*49 of 56 rams sold to $5000, av $2265
NEW buyers and a rallying fine wool market lifted the spirits and prices of the Kerrsville Merino annual on-property ram sale, where 49 of 56 rams sold under the hammer to a high of $5000.
The offering of Robert Plush, Konongwootong, saw rams average $2265, up from $1520 achieved in 2020.
The top price was paid by Waratah Pastoral, Cavendish, for Lot 2,, a 17.1-micron poll ram with fleece figures of 2.9 standard deviation (SD) and 16 for coefficient of variation (CV).
He was one of two rams purchased by Waratah Past, which included the first ram offered on the day, Lot 1, for $3500.
The ram had a 16.2-micron fleece and recorded an SD of 2.7, CV of 14.4 and comfort factor of 99.7 per cent.
The second-highest top price of $4000 was paid three times, achieved first for Lot 4 which was knocked down to new client GH & DF Cameron, Pigeon Ponds.
The ram had a 16.2-micron fleece with an SD of 2.8 and CV of 15.8.
The Cameron family tapped $4000 again for Lot 28, a PC-SYN son who had a 17.2-micron fleece.
Also making $4000 was Lot 13, bought by EF Neeson & Co, Nareen, which recorded a weaner fleece of 14.1 micron.
He was one of three rams purchased by the Neesons, which included Lot 22 at $2250 - a 17.1-micron ram with a greasy fleece weight of 120pc.
Mr Plush said the fine wool market prices had buoyed confidence in the buying, as well as new buyers and the stud's new Australian Sheep Breeding Values data.
"We were very pleased with the sale outcome this year," he said.
"The top price was the second-highest in the stud's history.
"We have started using ASBVs and those figures created more interest this year with a few new buyers."
The top price for rams displaying ASBVs was paid by Lauren Stanton, Cherrymount, Wootong Vale, for Lot 23, at $3000.
The ram had an eye muscle depth of 0 millimetres, yearling fat of -3 and a Merino Plus index of 180.
Volume buyers included Cameron Delahoy, who is the third generation buying on behalf of the Ballintubber Family Trust, Bulart, who purchased six rams, which averaged $2292, and to a top of $3000 for Lot 3, who had a weaner micron of 14.9.
Regular buyers D & C Hill, Macarthur, purchased six rams to a top of $3250, for a draft average of $2208.
The first of those rams at $3250 was paid for Lot 29, a ram with a 17.4-micron fleece.
Nundora Partnership, Brit Brit, put together a draft of eight rams, for an average of $1188, while first-time clients, Medak Pty Ltd, Cavendish, put together a run of five rams, averaging $1900.
Elders livestock agent David Whyte, Hamilton, said the results reflected the confidence in the superfine and fine wool market.
Annabelle Cleeland
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
