FULL clearance of 160 rams with an improved top and average was achieved at the Ashby family's North Ashrose on-property Poll Merino and Merino ram sale at Hallett yesterday.
The average of $2444 was $366 up on last year, while the top price at $9000 was $1000 up.
An auction of stud ewes also went exceptionally well, with full clearance of 299 ewes, topping at $285 and averaging $240.
Buying the top price ram on the phone were Warwick and Nathan Teakle, Walkindyer Poll Merino stud, Northampton, WA.
The March-shorn Poll Merino ram weighed 112 kilograms and it had 18 micron fleece with 3.3 standard deviation, 18.5 coefficient of variation and 99.2 per cent comfort factor. The ram also had greasy fleece weight percentage of 151pc.
Another interstate buyer paid the second-highest price of $8000, for another March-shorn poll Merino.
It weighed 118kg and had 20M fleece with 3.9SD, 19.3CV and 98.7CF.
The ram was knocked down to Hermet Hill Pastoral, Kerang Vic, who also bought 30 young ewes at $285 from North Ashrose, and 25, 4.5-year-old ewes at $240.
While pastoral interest from the Broken Hill, NSW, area wasn’t there as in other years, due to the dry conditions, this was more than made up for by return bidders from Qld.
Ben Banks, Springleigh Merinos, Blackall, Qld, bought 21 rams to $2200, averaging $1776.
Mr Banks said North Ashrose sheep suited his enterprise.
“They produce hardy sheep for the pastoral environment,” he said.
“North Ashrose also produce very even lines of sheep, with the wool type I’m chasing.”
Another return Qld buyer James Milson, Longreach, said investment in fencing to keep wild dogs out of his property meant he was able to return to North Ashrose to buy.
“I’ve been in and out of sheep for years, depending on the dog numbers,” he said.
But an initiative from his local council, which was offering attractive loans to farmers to invest in fencing to try to get the sheep industry back on track in the area, meant he could bid confidently.
Mr Milson bought 13 rams to $2400, averaging $2092.
The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders, with Gordon Wood, Tom Penna and Scott Fleetwood sharing auctioneering duties.
Mr Wood said it was “an absolute belter” of a sale.
“It was as solid as a rock from start to finish,” he said.
“To finish on the last ram at $2200, and start at $3800, it’s just an exceptional result.
“It was also good to see some of the Poll rams attract some pretty high profile stud interest.”
Mr Penna said considering the year, the sale results very much bucked the trend.
“There was no Broken Hill buyers that normally underpin the sale, but the buyers from Qld definitely filled that void and bid strongly,” he said.
- Full report in next week’s Stock Journal