The cold southern weather didn't keep buyers away from the Eastern Riverina Poll Merino sale last Thursday at Culcairn. More buyers than usual flocked to the shed to check out the multi-vendor sale.
Prices remained steady throughout the day with buyer competition strong from local sheep producers, prices were up on last years sale.
Meadow View Poll Merino’s, Valley Vista Poll Merino’s and Karoola Downs Poll Merino’s offered up this years prime rams for auction, with only five out of 87 rams passed in for not reaching the reserve price of $800.
Top price was offered for a Meadow View stud ram, tag 6136 and went to Winston McDonald, Royalla Poll Merino’s, Wallenbeen for $5000.
Royalla Merinos and Poll Merinos, Winston McDonald “Royalla”, Wallenbeen said he was a good stud sheep and couldnt go past his characteristics.
“He stood well with a good fine wool on him,” Mr McDonald said.
The sale averaged $2367, with all three vendors bringing good prices.
Meadow View Poll Merino’s, Simon Bahr, Henty, said he was happy with where the top price ram was going and the overall sale average.
“I am very happy with where the ram is going, it has been the best sale I have seen for me, terrific results from the day,” Mr Bahr said.
The second highest price was offered another Meadow View ram, equal price of $4100 was offered for two rams of the same description, tag 6138 sold to the Dye family, Corowa, and tag 6085 sold to the Carn family, The Rock.
Meadow View Poll Merinos offered 40 May 2016-drop polled rams at this year’s sale, the stud focus on breeding rams with quality 18- to 20-micron wool with density to fill bales, and nourishment to handle higher rainfall areas.
Valley Vista Poll Merinos, Culcairn, was offered 32 May/June 2016-drop rams, they aim for a large frame, early maturing, productive 18-20 micron rams to improve wool and meat traits to clients.
Valley Vista Poll Merinos topped their section at $3700 for tag M91 which sold to Hawksview Estate, Wodonga.
Karoola Downs Poll Merino Stud, Bidgeebong offered 14 May/June 2016-drop rams, they aim to have large emphasis on softness of handle and crimp definition, the studs aim is to produce sires of equal genetic gain to that of the Horned Merino, but remain a wool cutting sheep with a meat value when slaughtered.
Karoola Downs Poll Merinos topped their section at $2800 for tag 64516, which sold to Leon Haines, Henty.
Landmark, Rick Power, said he was pleased with how the day went and the hot buyer competition.
“The sale went very well, there was good competition for top end rams,” Mr Power said.
“It is a special sale as it is the only Poll Merino sale in the district, it is a multi vendor sale that sells good stud sheep.
“A lot of new faces as well as repeat buyers were around, the prices were up on last year, last years ram topped at $3200 and this years ram topped at $5000, that’s a big increase.”
Willis Brothers Farming, “Tralee”, Yerong Creek, and the Terlich family, “High View”, Henty, also made purchases.
Buyers came from Culcairn, Hamilton, Henty, Daysdale, Pleasant Hills, Albury and other local surrounding areas.