*74 of 80 rams sold to $5250, av $2824
TERRICK West's 32nd annual Poll Merino ram sale saw 74 of the 80 rams sold under the hammer to a top of $5250.
The offering of the McGauchie family, Prairie, saw rams average $2824, up from last year's $2395.
The top price was bought by Nutrien Ag Merino specialist Stephen Chalmers, on behalf of buyer Almondvale, Urana, NSW.
Mr Chalmers said the purchaser was looking for a "well-shaped ram" aiming to breed a "true dual-purpose Poll Merino sheep".
The 21.5-micron ram was one of a number sired by Wallaloo Park 60 and had Australian Sheep Breeding Values including an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 44 millimetres and fat depth of 9.5mm.
The ram had fleece figures of comfort factor (CF) at 99.5 per cent, a standard deviation (SD) of 3 and co-efficient of variation (CV) of 14pc.
Lot 1 of the sale also went to NSW with previous top-priced buyer, Grassey Creek, Boorowa, NSW, paying $5000 for a WP60-sired ram with a 16.9-micron fleece and 3.1 SD, 18.3pc CV and a CF of 99.8pc.
An AuctionsPlus phone bidder from NSW bought rams including Lot 8 for $4500.
The ram had a 19.2-micron fleece, SD of 2.1, CF of 99.9pc and EMD of 44.5mm.
Terrick West stud principal Ross McGauchie said he was very happy with the result.
"It started off very solid with those early rams making $4000-$5000 - it was terrific," Mr McGauchie said.
"This sale was terrific, we are very happy with it."
He said the stud was new to measuring many of the breeding values and displaying them.
He said some of the stud's rams were coming up in the top 5pc in Australia.
"We were always confident we were breeding the sort of sheep that would do well and the results showed that," he said.
Elders auctioneer Ross Milne said it was a solid, gutsy sale that was true to its average.
Mr Milne said the clearance rate was good on the back of the confidence in the Merino industry with lambs, mutton and wool all good and a "pretty sound season".
"An average around $500 up on last year is very positive and hopefully that will roll on," he said.
Also making $5000 was Lot 15 bought by WR Cosgrove, Nhill.
The ram had an 18.7-micron fleece with an SD of 2.7, CV of 14.4pc and CF of 99.7pc.
Volume buyers included M Ipsen, Cape Clear, who purchased five rams to a top of $4750 for Lot 6.