A South East stud, impressed by previous use of Gunallo genetics, could not go past the $9500 top price ram at the stud's on-property sale in Panitya, Vic, on Thursday.
Andrew Mosey, Andoma stud, Mundulla, attended the sale as he had successfully used Gunallo 'Gawny' semen prior and was keen to look over Gunallo's offering for the Classings Classic.
"I was planning to buy ones of those, but when I saw lot 9 [the top price ram], I had to have it," he said.
"Its make and shape appealed, and its figures all stacked up well."
The 109-kilogram twin ram had a Merino Performance Plus index figure of 171 and Dual Purpose Plus index figure of 170.
A son of Gunallo 160473 'Viney', it also measured 28.33 yearling clean fleece weight, and a massive 17.75 yearling staple length, with 0.03 yearling fat.
"It will go over some of my thicker ewes," Mr Mosey said.
"I like Gunallo's free growing, long stapled wools with plenty of style. I'm trying to plain a few ewes up.
"It had such a quality fibre, a nice lustrous bold, medium wool."
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Gunallo stud principal Brad Schroeder agreed the "easy care, uncomplicated" ram had fantastic wool quality, length of staple and cutting ability.
Its 19.1-micron fleece had 2.5 standard deviation, 13.1 coefficient of variation and 100 per cent comfort factor.
Another stud Woodpark Poll, Jerilderie, NSW, bought the sale's second-highest price ram also in a sole purchase at $7500 on AuctionsPlus.
The 109kg son of Gunallo 180070 in lot 2 had 172MP+ and 174DP+ figures, with 8.63YWT, 30.11YCFW, 12.35YSL, 0.02YEMD and 0.05Yfat. Its 18.9M fleece had 2.7SD, 14.3CV and 99.7CF.
Overall, the Schroeder family sold 110 rams into five states from 120 offered, averaging $2676 - a $274 decrease on the stud's record 2021 sale, which was held in Pinnaroo due to COVID restrictions.
Mr Schroeder said they had a few more on offer as they decided to take out their mini auction and present all the rams the same.
"I was really happy with the sale result, with strong support from both new and long-term clients," he said.
The sale's third-highest price of $7000 at lot 13 sold on AuctionsPlus to the Webster family, WA.
We had been looking through Sheep Genetics online for rams with good wool types, and muscle and fat as well, and these were the full package.
- JO ROPER
Jo Roper, on behalf of the Longbottom family, Farmers Leap Produce, also bid strongly through AWN, with the new client taking home eight rams to $6000, averaging $4500, to start breeding Merino ewes at a Western Flat property.
"We have classed out 800 from our 3500 ewes to become self-replacing and we think these rams will do the job," she said.
"We had been looking through Sheep Genetics online for rams with good wool types, and muscle and fat as well, and these were the full package."
The sale's largest volume buyer was again Blairgowrie Trust, Willaura, Vic, who was pleased to be back buying on-farm, taking home 18 rams to $3400, averaging $2144.
Blairgowrie's Lynden Brewis said they buy up at Gunallo as they like the stud's focus on early growth rates, fleece cut and fertility for their 10,000-ewe flock.
"These rams have really increase our fertility over the past 5-6 years," he said.
"We also shear every eight months, so their wool cut has been really great for us.
"We always look for figures on fleece weight, positive fat and yearling weight are our main three, without sacrificing on EMD."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions, with stud stock's Gordon Wood and Richard Miller the auctioneers.