OVERNIGHT rain saw 20 millimeters fall at “Summer Hill”, Bigga, in preparation for the 26th annual Hillcreston Park on-property superfine Merino sale.
A total of 29 Merino rams were sold from the 50 offered for an average of $1397.
Rams sold to local and repeat clients with some heading down south into Victoria.
Victorian buyers Roger and Yvonne Connley, Omeo near Mt Hotham, purchased the top price Merino ram for $4000.
The Hillcreston Park 15-51 ram was sired by Hillcreston Park 425. It had a 16.6 micron, 2.1 standard deviation (SD) and 12.7 per cent fibre diameter coefficient of variation (CV).
The Connleys also purchased the equal second top price ram, Hillcreston Park 15-40, for $2000.
With a 16.3 micron, 2.4 SD and 14.7pc CV, the ram was sired by Hillcreston Park Commander.
Buying through Jarrod Demarco, Rodwells Wool, Mansfield, Vic, the Connleys took home four Merino rams for a $2100 average.
Hillcreston Park 15-14 also sold for $2000 to DJ. and JM. Price, Mudgee.
By Hillcreston Park Delegate, the ram had a 16.3 micron, 2.6 SD and 16pc CV.
The Prices were volume buyers, securing a total of six Merino rams for a $1433 average.
Alex and Stephanie Wilson, Kalaree Poll Merino stud, also offered 15 polled rams of which 11 sold to an $1155 average and a $2000 top.
Kalaree 16-114 fetched the top price for the stud. By CU-548 the twin ram weighed 71kg and measured 18.5 in the micron, 2.7 SD, 14.6pc CV, 100pc in the CF and had a GFW of 130pc.
Danny and Megan Picker also conducted their annual Crown Hill Poll Dorset stud sale on the day with 44 rams sold out of the 60 offered, clearing 73pc.
Averaging $990, the sale fetched at $1400 top price for Crown Hill 136.
Purchased by local buyer JV. White, Bigga, the ram was sired by a Hillden ram and weighed 105kg and measured 42mm in the eye muscle depth, 90mm in the eye muscle width, had an eye muscle area of 29.2 centimeters squared and a fat depth of five mm.
A total of 28 registered buyers were in attendance across the three stud sales with a number of the passed in rams sold after the conclusion of the auctions.
The sale was conducted by Landmark with stud stock specialist Rick Power as the auctioneer.
Full report, including comments, to follow.