FOREST SPRINGS
*55 of 60 Merino rams sold to $3300, av $1168
FOREST Springs Merino stud celebrated a successful first attempt at an open-cry auction, at its fourth on-property sale last week.
The Joel Joel stud offered 60 Poll Merino and Merino rams, selling all but five, to a top price of $3300, and an average price of $1168.
The top-priced ram, Lot 5, was snapped up by Hynam Poll Merinos stud principal Kevin Hynam, Longwood, who is no stranger to the stud.
“I bought the top-priced ram here two years ago, we like that the stud’s breeding bold, crimpy wool, with big wool cutting capacity,” Mr Hynam said.
He said Lot 5 stood out because of his overall correctness.
“He’s not the biggest sheep of the lot, but he’s got good muscle and fat figures, and has also been tested as a double poll,” he said.
“His wool is white and bold, which is what we’re looking to achieve.”
The ram recorded fleece measurements of a 20.1 micron, 13.4 per cent co-efficient of variation (CV), and a 2.7 standard deviation (SD).
It was the only ram Mr Hynam purchased at the sale, and will be joined to some “specially picked out ewes” in November.
There were some big volume buyers in the mix, including Spencer and Shannon Martin, ‘Watta Wella Park’, Concongella, who bought five rams, top $2300, av $1680.
Return buyers of three years, the Martin family appreciate the stud’s crimpy, well-nourished wool.
“We’re looking to put more nourishment in our wool, and increase staple length and lambing percentage, and the rams here have been doing the job,” Mr Martin said.
Robert Farnsworth, ‘Dell Water Pastoral’, Navarre, took home six, to a top of $1600 (twice), av $1200.
Having already bought two rams from the stud at Sheepvention earlier this year, Mr Farnsworth said the rams suit their climate.
“We’re local to the stud, and we have a similar climate, so the rams do really well in our country,” Mr Farnsworth said.
“We like their size and their wool, they’ll be joined in the next six to eight weeks.”
Forest Springs stud principal Bruce Dean said he was very happy with the result of the sale.
“That’s the highest clearance we’ve ever had, we’re getting a bigger profile and a bigger clientele to match,” Mr Dean said.
“We had a lot of repeat clients, but some new faces too.”
He said moving to an open-cry auction style definitely paid off.
“It’s always a risk when you’re first starting off that you’ll just get lots after lots passed in, but we had a really good clearance today,” he said.
Buyers came from Ararat, Avoca, St Arnaud, Stawell, and Donald, among other areas.
The sale was conducted by Elders.