At their 12th on-property ram sale, the Williams family of Thalabah Merino stud, Laggan, cleared all 60 rams offered to a $1583 average and top-price of $4500.
Stepping it up a notch, buyer registrations doubled and the average lifted by over $300 on the previous year.
Taking home the top-price ram was long-term client Lindsay Picker, “Pleasant View”, Binda, for $4500.
By a Thalabah DB family sire, the 95 kilogram June 2015-drop ram had fleece measurements of 21-micron fibre diametre, a standard deviation (SD) of 3.6, 16.7 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and 99pc comfort factor (CF).
Mr Picker said the ram was exactly what he looks for in a sire.
“He is very square on his feet, good barrel and deep hind leg, good productive skin and excellent conformation,” Mr Picker said.
He will be joined to the top five per cent of Merino ewes at “Pleasant View”.
“He will be one of the two best rams to go over the top ewes, replacing an older sire,” he said.
“And if they are up to it, I will keep some rams out of them.”
At Pleasant View 1200 Merino ewes are joined back to Merinos, 700 to Border Leicesters and 1000 first cross ewes are put to terminal sires.
The second highest price ram, knocked down for $3600, went to another long-term client, Vince Seary, “Fairview”, Bigga.
The ram, by the Thalabah Glendonald family (AI), weighed 77kg, and had a 20.2-micron fibre diametre, 3 SD, 19.9pc CV and 99.5pc CF.
Mr Seary purchased five rams to an average of $2560.
Volume buyer was Victorian client Leigh Watts, Charlton, who took away seven rams to top at $2000 twice and average $1758.
Auctioneer Rick Power, Landmark stud stock, said he was extremely happy with the draft of rams presented by Thalabah this year.
“Now things are not so focused on micron, they are putting up and breeding a better Thalabah sheep,” Mr Power said.
“They are square with good conformation with wool cut - they are getting back to what they are known for. They have also shown they can stand the test of high rainfall after the drenching they received in the last few months.”
The sale was conducted by Landmark, Goulburn, with Rick Power, Landmark stud stock, Boorowa controlling the bids.
- Full report in this week’s November 3 edition of The Land.