*51 of 60 sold to $5000, av $2115
Mount Yulong’s 10th annual ram sale was the stud’s best ever, setting a new record average, and selling multiple in the top price range.
The Poll Merino stud, based at Telangatuk East, offered 60 15-16 month-old rams, and sold 51, recording an 85 per cent clearance rate.
The record average price was $2115, up $730 on last year’s average.
This price was boosted after 13 rams in the catalogue sold for $3000 and above.
Stud principal Peter Rogers said the result was credit to their hard work in producing quality, dual purpose rams.
“We concentrate 100pc on polls, and we have for the last 35 years,” Mr Rogers said.
“When we first started, we saw their dual purpose potential, and now that’s really paid off as the sheep produce good wool, good carcases, and good lambing percentages.
“We're getting that balance right, and it’s because the polls really fit the bill.”
He was extremely pleased with the result of the sale, and said because their season hadn’t been too bad, the rams presented well.
Most of his clients have had similarly fortunate seasons, coming from the south of the state and the Western District.
“We got 14 millimetres of rain on Tuesday, which definitely made some people smile,” he said.
“We’ve been pretty lucky here, but we were getting to the stage where we were looking for rain, so that rain on Tuesday was good.”
He said with the wool market in a positive state, people seemed to be prepared to pay a bit more for better rams.
The top price of the sale was reached at Lot 7, making $5000.
It was purchased by Landmark’s Stephen Chalmers, on behalf of return buyer Geoff Gellert, Gelton Merino stud, Willaura.
Mr Chalmers said the ram had a really good outlook.
“He’s got a good body on him, good, long-stapled, bold, soft wool, and will fit into Geoff’s operation well,” Mr Chalmers said.
“He’s got very good wool and plenty of it.”
He said the ram would be joined to ewes eventually for a spring lambing.
Lot 7’s fleece measured 20.9 micron, 2.7 standard deviation (SD), 13.1 co-efficient of variation (CV) and 99.4pc comfort factor (CF), and it weighed 91.5 kilograms.
Mr Rogers agreed that the top ram was a stand out in the catalogue.
“He’s a good wool sheep with rich skin underneath, and he’s by one of our own sires, 5210, who was a son of a ram that we bought from East Mundalla (Tarin Rock, Western Australia) four or five years ago, so it’s good to see that coming through,” he said.
The second top-priced ram, Lot 25, was bought by April Brinkman, Hamilton, for $4250.
The ram’s fleece measured 21 micron, 2.8 SD, 13.3 CV and 99.7pc CF, and it weighed 91.5kg.
The biggest volume buyer of the sale was Neville Robinson, Edenhope, who purchased 15 rams, an amount he purchases annually.
Joely Mitchell
Joely started her career at Stock & Land as a cadet journalist in 2016. She is now the editor of the paper.
Joely started her career at Stock & Land as a cadet journalist in 2016. She is now the editor of the paper.
