Bennmann sold three of four, av $900; Kilfeera Park Poll’s four rams were passed in.
