MERINO and Poll Merino rams sold to good demand at the Wentworth Stud Merino Breeders specially selected flock ram sale on Sunday, resulting in an excellent $1193 average.
The top-price sire was again sold by Kevin Crook's Tamaleuca stud, Ouyen, Victoria, at $2100 to Lindsay Plant, Wandown, Manangatang, Vic. It was the third time in three years that Mr Plant had bought the top ram at the sale.
Altogether, 29 rams from 33 were sold, with the average $113 less than last year.
Tamaleuca offered and sold 12 rams to $2100, averaging $1433.
Greg Pollard, Warrananga, Wentworth, New South Wales, sold 12 out of 12 rams to $1700, averaging $1000.
The Duncan Family, Dunedin Park, Wentworth, sold five rams to $1400, averaging $1080.
At 15 months the Tamaleuca top-price ram had excellent wool figures of 19.3 microns, 3.1 standard definition, 16.1 coefficient of variation and 99.8 comfort factor.
Mr Plant said the ram had a good frame, and wool with a "good, bold crimp" that was soft to handle.
He had bought Tamaleuca rams for the past decade.
"You're really getting their top genetics here," he said.
"The rams are born and thrive in the same area as I live in, so I know they will be sound and breed-on well.
"They are good, easy-care sheep, that grow a seven to eight kilogram fleece with a good carcase."
He bought two rams at the sale.
Full report in Stock Journal, August 29 issue, 2013.
