*46 of 61 rams sold to $4000 (twice), av $2125
THE eighth annual Coryule ram sale at Willowvale saw a solid number of bidders compete on most lots, resulting in prices hovering around the $2000 mark for most of the Merinos and Poll Merinos on offer.
And the sale achieved a better average than last year, despite the recent wet weather.
A 110-kilogram March-shorn ram, Lot 2, 210306, and a 82kg April-shorn ram, Lot 40, 210328, both achieved the top price of $4000 at the sale.
Lot 2 was sold to EJ Driden, Lexton and recorded a fibre diametre (FD) of 19.4 micron, a standard deviation (SD) of 2.9, a coefficient of variation (CV) of 14.9 and a comfort factor (CF) of 99.9 per cent.
Liz Driden, Nutrien, Ballarat, who bought on behalf of the vendor, said the ram was a very good size.
"He's also got nice wool on him and some early growth figures which we're chasing to put into the flock to get lambs to mature earlier," she said.
Lot 40 was sold to Michael Corkhill, Grassy Creek Pastoral, Reids Flat, NSW, and recorded a FD of 18.5 micron, SD of 2.7, CV of 14.8 and CF of 99.8pc.
Mr Corkhill said he was particularly interested in the sire of the ram he purchased, which was Wallaloo Park 190068 PH.
"There were quite a lot of really good rams here, and we were chasing a PP Poll today to fit in our operation," he said.
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A notable volume buyer at the sale was Jonathon Keith, Keith Partnerships, Glenlogie, who bought 13 lots.
Mr Keith said he had been using Coryule rams for about eight years.
"In that time, we've added 2kg of wool cut to the ewes," he said.
"We've got ewes coming through with lambs that are cutting 5.5-6kg of 17-micron wool.
"The rams have really increased our productivity."
Coryule stud manager Craig Trickey said there had been a tough lead up to the sale, but was pleased by the bump in average from last year's sale.
"With rain all week, the sheep had been in the shed, but our average was up a bit on last year," Mr Trickey said.
"It was very much a good sale for commercial buyers wanting good commercial sheep."
He said he was happy with how sheep presented but it was very hard to handle stock at the moment.
"The paddocks are really wet and once you start moving around you end up with sheep that are muddy," he said.
"If we had a bit more sunlight, they might have been a little bit better but you can only do with what you've got."
