Stock Journal

Wanganella and Poll Boonoke ram auction

Bel's Rural Photography
Bel's Rural Photography

This is advertiser content for Wanganella and Poll Boonoke ram sale.

The unexpected private sale of Poll Boonoke 180137 for $70,000 on the final day of the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo has been an encouraging start to the 2019 ram selling season for the Australian Food & Agriculture Company (AFA) studs Wanganella and Poll Boonoke.

The sale to Western Australian studs Kamballie and Manunda follows on from a successful 2018 for the AFA Studs in which they topped the New South Wales Merino Studs statistics for both rams sold and semen sales for the year.

For AFA general manager, Justin Campbell, the sale has been a welcome reward for both the long term breeding commitment and direction at the studs and the intense effort required to bring the 2018 drop of rams through from conception to sale preparedness in extremely challenging seasonal conditions.

Forbes Murdoch, the AFA stud master, has just completed the final classing of the 2018 drop rams in the lead up to the final cataloguing and grading of auction and flock rams in late August.

"There is no doubt that the rams have done it tough, but they have all looked terrific as they have come through the yards for classing, and the final horn and poll auction groups in particular are impressive mobs," said Mr Campbell.

"I've been with the studs for 10 years now and, despite the drought, this is the best line up of rams I have seen."

In addition to the significant stud sale negotiated at Bendigo, the Poll Boonoke Stud also exhibited the Champion March Shorn Australian Merino All Purpose Ram in the competitive show ring.

Judged by a meat sheep judge and a wool judge, Poll Boonoke 180874 won his two tooth March Shorn Medium Wool Australian Merino All Purpose class to be eligible to line up for the champion ribbon.

Bel's Rural Photography
Bel's Rural Photography

The same ram also won his two tooth March Shorn Medium Wool Poll Ram class, which had 46 entrants, subsequently going on to be the Reserve Champion March Shorn Medium Wool Poll Ram behind a six tooth ram that was sired by Poll Boonoke 130028.

The $70,000 sale ram was part of a trio of rams that won the Pen of Three Ram Weaners ribbon at the 2019 Hay Sheep Show in June.

"This is a special dual purpose class judged on 50:50 wool and meat merits," said Angus Munro, the studs' breeding manager.

"Polled Merinos have been favoured in Queensland for many years, but we have seen a dramatic move to polled Merinos in all areas in recent times due to their streamlined, dual purpose, easy care production.

"The Poll Boonoke Stud has been breeding polled Merinos for 85 years. Our polls are growing heavy fleeces of long stapled, soft, medium wool. They can handle heavy rainfall and are able to survive and prosper in most areas of Australia."

Sixty Wanganella and 140 Poll Boonoke rams will be offered at the 2019 AFA Ram Auction to be conducted at 'Boonoke', Conargo on Wednesday September 18.

The rams will be penned for inspection from 9.30 am, with the auction to commence at 12.30 pm. An online catalogue, including Australian Sheep Breeding Values, will be accessible from early September. The auction will also be interfaced on AuctionsPlus for remote purchasing.

Flock grade rams will be available for selection by appointment from September 19.

This is advertiser content for Wanganella and Poll Boonoke ram sale.