*Total clearance of 60 rams sold to $7200, av $3080
THE annual Stockman Poll Merino on-property ram sale recorded a best-ever result with a total clearance of 60 rams at an average of $3080.
Stockman stud manager Kip Gray said the sale average was a record for the Melton Mowbray, Tasmania-based stud, reflecting a rise of $1120 a head on the 2020 sale, which hit a $16,000 high and averaged $1960.
There was powerful bidding from "go to whoa", Mr Gray said, with a "thrilling" result that included the private sale of 73 more rams after the auction concluded.
He said Stockman's reputation for breeding a high performing dual purpose ram had attracted several new clients and was now seeing the rewards.
"Out of 2000 stud ewes, we start with about 1000 ram lambs. We conduct two classings in February and April and winter 480 rams, allowing us to put greater selection pressure on when classing" he said.
"The selection pressure used is a combination of visual and objective measurements, which helps our clients get the best genetics we can possibly offer them from these rams."
"More clients are becoming attracted to the larger dual purpose merino traits which gives you a larger frame, wool quality, fertility, straight body with less skin wrinkle and a higher survival rate in harsh conditions.
"They need the body without lambing difficulties."
He said Stockman's rigorous selection pressure at joining has seen results, with sires achieving more than 95pc ewes in lamb, with 65pc scanned as twin bearing, in a three-week joining.
The top price of $7200 was paid by Windfalls Pastoral's Will O'Connor, Campbell Town, Tas, for Lot 36, an August 2020-drop ram, who weighed 101.5 kilograms, with a 17.8-micron fleece, a coefficient of variation (CV) of 14.4 and a comfort factor (CF) of 99.8 per cent.
The ram recorded an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 34 millimetres and fat depth of 4.5mm.
The second-highest price of the sale of $4400, was paid three times, first knocked down to Quorn Pastoral, Campbell Town, for Lot 7, a Yarrawonga 14-0961 (YARRA 14) son, whose fleece measured 18.7 micron, with a CV of 14.1 and CF of 99.9pc.
The ram had a DP+ index of 137, EMD of 34, fat depth of 4.0 and yearling weight (YWT) of 2.3.
Deeck Pastoral, Melton Mowbray, Tas, purchased Lot 12, also for $4400, a Stockman 02-0603 (JIM) son whose fleece measured 17.6, with a CV of 14.6pc, CF of 99.9pc and a DP+ index of 157.
Also making $4400 was Lot 56, purchased by Cawood, Ouse, Tas.
The Stockman 15-0352 (WOODY) son's fleece measured 18.1, 14.6 CV, 99.5pc CF, as well as a DP+ index of 142 and EMD of 30.5.
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.
