*22 of 41 rams sold to $12,000, av $2409
NUMBERS were back slightly for the 73rd annual Great Southern Supreme Merino ram sale held in Canberra, but selling agent Rick Power, Landmark, said the quality was equal to past years.
The top price at $12,000 was paid for the champion sale ram offered by Paul Walton, Wurrook, Rokewood.
A bonus for the purchasers was the champion fine wool sale ram had also been judged grand champion ram of the show.
Following the judging of the sale ram classes, fine wool judge Alan McCormack, Walwa, Gurrundah, NSW, said their discussion had resolved around structure which was the whole basis on which sheep survive and produce.
"Without structure you can't have sheep in the paddock," he said.
"The outstanding skin on the Wurrook ram is punching out a great length of staple in a very pure fleece."
Mr McCormack further said the ram stood well with great balance.
When the ram had been judged grand champion ram of show, judge Peter Rogers, Mt Yulong, Telangatuk East, noted his tremendous size and quantity of wool.
"He has a great lock and length of staple on a magnificent skin," Mr Rogers said.
The top-priced ram was bought by a Monaro, NSW-based syndicate including Gordon and Jenny Crowe, Round Plain, Cooma, NSW, the Lette family, Conrayn, Berridale, NSW, and Michael Hedger, Snowy Plain, Berridale.
Mrs Crowe said they were very taken with the style of wool and length of staple of the ram's fleece.
"He has a great outlook with a great sires head and we think he will do a lot of good for our stud," she said.
Jayne Lette further said the ram also appealed for his bulk of fleece.
"We have had a lot of success with Wurrook in the past," she said.
"This ram has a lovely soft muscle with a sirey head, is well covered and has a great underline and flank."
Mr Walton reserved 250 doses of semen from the ram which weighed 141 kilograms and had fleece measurements of 18.4 micron, 2.5 standard deviation and 13.6 coefficient of variation.
A second ram offered by the Wurrook stud sold for $4000 when bought by Glen Brothers, Guildford.
Other good sales included one at $3250 and one at $3000 purchased by E.J Merriman and Son, Yass, NSW, from the offering of C.T Merriman and Son, Merrignee, Boorowa, NSW, while Wal and George Merriman, Merryville, Boorowa, sold one at $3000 and one at $2000 to E.J Collins, Harden, NSW.
Mr Collins' first selection, a son of Magnussen, carried a March-shorn fleece which measured 18.4 micron, with 3.1 SD and 16.8 CV.
The Alcock family, Greenland, Bungarby, NSW, followed their show success with a sale at $2500 purchased by Lochness Pty Ltd, Laggan, NSW, Michael Corkhill, Grassy Creek, Reids Flat, NSW, sold a son of LD-700 measuring 17.7 micron after the sale for $2500 to Peter and Jayne Lette, Conrayn, Berridale, while Bim Merriman, Merrinjuck, Yass, NSW, purchased two rams at auction at $2000 apiece - one from Merrignee and one from Greenland.
Mr Power said vendors had reasonable reserves on the rams, and were prepared to meet the market.
"Unfortunately we were back on buyer registrations but it was a good result in the current situation," he said.