Melrose Merinos ram sell to $4200 as stud attracts new clients

The Nurrabiel stud recorded an almost identical result compared to 2019, selling 59 of its 60 Merino rams to a top of $4200 to average $1728.

The top-priced ram was $600 more than last year's equivalent during the on-property sale on Wednesday.

The entire draft of 28 horned rams sold to $2400 to average $1392 while 31 poll rams averaged $2032.

Melrose Merinos stud principal Warren Russell said it was a terrific result.

"The rams presented very well and on average were one kilogram heavier then last year," Mr Russell said.

Buyers were largely from across the western Victoria.

Lot 2 19BN885 topped the sale at $4200 and was bought by Ashley and Katrina McErvale, AG & KM McErvale, Langi Kal Kal.

The May 2019-drop ram weighed 110kg and had wool measurements of 3.3 standard deviation (SD), a coefficient of variation (CV) of 18.2, a comfort factor (CF) of 99.5 and 18.6 micron.

The ram had a fibre production (FP+) index of 169, a Merino production index (MP+) of 177, a yearling weight (YWT) of 3, a yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) of 17.9 and a yearling fibre diameter (YFD) of -2.3.

The ram, son of Bundaleer Poll V966, also recorded a yearling stable strength (YSS) of 1.3 and a number of lambs weaned (NLW) of 5.

Mr McErvale estimated he had bought about 50 rams from Melrose over a 15-year period.

"The ram has nice, long wool and was one of the longer stable rams there," Mr McErvale said.

"He's a heavy cutter and had a good, broad crimp and that leads to more wool.

"He will go out as a flock ram around Christmas time with about 250 Melrose-blood ewes."

Mr McEvale also bought two other rams during the sale to average $2900 across his three sires.

The second top-priced ram, Lot 3 19TAL859, was bought by Allan Anderson, Ron Anderson Pastoral, Amphitheater, for $4100.

The 101kg ram had wool measurements of 3.4 SD, a 20 CV, a 99.7 CF and 16.3 micron.

Its Australian Sheep Breeding Values included FP+ 193, MP+ 207, YWT 3.5, YCFW 26.5, TFD -2.6 and NLW of 10.

Mr Anderson said the ram would be joined in late February to a commercial flock of 1500 ewes.

"I've been buying Melrose rams for three or four years now," Mr Anderson said.

"I wanted to get back to the traditional true-to-type wool and Melrose fits into our program nicely."

Mr Russell said four first-time buyers bought rams in the auction while an additional eight were sold after the final hammer, capping off a strong season.

Volume buyers included Ethandune Partnership, Coleraine, which purchased seven rams to average $957.

J Pola, Ararat, purchased six rams to average $1400 and R & K Ferrier, Coleraine, bought six to average $1160.

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