The genetic re-connection will really put more strength into our genetic base
- Steve Jarvis, Heathfield Polls, Boorowa
John, Jenny, Greg and Nikki Alcock, Greenland Merinos, Bungarby via Cooma penned 67 heavy cutting Poll Merino and Merino rams for their annual un-housed on-property sale.
Woolgrowers were impressed with the scale and productivity of the rams offered and bid accordingly, with a top price of $4600 achieved while 59 sold for average of $1811.
Steve Jarvis, Heathfield Polls, Boorowa purchased the top priced ram, a Poll son of Greenland Poll 7 and whose grand dam was a daughter of the Kamarooka Park Poll ram used in the Greenland stud.
Mr Jarvis had bought a son of the Kamarooka Park sire in 2015 and said he has stamped his genetics on the Heathfield Poll flock.
"The genetic re-connection will really put more strength into our genetic base," he said.
"This ram is among the heaviest cutting sheep, but with a fine micron and will be used as corrective mating over our plainer ewes.
"We are breeding a sheep with plenty of wool and muscle."
Mr Jarvis said it was just as important to focus on the carcass attributes as the wool because of the known increasing demand for red meat world wide.
The Poll ram with long stapled, bright and deep crimped wool had the significant measurements of 17.5 micron, 2.9 standard deviation (S.D) and 99.8 percent comfort factor (C.F).
Longtime supporter of the Alcock family, Max Caldwell, Bungarby purchased the second top price ram at $4200.
His ram, a deep bodied and long son of Greenland WS syndicate had the productive fleece measurements of 18.3 micron, 3.6 SD and 99.6 percent CF.
South Australian wool grower D.M Hood and Co, Narracoorte chimed in and purchased their choice of the draft for $3,000, while Victorian interests Invaloch Pastoral, Strathdownie bought seven rams to top of $3600 twice and averaged $2157.
Volume buyers included Silverton Pastoral Co, Cooma who took home ten rams for $1700 average: David Davidson, Young who bought six rams for $1983 average and P and P Neven, Tubbut, Victoria returned to select five new sires for $960 average price.
Cootamundra-based sheep consultant Neville Mangelsdorf purchased eight rams on behalf of his clients and paid up to $2800 twice with an average of $2050.
Grant Nuthall, Bigga bought two rams at $2400 apiece.
Studmaster John Alcock expressed pleasure after the sale when he said it was gratifying to see wool growers still looking for heavy cutting Merino rams with long staple, a good skin and soft fleece.
"We know the season is tough, but we still have to keep our flocks going," he said. "Every day is a day closer to rain and those who have kept the quality of the sheep will be rewarded when it does rain."
The sale was settled by Landmark, Bombala in conjunction with Schute Bell Badgery Lumby, Cooma with Landmark studstock specialist Tim Woodham taking the bids.