Merryville stud, Boorowa, gained the top-price of $7000 and the top average of $3250 for six rams at the 61st annual Mudgee Merino ram sale held on Monday.
A large buying gallery on hand purchased 34 of the 45 rams offered by nine vendors to average an overall $1874. It was a result similar to last year’s outcome of 33 rams sold to an average of $1811.
Merryville’s sale topper, an August 2014-drop 17.7-micron son of a Brilliant Monarch Super Syndicate sire and from a Merryville special stud ewe, was purchased by repeat commercial buyers Tony Price and family, “Boiga View”, Pyramul.
This ram had a standard deviation (SD) of 2.7-micron, coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.9 per cent and comfort factor (CF) of 99.9pc.
Mr Price said he had not purchased from this sale for a number of years.
“We normally purchase direct from the stud but we needed more rams,” Mr Price said.
“I have a number of his family already at home and they seem to be breeding on very well. We like their wool and their very consistent progeny.
“He will be joined to a run of 100 ewes to test his progeny.”
Merryville’s supreme champion and champion medium wool ram sold for second highest of $5000.
Merryville co-principle, Wal Merriman, said the sale was back a little bit as it didn't have the strength in the lower sheep which was surprising.
“There are good sheep here with good value which have attracted many repeat buyers and our sale was similar to last year but with a couple of higher prices,” Mr Merriman said.
Glanna stud, Gulgong, operated by Ron and Jeff Rayner and families, sold five rams topping at $3250 to average $1630.
Timothy Maxwell, Gulgong, purchased the top ram, a 20.2-micron son of Willandra Desmond Poll AI.
The Davis brothers’ Demondrille stud, Harden, sold five rams to $3000 and achieved the second highest average of $2660. Their draft topper was an 18-micron son of Demondrille 1100 purchased by Wallerwaugh Pty Ltd, Mudgee.
Volume buyer, Greg Hundy of Landmark Mudgee, said he was buying to price for a new client who was stocking a property.
“All of the rams we bought were productive and an even draft,” Mr Hundy said. “People are looking for a more productive sheep now where 20 years ago it was micron driven.”
The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders Mudgee with auctioneers Rick Power, Landmark and Andy McGeogh, Elders.