THE TEAM at Collandra North Poll Merino have much to smile about after the stud's annual ram sale on August 21, with their $4000 catalogue topper sourced by a new interstate client with international connections.
Taken at lot 12, the 121.5-kilogram ram with 21-micron fleece measuring 99.3 per cent comfort factor, 17pc co-efficient of variation and 3.6 standard deviation was bought by Ben Watts, Bralca Merinos, Molong, NSW.
Crediting the ram's "purity and early maturity" as the perfect fit for his superfine Merino stud that contracts wool to Italy, Mr Watts said the ram first caught his eye when he visited the Tumby Bay property in early 2014.
"I came down here for the first time in the summer and went through the then lambs with Syd (stud principal Sydney Lawrie). At that meeting I selected half-a-dozen that had the qualities we were seeking - a look currently not available in NSW," he said.
"We are getting more and more demand from our ram clients for bigger-growth rams that reach that sale weight early. This ram reached 61kg at seven-months - that's exceptional."
Mr Watts was one of three interstate buyers and returned to Molong with two stud sires. The pair will cover selected stud ewes through artificial insemination in January 2015.
The Collandra North annual sale celebrated its 35th year in commanding style with an impressive $297 jump in average at $1716, from $1449 in 2013. It sold 109 of the 110 pure Collinsville blood stock offered.
"Buyers want that early maturing lamb, as well as the ability to a cut a quality, large fleece off their ewes' year in-year out, and that's what we continue to strive for," Mr Lawrie said.
Walkindyer Poll Merino stud, WA, secured the second top-price ram at $3900.
* Full report in Stock Journal, August 28, 2014 issue.
