The Sheepvention Ram Sale saw a top price of $18,000 at Hamilton last week.
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The two-year-old Merryvillle ram was lot 307 in the sale.
The ram, sired by P152, had a fleece micron of 18.4, with a coefficient of variation of 15.2 and standard deviation of 2.8, comfort factor 99.7 and spinning micron of 17.1.
The ram was bought by Elders wool manager at Hamilton David Whyte for a syndicate of seven studs, headed by the Kurra-Wirra stud of Robert and Bernadette Close.
Merryville retains 100 per cent semen marketing rights.
Mr Whyte said the ram was outstanding for its size and long body, and length of wool staple.
Joint selling agents Elders and Landmark sold 326 of 355 rams in the sale, for an average of $2215.
Five of five Comeback rams offered by Fernleigh were sold for an average of $1280.
21 of 25 Dohne rams were sold for an average of $2280 and 300 of 325 Merino rams reached an average of $2330.
The average was up compared to last year, with an increase of $525.
Agents said the clearance of 93 per cent was believed to be a record for the sale.
Mr Whyte said demand for rams at the sale was based on the ram offering’s high quality, wool prices, the price of sheep, recent good rainfall and increased joining of Merino ewes to Merino rams,
“But the wool price needs to be supportive to drive ram demand further,” he said.
* Full Sheepvention report in next week's Stock and Land
