*60 of 64 Merino rams sold to $7750, av $2333
Unusually wet seasonal conditions in western Victoria provided no barrier for a "thrilling" ram sale result at Stavely Park Merino and Poll Merino stud's 20th on-property auction on Monday.
The Stavely stud sold 60 Merino rams to a top price of $7750 to average $2333, with four rams passed in at auction, selling immediately after the sale.
The strong average was $253 higher compared to the stud's 2020 result, while the top price was up from $4500 last spring.
Stavely Park principal Felicity Brady, who runs the stud with her family, said it was a strong result considering some of the challenging seasonal conditions the rams had faced in recent months.
"Not much preparation went into the sale this year because we couldn't get the feed out into the paddocks," Ms Brady said.
"It was that wet but the rams held up extremely well to the rain and we were happy with how they presented."
Ms Brady said the wet conditions highlighted the rams' "doing ability" in wet climates.
A majority of rams were bought by clients in the local district, with a handful of lots going to buyers at Koroit, Penshurt and Caramut "because they can handle the rain well", Ms Brady said.
The top-priced ram, Lot 11, was bought by Dunromin Merino stud, trading as Austerberry Ag Pty Ltd, Winjallok, near St Arnaud, for $7750.
Ms Brady said she was pleased the sale topper was heading to another stud.
"We're pretty happy with that because it hasn't happened for many years and I think it's an indication that we're going in the right direction as a stud," she said.
"The sire of the top-priced ram goes back to a ram I bred myself and he was by a ram out of the famous Mercenary from West Plains."
It comes as the stud recently purchased a half share in West Plains Silencer for $25,000.
Top-priced ram buyer, Graeme Austerberry, said it was the first time he had bought a ram for the stud after searching for the right future sire for a few years.
"I liked his length of staple and the density of his well-nourished wool which is what we're after," he said.
"These rams suit high rainfall areas and we want to breed our own rams so we'll put him to good use at Winjallok back on the farm."
Mr Austerberry's operation consists of 9000 Merinos across his stud and commercial wool-growing operation.
"Our season couldn't have been better because we've had late rains in the springtime and a little bit more would be handy again," he said.
"I've been looking for a few years off and on and after inspecting Lot 11 at the stud's field days last week, I thought I'd take my chances with him."
The top-priced ram's wool measurements included 16.7 micron, 2.4 standard deviation, a coefficient variation of 17.2, a spinning factor of 15.7 and a comfort factor of 99.4 per cent.
Nutrien Stud Stock auctioneer Andrew Sloan said Stavely Park's auction was a "good, strong result".
"We had a good range of clients with most of the rams staying local and some heading down towards Warrnambool and Geelong," he said.
"These rams have beautiful white wool and buyers like that because it helps get that white wool into their flocks and more money into the bales.
"This sale was really helped by a group of buyers who bought a team of rams and we thank them for that."
Among the volume buyers was PM Brown, Tatyoon, who bought eight rams to a top price of $2500 and T Bibby via Elders Tatyoon who bought six rams to $4250 twice.
RPH Greystone Pty Ltd, Caramut, bought six rams to $4250, while Nev Flo bought five rams to $4250.
Maylands Grazing, Tatyoon, bought four rams to $4000, as did PJ & FM Elsom who bought four rams to $3250.
Willowbank Farming, Ballyrogan, bought four rams to a top of $3000, while RM & TG Coad, Tatyoon, bought four rams to $1000.