Investments pay off at Stavely Park, rams in demand

Of the 72 Merino and Poll Merino rams offered, 69 sold, hitting a top price of $4500 twice, and an average price of $2473.

The average jumped $355 on last year’s average, which had also been a significant increase on the year prior.

And stud co-principal Eileen Brady said this was reward for effort.

“We were very pleased with the line up of rams this year, the 72 we had up were very even, and good quality right through to the last ram,” Ms Brady said.

“We’ve spent a lot of money investing in good genetics in the last few years, and that’s starting to pay off.”

She said their rams had big frames with good constitution, and the ability to cut a lot of good quality wool.

The majority of the offering, 60, were polled rams, and she said they were in higher demand.

“We’ve been in polls for about 15 years now, they’re just a lot easier to look after,” she said.

And the two top-priced rams, lots 3 and 12, were both polled.

Lot 3 was snapped up by Anthony and Roxanne Smith, Brimpaen.

The ram was sired by Mercenary, by West Plains Poll Merino stud, Delegate, NSW, and its fleece measured 20 micron, 3.0 standard deviation (SD), 15.0 co-efficient of variation (CV), and 100 per cent comfort factor (CF).

Return client and buyer of many Stavely Park top-priced rams, Tom Bibby, Tatyoon, purchased Lot 12.

It was sired by a Poll Boonoke, Conargo, NSW, ram, and its fleece measured 18.4 micron, 3.1 SD, 19.6 CV, and 99.6pc CF.

Mr Bibby bought six rams in total, av $4000.

Ms Brady said both top-priced lots had been standouts from the get go.

“They were big rams with good constitution and outstanding wool,” she said.

The biggest volume buyer on the day was David Edmondson, Waubra, who bought 10 rams.

Daryl Wells, Meredith, bought three rams to a top of $4000 twice, av $3666.

Greystones, Caramut, bought seven to a top of $4250 twice, av $3357.

Maylands, Tatyoon, bought five to a top of $4000 twice, av $3100.

Nevflo, Caramut, bought eight to a top of $4250, av $2875.