RENEWED interest in quality Merino rams pushed prices to a Bendigo sale record of $46,000 at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show on Monday.
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A tri-state syndicate led by T.P. Jones and Co. agent Andrew Calvert paid $46,000 for Lot 87, the Alfoxton stud’s four-tooth grand champion superfine ram of the 2010 Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
Syndicate member the Beverley stud at Redesdale would retain possession of the Alfoxton ram, sharing semen rights with the Victorian studs, Mt Widderin at Skipton and Kevlyn at Coleraine; New South Wales studs Conrayn at Berridale and Merrignee at Boorowa and; the Mayfield stud at Swansea in Tasmania.
The ram was initially offered with 50 per cent semen marketing rights held by the Alfoxton, but was put on the market with full semen rights to the buyer before the hammer fell. Losing bidder was a syndicate led by Uruguayan consult Gustavo Peinado.
Selling agents Elders and Landmark sold 82 of the 111 rams offered for an average of $2974, more than $200 up on the 2009 average of $2730 for 70 of 102 rams cleared.
Elders stud stock specialist Ross Dickinson said he believed the $46,000 price was the highest paid for a ram at a Bendigo sale. He said industry confidence and ram demand had been boosted by recent high mutton and lamb prices, and a good season.
Mr Calvert said Alfoxton’s top-priced four-tooth ram was structurally very correct with real presence, purity of wool and outlook. Mt Widderin principal Geoff Notman said the ram was outstanding in conformation, purity and richness.
“He is the most outstanding superfine sheep I’ve come across.”
The August shorn ram boasted a 16.2 micron fleece with a standard deviation of 2.5, co-efficient of variation of 15.4, comfort factor of 99.8, curvature of 58 and spinning micron of 15.1.
Mr Dickinson said buyers at the sale came from Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.
The Merryville stud sold Lot 15 for $14,000 to W.J. and E.Z. Diss of Prairie, Victoria, in the sale, the stud’s Lot 8 went for $7000 to the Kerrsville stud at Coleraine and five other rams made from $4000-$5500.
The Wurrook stud sold Lot 4 for $9000 to the Walwa stud in New South Wales
Alfoxton also sold Lot 88 for $7000 to the Gringegalgona stud in Victoria and Lot 89 for $6000 to Mt Widderin. The Maisters Swamp ram, Lot 15, sold after the sale for $4000 to the Mt Bute stud in Victoria.
