* 32 of 36 Merinos to $2300, av $1233
* 18 of 18 White Suffolks to $1350 (twice), av $1000
Confidence in the wool and sheep meat sector has seen central Victorian Merino stud Koole Vale, Costerfield, achieve its best sale ever, according to principal Alan Harris.
He said while most buyers came from around the area, the top priced ram went into NSW.
Terry and Tyra Cattle, Avalon, West Wyalong, paid $2300 for lot two, a Polled ram, sired by Koole Vale W1179, from the Woolkabin family.
“That’s the biggest thing – confidence is back,” Mr Harris said.
“Back in 2008, you couldn’t talk rams to people.”
Mr Harris said while buyers were not taking extra animals, they were prepared to pay more for rams.
“The sheep and wool market has been so solid in the last 10 months so people have a bit of money in their pockets,” he said.
“It’s confidence like we haven’t seen before.”
The top priced ram had a 19.2micron fleece, 3.4 standard deviation, 17.6 co-efficient of variation and 99.8per cent comfort factor.
The Cattle’s purchase followed on from one at the Bendigo ram sale and Mr Harris said it was one of three, they took back to NSW.
Mr Harris said taking Koole Vale’s rams to shows and sales were paying off.
He said the top Horned ram, lot 32, was purchased by P& H Bennett, Mia Mia for $2100.
Other buyers were J & G Ross, Mia Mia, who bought two Poll rams for $2200, while DG & HJ Kosch, Dundonnell, purchased two Polls for $2000 each.
Volume buyers were Ray Young, Baynton who purchased four Merinos (to $1800) and J N & M Dickinson who purchased four Merinos to $1000 and three White Suffolks to $950.
32 Merinos averaged $1233 of 36 offered.
Among the White Suffolks, the top price was paid by L Metcalf, Barfold, and K Heal, Wirrate who added another ram each to their draft.
A volume buyer was new client N and V Rischitelli, Heathcote, who purchased six to $950, for an average of $900.
Elder’s Bendigo’s Adam Millard said Koole Vale put up highly productive animals.
“They were well grown and punching out plenty of good micron wool,” Mr Millard said.
“The way the wool and sheep and lamb job is at the moment means there is still confidence for people to retain the core nucleus of their flocks.”