A LARGE offering of 180 Merino and Poll Merino rams were presented to a strong gallery of bidders at Bogo Merinos, Yass, with the top-priced ram making $4200.
The sale was held on “Ravenswood”, Boambolo via Yass, New Kayarem Pty Ltd, Cavan Station.
The rams reached an average of $1602 across the 148 sold.
Bidders provided strong competition for the best rams, with a second-top price of $4000 and five rams selling for $3800.
The $4200 ram was secured by first-time Bogo client Nick Wragge, Woomargama Station, Woomargama via Holbrook.
The ram 400485 was sired by 120372 and recorded a 16.5-micron fibre diameter, 2.7-micron standard deviation (SD), 16.4 per cent co-efficient of variation (CV) and 99.7pc comfort factor (CF).
Mr Wragge said the ram had great shape, good constitution and well nourished wool.
He purchased a total of 10 rams to average $2640.
On Woomargama Station about 3000 ewes are joined, cutting from five to 5.5 kilograms of wool.
Mr Wragge said he was impressed by the draft of rams he purchased on the day, describing them as “very structurally correct”.
He said he was selling plain-bodied sheep with good doing ability.
The second-top ram was purchased by Dave and Jenny Hewlett, Blackburn Pastoral Company, Yass.
Repeat clients at Bogo, the Hewletts purchased a total of five rams to average $3160.
Mr Hewlett said the $4000 ram would be used on three-year-old ewes.
He said the ram stood out for its micron, fleece weight and frame and was offered with an 18-micron fibre diameter, a 3.4-micron SD, 18.9pc CV and 99.2pc CF.
D.W. and M.J. Thompson, Coota-mundra, purchased two of the $3800 rams, while Schlunke Pastoral Company, Bowning, purchased a ram also at $3800.
Schlunke Pastoral purchased ano-ther ram for $2200.
There were several other volume buyers at the sale including Carwoola Pastoral Company, Carwoola, purchasing eight rams to a top of $1200 and an average of $1025.
Gabrabray Pty Ltd, “Fairview”, Greenethorpe, purchased eight rams to a top of $2800 and an average of $1713.
Bruce Isaac, CSIRO, Hall, ACT, purchased six rams to a top of $1600 and an average of $1167.
Connen Hill Pty Ltd, Goulburn, bought five rams to a top of $2800 and an average of $2040.
Parkesbourne Pty Ltd, Yass, purchased five rams to a top of $1400 and an average of $1040.
Roseglen Pastoral Company, Collector, purchased three rams to a top of $2200 and an average of $1933.
J. and A. Hyles Family Trust, Tuggeranong, ACT, purchased nine rams to a top of $2600 twice and an average of $1644.
This marked the second year the annual sale was held on Cavan Station’s property, “Ravenswood”, following on from the purchase of Bogo Merino stud from the previous owner, Frances Elsegood, with stud manager Malcolm Peake continuing in the role under the new ownership of the stud.
About 30 extra rams were offered in this year’s draft as compared to last year.
Cavan Station general manager Matt Crozier said it was also pleasing to see some new clients operating at this year’s sale, among many repeat buyers, with the top ram going to one of those new clients, and the second top ram going to long-term Bogo clients.
Mr Crozier said the consistency throughout the sale was good, and he was heartened to see long-term clients believing in the Bogo rams.
“There were plenty of rams in there for value buying, and there were lots of volume buyers at the sale who
got value for money,” Mr Crozier said.
He said it was also encouraging to see an increase in the sale average by about $60 on last year.
The sale was conducted by Landmark and Butt Livestock and Property, both of Yass, with Andrew Wishart, Landmark stud stock, Cootamundra, the sale auctioneer.