LACHLAN MERINOS
Total clearance of 120 rams, to $18,000, av $3092
FINISHING the season strongly after a tough winter was the story of the day for Lachlan Merinos, with its 14th annual ram sale at Forbes, NSW, topping $18,000.
Last Wednesday, the full draft of 120 Merino rams was cleared and averaged $3092.
The $18,000 top-priced ram weighed 115 kilograms and was sold to first-time buyer, Tim Westblade, Pastora Poll Merino stud, Lockhart, NSW.
Sired by Majestic Magic, the Poll Merino ram carried an 18.2 micron fleece, 3.0M standard deviation (SD), 16.5 per cent co-efficient of variation (CV) and a 99.8pc comfort factor (CF).
After viewing the top ram at the recent South West Slopes Merino field day at Harden, NSW, Mr Westblade said his main focus for ram selection was fleece weight and sound structure.
“Our main focus at home is increasing fleece weight and he matches our sheep very well,” he said.
“The first step is to get him home and do a progeny test – the only way to sort the good from the bad is to measure the lambs yourself.
“He will be joined in January and we will have his lambs on the ground by next June.”
The top-priced horned Merino ram fetched $11,000 and was sold to repeat buyer Sid Dickins, Audreylea, Booligal, NSW.
Sired by Kamora Park 304, it weighed 106kg. The fleece of the 2015 August/September drop ram measured 18.2M, 2.9M SD, 15.1pc CV and 99.8pc CF.
Lachlan Merinos principal Glen Rubi, said under trying circumstances on sale day, he was pleased with the client turnout and total clearance.
He said he would continue to push the boundaries with his sheep breeding. Given the result of the sale, it’s clear the stud is on the right path and “ringing a few bells within the industry”.
It was a tussle between buyers for the second highest price ram, which fetched $12,000 and was sold to repeat buyer of five years, Adrian O’Keefe, Bungoona Merino stud, Molong, NSW.
The 105kg 2015 September drop Poll Merino ram was also a son of Kamora Park 304.
Its fleece measured 16.2M, 2.9M SD, 17.9pc CV and a 99.7pc CF.
Volume buyer Mark Jones, Booroola, Condobolin, NSW, bought 26 stud rams, topping $7500, for a $3501 average.
