A dry spring outlook and softening wool market failed to dampen one of Australia’s biggest single vendor Merino ram auctions at Riverina stud Pooginook, with buyers paying to a top of $10,000.
Wool growers from five states jockeyed to bid on the draft of 247 horned and polled, June 2011 drop Merino rams – all presented with Australian Sheep Breeding Values.
Hosted on-property at Jerilderie on Tuesday, the sale resulted in 244 rams sold for a gross of $414,600 and average of $1699.
The number of poll rams catalogued jumped from 40 in 2011 to 58, with a corresponding rise in the average price from $1620 to $2003.
The horned offering of 186 rams averaged $1604.
Repeat clients Jock and Jenny Clappin, Ballochmyle Grazing Company, Cranbrook, Western Australia, paid the top price of $10,000 for the opening lot.
Selected by stud classer David Taylor, the horned, 20.2 micron ram had a coefficient of variation of 16.3, standard deviation of 3.3, comfort factor of 99.1 per cent and dual purpose index of 156.5.
Mr Taylor said the Clappins had been using Pooginook rams for two decades and ran 16,000 Merino ewes.
“They needed a ram with a bit of grunt and he was the one that took my eye,’’ he said.
“He had a lot of bulk, thickness, length of body and very good figures.’’
Western Australian Merino producers were well represented at the sale, with Mr Taylor buying 60 rams for seven clients.
Clients for more than 60 years, the Palmer family, of Kojonup, WA, travelled to the sale to buy six rams to a top of $1800 for their 1800 Merino ewe flock.
Pre-sale, the stud’s 75th anniversary was marked with a cake cutting by David Taylor, and a display of stud sires, ewes and historical memorabilia.
Pooginook management plans to join 6000 stud ewes this year, including up to 2500 polls.
Landmark stud stock auctioneer Kevin Norris said the entire draft of sale rams was consistently larger and more evenly covered.
“The poll draft was excellent…it will solidify the Pooginook brand at the top of Riverina breeding circles,’’ Mr Norris said.
Pooginook stud manager John Sutherland was thrilled with the overall sale clearance and average.
“Our clients were able to purchase the quality of sheep they wanted within their budgets,’’ Mr Sutherland said.
“The continued support from all states of Australia at the sale gave it a strength throughout.
“As one of the biggest Merino ram sales in Australia, it is a reflection of the increased demand.’’
Among the major buyers were David and Rob Piefke, “Edaville”, Quandialla, NSW, with 14 rams to a top of $1600.
Rob Piefke said the rams were selected on their seven per cent dual purpose index figures to increase fleece weight in their 2400 Merino ewe flock.
Repeat client Kym Mosey, Twin Creek Pastoral, Kapunda, South Australia, was chasing early vigour while selecting six polled rams to a top of $4000.
“It was a good draft of rams which sold well to the end – there were no bargains,’’ Mr Mosey said.
Adrian Flint, Fox & Lillie Rural, Finley, bought mainly poll rams for clients Greg Holmberg, Elmore; Dustin Pascoe, Raywood,; Eric McKenzie, Cootamundra, and Pickersgill Bros, Goolgowi.
“It was a good solid sale for such a big number of rams,’’ Mr Flint said.
