CLEARANCE was up at the Wentworth Stud Merino Breeders specially selected flock ram sale on August 31 at Wentworth Show, NSW, with 100 per cent of the 36 sires selling to local buyers.
It was the first time in many years that all Merino and Poll Merino rams had sold - to an excellent average of $1188.
The top-price sire was sold by the Pollard family, Warrananga, Wentworth, at $2500 to Leeton Ryan, KJ&TF Ryan, Wemen, Vic, through Wilcox Classing's Jim Wilcox, Swan Hill, Vic.
An upstanding ram at 15 months, the March-shorn sire had wool measurement figures of 20.7 microns, 3.9 standard deviation, 18.4 coefficient of variation and 98.6 per cent comfort factor.
Sired by Moorundie Red, the ram was selected for his excellent size, softness in his wool, and meat value.
"I was pleased to get him," Mr Ryan said.
A Warrananga client for more than 20 years, he said his family ran a self-replacing Merino flock that averaged a 21M cut and excellent lambing percentages at 100pc to 110pc this season.
In the breakdown Warrananga offered and sold 12 rams to $2500, averaging $1100, Greg Pollard said they were pleased with how their sale team presented.
"The average wool measurement figures are similar to most years," he said
"We purchased a $14,000 Moorundie Park sire at the Royal Adelaide Show Merino ram sale two years ago. We've artifically inseminated quite a few polls since then, and the first drop are in this year's sale. We're quite pleased with how they turned out."
Kevin Crook, Tamaleuca stud, Ouyen, Vic, sold all 18 rams he offered to $2300, averaging $1261.
His top sire, tag 6406, sold to long-time client Lindsay Plant, Wandown, Manangatang, Vic, who took two rams to $2300.
Weighing 115 kilograms the 15-month ram had figures of 18.7M, 3.3SD, 17.6CV and 99.6CF.
Lindsay said he was "very happy" to buy the ram because of his excellent weight and free-growing fleece.
He said he was particularly happy this year with his Tamaleuca-blood flock recording an excellent lambing at 112pc.
The Duncan Family, Dunedin Park, Wentworth, sold all six rams they offered to $1500 averaging $1150.
Their top-price sire, tag 718, sold to MU Curtis, via Elders Mildura, in his only purchase. The 15-month ram had excellent figures at 19.7M, 3.7SD, 19.2CV and 98.9CF.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 4, 2014 issue.
Miranda Kenny
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
