A BIG crowd of bidders watched the North Cowie sale at Warooka reach a top of $4400 for a 109-kilogram 26-month-old Merino ram.
North Cowie principal Joe Murdoch described it as a “big upstanding ram”.
“He’s really well-structured with heavy cutting, well-nourished wool,” he said.
The ram was bought by repeat buyers PW&SJ Gutsche, Yorketown.
It had a micron of 21, standard deviation of 2.9, coefficient of variation of 14 and comfort factor of 99.1 per cent.
Buyer Philip Gutsche said the size, structure and stylish wool attracted his eye.
“He was a stand out,” he said.
The ram will be joined with a group of selected ewes with the goal of increasing their wool cut.
The Gutsches bought another Merino ram and two Poll Merino rams.
Of the 56 ram offered in the main auction, 50 sold, with Merinos averaging $1160 and Poll Merinos averaging $1834.
The Poll Merinos sold to $4200 for a 112kg ram with 21.3M, 3.2SD, 14.8CV and 99.2CF, bought by Castle Hill, Curramulka.
“He’s probably one of the best rams we’ve ever offered for sale at North Cowie,” Mr Murdoch said.
The ram is a grandson of a Nyowee ram that serves as the foundation for many of the rams on offer at the sale.
Co-principal Garry Murdoch said the top Poll Merino ram was the “complete package”.
“It has good wool, good staple length, and it’s a proud ram that stands so well,” he said.
Volume buyer at the sale was regular Wirryilka Pastoral Company, Broken Hill, NSW, which bought 14 Merino rams during the main auction and a further 40 in the mini auction.
Willippa Pastoral Company, Hawker, bought four Poll Merino rams during the main auction and a further 13 in the mini auction.
Auctioneers were Landmark’s Leo Redden and Elders’ Tony Wetherall.