THE McLaren family's Nerstane Merino breeding program drew interest from all wool producing States and international contingencies at their annual sale held at Woolbrook last Friday.
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Of the 209 rams offered, 192 sold at auction to a top of $5200 and average of $1536.
In the break-up 171 shedded rams sold to a top of $5200 and averaged $1618 and 21 penned rams topped at $1000 and averaged $872.
Buyers of the top-priced ram were newcomers to Nerstane, Tony and Ruth Stace, "Dunley Vale", Guyra.
The $5200 ram had strong Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) including +2.5 yearling weight, +16 yearling clean fleece weight, a yearling worm egg count of -41 and a fibre diameter of 14.9-micron.
The Staces, who explored the Nerstane genetics at the recent New England Merino Field Days, wanted to bulk up their 1500 strong commercial Merino flock and felt the Nerstane ram, sired by Yalgoo 68, would do just that.
"This is a well nourished ram with great figures and a physical outlook to match," Mr Stace said.
Retired Elders stud stock representative Bevan Jolly, Dubbo, purchased five rams on behalf of the Union Ag Group of South America, Uruguay, to top at $3800 and average $3040.
Mr Jolly said the buying group had seen Nerstane genetics succeed in Uruguay and felt they should try them out in their own commercial operation.
They were after fine/medium wool rams with good frame and good wool cut to export.
Victorian client Tom Porter "Llanthro", Apsley, purchased 10 rams to top at $3200 and average $2000.
The long-time buyer and his manager James Ridgway flew up to purchase their normal Nerstane draft and they also selected additional rams with Windarra blood influences after they recently added 700 Windarra ewes to their flock.
Rockvale Farms, Guyra, were volume buyers on the day loading 14 rams to average $1043.
AuctionsPlus showed a strong presence purchasing eight rams to top at $1400 and average $1050.
The proceeds from lot 187 were donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, with Tasmanian breeders, Warner Properties, "Vaucluse", Conara, purchasing the ram for $1000.
Elders southern New England wool manager Tom Henry, Walcha, purchased 12 rams on behalf of new client Marcus Spicer, King Island, topping at $1600 and averaging $1150.
Birrahlee Grazing Company, Kentucky, secured six lots to top at $3600 and average $2067, and Valerie Le Maître, Lochiel Pastoral Company, Ross, Tasmania, bought nine rams to average $1800.
Craig and Grant Dunn, Reedy Creek Partners, Mandagery, won the bid on nine to average $1445, while Greg Tighe, Guyra, loaded 12 rams to average $1400, and 11 rams averaging $837 headed to Coolah for Kerrawah Pastoral Company.
A total of 94 stud ewes were also auctioned on the day with Lemani Merino stud, Ashford, purchasing 74 to average $97.50.
Coryule Merinos, Skipton, Victoria, purchased the tops at $115 per head.
The sale was conducted by Elders Walcha, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, as auctioneer.
