Tasmania Merino ram prices strong at Echo Cottage sale

Echo Cottage reported an impressive clearance rate and strong prices at its annual Merino ram and surplus sheep sale last week.

The top priced ram was sold to VM & LS Bailey for $3900, with the next top priced bought by Brett Scott for $2800.

Regular buyers RBK Pitt & Partners purchased eight rams throughout the sale.

Stud principal Allan Johnson said it was a great result.

"It's sort of all come together now," he said.

"I think last year it averaged about $1200."

He said all rams presented very well and credited his son and farm manager for the work they had put in.

"They've got the rams looking very presentable, good wool and good structure," he said.

"We've got Merryville bloodlines, we're a daughter stud of Merryville and we're one of the last Merino sales for the year."

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The sale saw a lot of return buyers as well as four new buyers, with competition from Victoria and Kangaroo Island.

The stud also held a surplus sheep sale with good results.

One year old Merino ewes topped at $305 with an average of $277, while five year old ewes sold to a top of $226 and an average of $222.

Merino wether lambs sold to a top of $126 for an average of $118.

Along with regular buyers, four new ram buyers also came to the sale.

All sheep remained in Tasmania despite competition from Victoria and South Australia.