The annual Eastern Riverina Poll Merino multi-vendor ram sale was well supported by sheep breeders from the local districts when 111 rams were on display for auction.
Studs represented included Simon and Amanda Bahr, Meadow View, Henty; Pitson family, Valley Vista, Culcairn; Cameron, Glenda and Matthew Martin, Old Cobran, Mullengandra and Ruston and Ryan Donovan, Hurlstone Park, Mulwala.
Individual stud sale results:
Meadow View - Offered 44 and sold 41 for top price $5750 and average of $2506.
Valley Vista - Offered 35 and sold 35 for top price $5250 and average of $2386.
Hurlstone Park - Offered seven and sold seven to top price $4250 and average of $2321.
Old Cobran - Offered 25 and sold 20 to top of $3750 and average of $1662.
Top price at $5750 was paid by Mark Dye, Corowa for his pick of the Meadow View draft.
Mr Dye is a longterm supporter of the Meadow View genetics and was advised in his selection by Bernie Lee, Michell Wool, Corowa.
Mr Lee said they were impressed by the scale of the ram with great conformation and constitution.
"His wool is bright and well nourished with great charcater," Mr Lee said.
"With good bone and muscle, he is the ideal dual-purpose sire."
The Meadow View-bred ram had fleece measurements of 20.3 micron, with SD 3 and CV 14.8.
Mr Dye selected a draft of six rams for average of $3667.
Top price for the Old Cobran draft was $3750 paid by Peter and Joanne Rayner, Walla Walla.
They considered their pick of the draft was a long ram with a stretchy body and very good on his feet.
"We liked his great head and outlook with plenty of wool."
The rams fleece measurement indicated 19.7m, SD 3 and Comfort Factor 99.4 percent.
The Rayner's selected five rams during the sale for $2833 average.
Top price in the Valley Vista draft was $5250 paid by Tom Webb, Hawkesview Estate, Wodonga.
He selected three rams from the catalogue for an average of $3666.
Mr Webb was impressed by his new sires 'great wool with a lot of nourishment'.
"W have been buying the top end Valley Vista rams for tens years and have seen massive gains in productivity in our sheep," he said.
"They are ticking all the boxes for us, especially great wool for our environment and early maturity."
Mr Webb's ram had the impressive fleece measurements of 20m, 3 SD and 99.3 Comfort Factor.
Top price in the Hurlstone Park draft was $4250 paid by Steve Jarvis, Heathfield, Boorowa who thought his new sire was 'well put together with a productive fleece'.
"He has a very soft handling fleece fleece with bold staple and deep crimp," Mr Jarvis said.
"He has muscle and has fertility written all over him."
Mr Jarvis's ram had fleece measurements of 16.8m, 2.9 SD, 17.3 CV and 99.6 pc CF.
He also selected a ram from the Valley Vista draft for $5000.
The sale was settled by Nutrien Ag Solutions, Wodonga with auctioneer Peter Godbolt taking the bids.
- Full report next week.
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