*Total clearance of 140 rams to $15,000, av $4316
A TOTAL clearance at the Glendemar Multi-Purpose Merino stud, Kanya, has justified the direction the operation is taking, according to its stud co-principal Ben Duxson.
"I couldn't ask for anything more," Mr Duxson said.
"Long-term and new clients are backing the Australian Sheep Breeding Values and the type of animals we are producing.
"They are looking for the balance of the ASBVs, the early growth, muscle, fat and wool weight."
He said that was combined with high lambing percentages, turning off high numbers of stock.
"Clients then always have something to sell, whether it be ewes or wethers, into the booming meat market," he said.
He described the top-priced animal - Lot 44 - as a "pretty handy ram all around".
Richie Steele, Outback MPM, Girilambone, NSW, paid $15,000 for the ram.
It had a post-weaning weight of 7.9 kilograms, a yearling weight of 12kg, a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 2.1 millimetres and post-weaning fat measurement of 1.3mm.
His yearling clean fleece weight on 18.9 micron, was 23.51 per cent and his yearling staple length was 24.329mm.
The ram was in the top five in the sale for growth, muscle and staple length.
"He was in the top 30pc for wool and he is a double-copy P, so he's going to another MPM stud, and they are having great sales," Mr Duxson said.
"He will go up there and breed great rams for Outback.
"Being a double copy of poll, it's important we keep the gene moving through him - he has got more chance of throwing more polls than horns."
He said the ram had been used at Glendemar.
"We are still in transition to getting the horns off, and getting more polls for ease of care, animal welfare and management," he said.
He said Glendemar had sold to Outback previously.
"Richie only purchased the stud in the last three years - previously, it was owned by Peter McKidd, who was a 30-year client of ours," he said.
"He started his breeding operation off our bloodlines.
"There are people out there looking for the MPM, to get those weaning percentages as well.
"It shows people are making money out of them."
He said he expected the whole ram selling season to show a trend to chase ASBVs.
"It's become stronger and stronger in the industry; that's what the buyers want, to breed with ASBVs," he said.
Nutrien Ag Solutions livestock agent Damien Drum said the Duxsons were "rapt" with the sale.
"They have got the new type of sheep, the non-mulesed ones that have the figures," Mr Drum said.
He said the interest on AuctionsPlus was "huge".
"They bid on 110 lots out of 140 from all over Australia, Victoria, WA, SA, NSW and Tasmania," he said.
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
