Sheepvention had more reason to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year with the pen of five ram sale on Tuesday hitting a record $3675 average.
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Of 290 Merino, Corriedale and Prime SAMM rams offered, 261 sold, recording a 90 per cent clearance rate.
Geoff and Bernadette Davidson’s Moorundie Poll Merino stud, Keith, SA, sold the top-priced ram at the nation’s largest multi-vendor sale, a result they secured for the third year in a row.
The ram was sold for $20,000 to the Allen family, Warrawee Park, and Kym and Chad Makin, Makin Nominees, both from Keith, SA.
They will share possession of the 16 month-old, whose fleece measured 18.3 micron, 3.1 standard deviation (SD), 16.9 co-efficient of variation (CV), and 99.4pc comfort factor (CF).
Mr Davidson described the sale topper as a “modern Merino”.
“He has a lot of wool on a plain body and he carries a bit of fat which we think is important in breeding ewes, and he has very good feet and structure,” Mr Davidson said.
“That added up to him being a safe ram for the buyers to breed rams from.”
The Allens and Makins were impressed by the ram’s dual purpose attributes.
“He has very, very good wool for the wool market today and also very good meat on a strong body,” Michael Allen said.
Moorundie sold three of the 10 five-figured rams.
A ram by Poll Boonoke and Wanganella stud, Deniliquin, NSW, gained the second top price of the sale.
It sold for $16,000 to a buying syndicate of Coryule Merino stud, Willowvale, near Skipton, Wirrinourt Merino stud, Willaura, and Mitre Rock Poll Merino stud, Nurcoung, near Horsham.
It was the first time the syndicate had bought from Poll Boonoke and Wanganella.
Wool classer Bill Mildren was no stranger to the stud’s genetics and said the ram, Lot 100, had the right wool, skin and conformation to suit its buyers’ flocks.
The ram’s fleece measured 19.7 micron, 3.0 SD, 15.2 CV, and 99.8pc CF.
He said the ram would be sent to an artificial insemination centre, and be shared among the properties for joining in October.
The first sons of Gunallo 150460 sold at auction gave the Schroeder family, Pinnaroo, SA, its best result in at least 15 years as vendors.
Stewart and Gavin Brophy, Tintinara, SA, took home two, one at $11,000 and the other at $10,000, while Hynam Poll Merinos, Longwood, bought one for $10,500.
The run of recent excellent wool prices ensured good competition for the rams despite the drought in much of eastern Australia.
