Nyowee’s $12k record ram off to Qld client

An extra 60 medium wool rams were added to the 2016 sale catalogue, and it paid off for the Michael family.

They achieved a total clearance and a significant jump in top price to $12,000.

The 16-month-old sale topper, sired by Nyowee Pooginook, was bought by Toby Cousins of Platinum Livestock, Clare, on behalf of Will Roberts, Victoria Downs Merino stud, Morven, Qld.

Mr Roberts said he was keen to continue using the Nyowee genetics.

“We’ve bought three rams from Nyowee before, the wool type they exhibit is exactly what we’re after,” he said.

“We want a well-marked wool with plenty of nourishment, and the ewes Nyowee shear cut a fair bit of weight.”

As for the top ram, Mr Roberts said he liked the wool and structure of the 119-kilogram ram – the heaviest in the the catalogue.

“I was only going from photos, but it is good on its feet and got good crimped wool with good lock and it is beautiful behind,” he said.

“It had a really good tail setting which gave it a good top line, which I really liked.”

Mr Roberts said 2014 was a horrid year for wild dogs on the property, which was located 650 kilometres west of Brisbane.

“We’re coming out of a hell of a beating with dogs, so we’re looking to rebuild,” he said.

Mr Roberts said they had put up cluster fencing in the area and were beginning to put top quality sires back on the 13,000-hectare property.

“It’s very exciting that we can move ahead and buy these sheep with confidence,” he said.

The lot two ram had 20.8 micron fleece, with 3.4 standard deviation, 16.3 coefficient of variation, 99.2 per cent comfort factor.

Volume buyers were mainly pastoralists from Broken Hill, NSW, while some also came from as far as Wilcannia, NSW. 

Elders Broken Hill picked up 20 rams on behalf of John Gall & Co, averaging $1820, while Elders Lake Cargelligo bought 22 on behalf of WG&EM Bendall, averaging $1636.

Nyowee stud principal Ian Michael said he was thrilled to not only gain an extra 12 buyers, but also hit a new top price.

“We had 40 more rams in to cover for the way the industry is going, and we had a really good clearance,” he said.

“There was great support from our pastoral clients in NSW and a lot of long-standing clients that have been buying at Nyowee for up to 40 years.”

Mr Michael said the $12,000 ram was 20kg heavier than the rest of the sale team.

“It had a good, long staple, white crimped strong wool and was structurally correct, really good on its feet and confirmation. A great, commercial type of sheep going to a stud breeder,” he said.

Mr Michael said they were focusing on breeding dual-purpose traits, while trying to keep their wool cut “up to where it is”.

“We want to supply a quality product that will breed well into four states of Australia,” he said. 

Landmark stud stock manager Leo Redden described the sale as “outstanding”.

“It’s an enormous up swing, more registered buyers, and the volume of carcase and fleece weights on the Nyowee sheep is attracting new buyers,” he said.

“Twelve additional buyers, 40 more rams and the average has held up from last year. This is the perfect storm.”

Mr Redden and Elders’ Tony Wetherall were the auctioneers.