STRONG bidding from commercial clients across the state pushed prices to a high of $3400 at the 30th annual Cressbrook Merinos on-property sale at “Cressbrook”, Armidale, on Friday.
Of the 107 rams offered by stud principal Lach Fulloon, 79 sold for a clearance of 74 per cent and average of $1464.
Repeat clients purchased most of the rams, which went to properties on the New England and in the state’s south.
Howard and Tom Schaefer, Eastern Fall Grazing, “Ryhanna”, Guyra, bought the top-priced ram, a 110503 twin.
He had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of +0.4 kilograms for yearling body weight and -35 for worm egg count (WEC). The ram had fleece measurements of 14.8-micron fibre diameter and 129pc for clean fleece weight.
Mr Schaefer said the ram would be used to breed flock rams for the 1800-ewe commercial flock.
Roy Robertson, “Wanderriby”, Wollomombi, bought the second highest selling ram, a twin, for $3000. He had ASBVs of +3.1 for yearling body weight and -29 for WEC, with fleece measurements of 15.9-micron fibre diameter and clean fleece weight of 124pc.
Two rams sold for $2400, going to Mr Robertson and Ken Keith, Parkes.
Mr Robertson’s ram had ASBVs of +0.8 for yearling body weight, and -37 for WEC, and fleece measurements of 14.8-micron for fibre diameter and 101pc for clean fleece weight.
The $2400 ram purchased by Mr Keith had ASBVs of -18 for WEC, with fleece measurements of 13.8-micron fibre diameter and a clean fleece weight of 123pc.
Eight rams reached $2200 and nine rams sold for $2000.
The sale’s volume buyer for the second year in a row was Barry Gollard, White Rock”, Quirindi, who took home 11 rams topping at $2200 four times and averaging $1890.
James Harris, “Abington”, Uralla, purchased 10 rams for a top of $2000 and average of $1300.
Three buyers – James Swales, “Woodlands”, Torryburn; Andrew Wood, “Woodville”, Armidale; and Morilla Grazing Trust, Glen Innes – each bought seven rams, averaging $1628, $1057, and $942 respectively.
Mr Robertson; The University of New England, Armidale; and Susan Mills, “The Glen”, Goulburn, took home five rams each and Mr Keith; Bruce Leah, “Clearview”, Gerogery; and Trelawney Pastoral Company, Parkes, each purchased four rams.
Cressbrook stud principal Lach Fulloon said buyers were looking for well balanced sheep with good WEC figures, fleece weights and frame.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Armidale, with John Settree, Landmark Stud Stock, taking the bids.