THE SA Merino ram selling season was off to a cracking start at the North Cowie ram sale at Warooka last Wednesday, topped by a poll sire at $3800.
In the main sale Poll Merinos averaged $1496 and Merinos $920, achieving an overall average of $1250, up $11 on 2013.
After the sale, all bar one of the 56 rams had been sold in the main auction and 76 rams from 80 were sold in the mini auction, giving the stud an excellent clearance of 96 per cent.
A further 21 rams sold after the sale, from private selection pens.
Greg Agnew, Laighside Props, Curramulka, bought the top-price ram at $3800.
Weighing 92 kilograms at 15 months the W10-35-sired ram had excellent wool measurements of 20.9 microns, 3 standard deviation, 14.3 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.6pc comfort factor.
Having bought rams from North Cowie for the past 20 years, Greg said he was looking to select a well-structured ram with good wool.
He took two rams, the other at $1000.
Landmark's Malcolm Scroop said it was a strong sale and was particularly pleased with the way it finished.
Elders Tony Wetherall said North Cowie had an outstanding line-up of rams, with good depth and good, productive stylish wool.
The second top-price ram was bought by Philip Gutsche, Yorketown, at $3600.
North Cowie principal Garry Murdoch said there was a lot more depth in the Poll Merinos this year.
"It's the best line-up we've had and I've been doing this for 40 years," he said.
Landmark and Elders officiated.
* Full report in Stock Journal, July 31, 2014 issue.