Topping of a big year of ram sales for Drew and Laura Chapman with highs of $14,000 reached at Dubbo Merino National, and an average of $2019 recorded at their West Plains Poll Merino Riverina ram sale, the Hinesville Merino and West Plains Poll Merino on-property sale reached a top of $1900.
The Helmsman auction saw 26 of the 31 rams offered sold for an average of $1254.
The top-price of $1900 was a 16.7-micron son of One Oak Natanui with a standard deviation (SD) of 3.1, coefficient of variation (CV) of 18.8 per cent, and 100pc comfort factor (CF). He was purchased by Gary Thompson, Broadview Partnership, “Broadview”, Bibbenluke.
Broadview Partnership secured five rams for an average price of $1400.
Mr Thompson, who has been buying at Hinesville/West Plains for 15 years, runs a 3000 self-replacing ewe flock with a focus on staple length and structural soundness.
“The Hinesville/West Plains sheep handle the rainfall very well, they have a good brightness of wool,” Mr Thompson said.
A.J. and N.M. Wooden, “Hilltop”, Yerong Creek, paid $1800 for a 18.4-micron poll ram with 3.6 SD, 19.2pc CV and 99.2 CF. The Wooden’s also secured another two rams for an average of $1533 on the three. Volume buyers, Toorallie Murphy Partnership, “Toorallie”, Bombala, averaged $1420 on five rams paying to a top of $1800.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Bombala utilising the Helmsman system.