QUEENLEE Merino rams sold to a top of $2600 and average of $916 at the annual on-property sale at Uralla on Tuesday.
Fifty eight of the 66 rams offered by the Carlon family sold for a clearance of 88 per cent.
The top ram was purchased by long-time client Dan Healey, “Dry Creek”, Duramana, near Bathurst.
The ram had a fibre diameter of 15.9-micron, standard deviation (SD) of 2.78-micron, yield of 78.7pc and comfort factor (CF) of 100pc.
The ram will be used in Mr Healey’s flock of 600 commercial ewes.
“I liked his size and his wool style,” he said.
“I look for big framed rams to cut the heavier wool cut, and once you’re finished with their wool the wethers sell well.”
David and Cathy Lockyer, “Glendon”, Guyra, purchased the second highest ram for $2100.
He had a fibre diameter of 15.6-micron, 2.98 SD, yield of 73.1pc and 100pc CF.
Greg Ryan, “Oakleigh”, Nundle, and Mr Healey each purchased a ram for $1800.
The sale’s volume buyer was Paul Mabbott, “Rockvale”, Kentucky, who purchased 14 rams rams for a top of $1200 an average of $807.
The Lockyers purchased six rams averaging $1233 and Dudley Frazier, “Delveen”, Uralla, and Dick Hanlon, “Metz”, Armidale, bought four rams each for averages of $775 and $700.
Queenlee stud principal Philip Carlon said bids came from a few new clients, as well as long-time repeat buyers.
“Our aim here at Queenlee is to breed a big superfine sheep with quality wool for the Italian spinners market,” Mr Carlon said.
“We’ve been a bit lucky these last few years and picked up some extra buyers that are chasing some more size and more cut.”
The sale was conducted by Schute Bell Badgery Lumby and Landmark Armidale, with John Settree, Landmark stud stock, taking the bids.