PANORAMA
*26 of 40 rams sold to $3200, av $1550
A COMPLETE buying gallery of return clients helped support Panorama Poll Merino stud’s 28th on-property ram sale at Borung.
The stud offered 40 rams, and sold 26, to hit a top price of $3200, which is up $500 on last year’s sale, and an average price of $1550, which is up $350 on last year.
There was also an additional five rams sold this year to last.
Panorama stud principal Frank Byrne credits this success to the positive seasonal conditions they have had in the past few months.
“We had a good year, which helped make the rams look up to scratch, they were all grass fed, and out of the paddock this morning,” Mr Byrne said.
The top-priced ram, Lot 5, was purchased by Fox & Lillie business development manager Adrian Flint, on behalf of Duncan, Simone and Lane Hodgson, ‘Arundel Station’, Kyalite, NSW.
“The ram had plenty of weight, and plenty of crimp,” Mr Flint said.
Lot 5 was a May 2016-drop, and recorded fleece measurements of 20.6 micron, 4.4 standard deviation (SD), 21.8 per cent co-efficient of variation (CV), and 97.7pc comfort factor (CF).
Duncan Hodgson said he has a long history with the Byrne family’s rams, having bought for 30 years.
“They’re good, long-bodied sheep, with good wool crimp, we did very well with our lambs this year, and we’ll be hoping to do well again next year,” Mr Hodgson said.
The Hodgson family bought a total of six rams, also buying the second top-priced ram, Lot 15 for $3100, av $2150.
A big volume buyer was Alan Wilson, ‘Uonga’, Wychitella, who bought five rams, to a top of $1800, av $1400.
A return client who had also bought from Mr Byrne’s father, Mr Wilson said the Panorama rams add a bit more frame to his flock.
“The rams here offer a bit more meat than the traditional Merino, they’re good dual purpose sheep,” Mr Wilson said.
“We’re trying to keep our wool clip and quality up, and focus on nourishment.”
Allan and Janine Wiltshire, Prairie, bought four rams at the sale, to a top of $2500, av $1625.
Another return client, Mr Wiltshire said the Panorama rams are very good doers.
“They really suit our country, they’re good wool sheep, and good for fat lambs,” Mr Wiltshire said.
“We’re running a self-replacing flock, and join our older ewes to Border Leicesters for first-cross lambs that we send to market.”
He said he tried to pick out an even lineup of rams.
“I was looking for mid-ranged micron sheep, not heavy micron sheep,” he said.
