*72 of 72 sold to $6000 (2), av $2420
South Australian buyers have shown strong interest in western Victoria’s Sohnic Merino stud rams at this year’s sale.
The Marnoo East stud repeated last year’s top price of $6000, while increasing its average by more than $400.
Principal Greg Hose said the wool on the rams was very good, despite a poor year.
“We had very even sheep this year despite the season being pretty average, or below average, and we are basically starting to cut crops,” Mr Hose said.
He put down the sale success to the selection of sire groups and classing over the past few years.
Bill Walker, Classings, said he bought Lot 10, a 19.4 micron May drop ram, sired by Sohnic P505, because of the animal’s fantastic structure.
The ram weighed 100kilograms, had an eye muscle depth of 33millimetres, a fat depth of six mm, coefficient of variation of 13 per cent and standard deviation of 2.5pc.
“He had bold, lustrous fibre and a huge fleece weight potential, backed up by a six kilogram, six-month fleece weight.”
He had bold, lustrous fibre and a huge fleece weight potential, backed up by a six kilogram, six-month fleece weight.
- Bill Walker, Classings
He said he purchased the ram for Nantoura Poll Merino stud, Wharminda, SA.
“I bought another two for a NSW client and another two for a client on the Eyre Peninsula,” he said.
“We’ve had our eye on that stud for a number of years now, we hold it in high esteem.”
Mr Walker said Sohnic was easily meeting the demands of superb quality in the wool market.
“They are sticking with a true supple skin, that grows huge staple length and bold crimp, of low micron.”
The second top priced ram, lot 28, was sold to another South Australian, Roger Hunt, at Bordertown.
The son of Sohnic S50753, the June drop ram weighed 113.5kg and had an 18.6 micron fleece.
He had an EMD of 40mm, a fat depth of 5.5mm, a CV of 15pc and SD of 2.8. The ram recorded a six-month fleece weight of five kg.
Landmark, St Arnaud’s Daniel Gifford said rams went locally and to SA.
“They were looking for good frame structure, white wool, and good growth,” Mr Giff0rd said.
Agents said South Australian buyers, looking for multi-purpose Merinos, were noticeable at this year’s sale.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark.