Koole Vale
28 of 36 Merinos sold to $1600, av $954
12 of 12 White Suffolks sold to $900 (twice), av $713
KOOLE Vale stud principal Alan Harris said he couldn’t be happier with the result of his inaugural on-property ram sale in Costerfield last Wednesday.
At the start of the auction, he admitted it was a day he “didn’t think would ever happen”, but after 18 years of hard work and dedication, he said he was glad he “stuck it out”.
Of the 36 Merino and Poll Merino rams on offer, 28 sold, to a top price of $1600, av $954.
All 12 of the White Suffolks on offer sold, to a top of $900 (twice), av $713.
Mr Harris said that despite a bit of apprehension from those who normally buy from him privately, a lot of his regular clients turned up and purchased at the helmsman auction.
“Quite a number of my private buyers came along,” he said.
“There were a few new buyers too, about six new Merino buyers, and two new White Suffolk buyers, which I was quite impressed with,” Mr Harris said.
He said buyers were returning for rams that are bred for high rainfall conditions.
“They’re well suited to our local climate, which is why we get a lot of buyers from within a 50-100 kilometre radius,” he said.
“They’ve also got white, heavy cutting fleeces.”
Jim and father Lex Tattersall, Moormbool, purchased the top-priced ram, a May/June dropped horned Merino.
Jim Tattersall said that despite living only 10 kilometres away from Koole Vale, he’s never purchased from them before.
“We’ve seen their sheep around at shows for years, but this is our first time buying,” Mr Tattersall said.
He joins about 1400 ewes on his 1400-hectare property, 40 per cent of which are joined to White Suffolks, and the remainder to Merinos.
Mr Tattersall said the ram was, in his opinion, the best one of the lot.
“He’s got a solid build, and fantastic wool quality and quantity,” he said.
“Everything about him is suitable to what we’re after.”
The ram’s fleece measured 19.9 micron, 3.5 standard deviation (SD), a co-efficient of variation (CV) of 17.6pc, and a 99.4pc comfort factor (CF).
Dean and Adam Bennett, Bennmann, Everton Upper, purchased the second top-priced ram of the sale, at $1500.
Dean Bennett said the ram had one of the biggest body weights of the sale, at 109.5 kilograms.
“He’s big, and very meaty,” Mr Bennett said.
“He’s got a very square backside and good, loose skin.”
The ram’s fleece measured 19.6 micron, 3.6 SD, 18.4pc CV and a 99.3pc comfort factor.
Ian Ross, Shepherds Creek, Mia Mia, purchased five rams at the sale, at a top price of $1400 (twice), av $1100.
Mr Ross, a first-time buyer, said the rams are big, upstanding sheep.
“They’ve got bold, attractive wool,” Mr Ross said.
Mr Ross is a first-time buyer, but said he’s known about Mr Harris’ operation for years.
He runs about 9000 Merinos, and said he’s hoping the Koole Vale rams will help to “build sires”.
The two top-priced White Suffolk rams, which sold to $900, were purchased by S.I. Artridge, who purchased the equal highest number of White Suffolks, av $867.
John and Neale Dickinson, Tooborac, purchased four rams at the sale, two Merinos and two White Suffolks, at a top price of $850 (twice), av $775.
Rex Bennett, Elders, said the sale went extremely well.
He said it was a credit to Mr Harris’ hard work and determination.
The sale was conducted by Elders.
