All wool producing States were represented at the McLaren family’s Nerstane Merino ram sale, held on-property at Woolbrook last Friday.
Of the 187 rams offered, 163 sold at auction to a top of $7200 and achieve an average of $1569.
Kirkton Merino Stud, “Forrest Hills” Burraga, purchased the t0p price ram which boasted some remarkable Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ABSVs), including +5.6 yearling weight and +19 yearling clean fleece weight, and testing 17.6-micron in the wool.
“He has developed into a good sized, well-structured ram with beautiful thick wool” said Mr Stapleton, Kirkton stud principal.
Victorian stud operation, Langi Willi Merinos, Skipton secured 10 Nerstane rams including the second-top price lot 71 for $6000.
“The Nerstane breeding program is proven and tested” said Mr Pike, Langi Willi stud consultant.
Sheep and wool specialist for Roberts Ltd Tasmania, Andrew Calvert, purchased three rams on behalf of Benham Pastoral, Avoca, Tasmania, including an N958 son for $5000.
The draft, which averaged $3133, will be used in a new ram breeding operation.
243 stud ewes and 281 commercial ewes were also auctioned on the day, with one pen of 24 stud ewes topping at $160 per head to Coryule Pastoral Company, Willowvale.
The sale was conducted by Elders Walcha, with Elders’ Nick Hall and Paul Dooley of Paul Dooley Pty Ltd, Tamworth, as auctioneers.
