BUYERS were a bit more cautious than usual at last week's Great Southern Supreme Merino (GSSM) sale at Canberra, with only a 54 per cent clearance of the 80 rams on offer.
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Although several more rams than usual stayed in their pens, the buyers who were happy to open their wallets paid an average of $345 more per ram this year compare to last year's sale.
A total of 43 of 80 Merino and Poll Merino rams topped at $10,000 and averaged $2877.
The mood in the sale shed was reasonably positive for those who were looking to purchase, with many commenting the quality genetics offered were still required every year to keep improving their flocks.
The top ram was sold by the Merriman family's Merryville Merinos, Boorowa, and was knocked down for $10,000 to Garry Seaman, Lochness Merinos, Crookwell.
The son of Big Brilliant had a fibre diameter of 18.5-micron, with a 3.6-micron standard deviation (SD) and 16.4pc co-efficient of variation (CV).
It was described by Mr Seaman as having a great sire outlook and being kind to handle, with the ability to cut plenty of wool.
"He was one of the better fine/medium rams I had seen and I had my eye on him for a while and followed him through to the sale," he said.
Len Mathews, Bulgandri Poll Merinos, Balldale, bought the top Poll Merino and second top price ram of the sale from Chris and Cindy Clonan's Alfoxton stud, Armidale, for $9000.
The ram, by Alfoxton 100260, was awarded the champion Poll Merino sale ram in judging the previous day and weighed 125 kilograms with a fibre diameter of 17.3-micron, 2.1-micron SD and 12.1pc CV.
Mr Mathews said the ram had the type of wool he was looking for and fitted well with the many rams he had used from Alfoxton previously.
"I have been crossing the Alfox-ton rams with Ridgway Advance ewes and they seem to be producing suitable rams for the Eastern Riverina ram sale clients in September every year, looking for wool cut and nourishment," he said.
The sale kicks off with a strong draft from Merryville every year and it did so again this year, with the stud selling eight of 12 rams offered, averaging $4625 a ram.
Buyers of Merryville rams included Stephen Glen, Wattle-bank Merinos, Guildford, Victoria, who paid $5000 for a Grand Monarch Syndicate son, while A.T. and B.A. Pearsall, Rye Park, paid $5500 for a 16.9-micron Brillian Super 6th son.
Regular buyers at the sale, Brett and Michael McDonald, "Oak-vale", Williamsdale, ACT, paid $3000 each for two Alfoxton rams and $2500 and $1000 for two rams from the Rayner family, Grathlyn Merinos, Hargraves.
Graham and Mary Wells, One Oak Merinos, Jerilderie, sold two sires for $4000 and $5000 respectively to Monaro stud breeders Michael Green, Boudjah Merinos, Cooma and Leon Clarke, Manawa Merinos, Berridale.
Mr Green said the GSSM sale was an easy way to see the best of southern NSW Merino genetics and the depth of quality on offer was the reason he supported the sale.
Agent Damian Meaburn, Roberts Limited, Hobart, Tasmania, spent $5500 for an undisclosed client on a 123kg Alfoxton President son.
Koepang Pastoral Company, Young, paid $4500 for a 17-micron Poll Merino ram offered by Charlie, Pip, Jono and Anna Merriman, Merrignee Merinos, Boorowa, along with $2500 for the lead Merino ram from the Corkhill family's Grassy Creek Merino and Poll Merino stud, Reids Flat.
Grassy Creek sold a second ram for $2500 to the Medway family, Gunning, and a poll ram for $1000.
Ballyhooley Merino stud, Frogmore, paid $4000 for a 17.5-micron ram by Grand Monarch 674 from Wurrook Merinos, Rokewood, Victoria.
Ron Granger, Rogara Poll Merinos, Goulburn, sold his two rams for $3000 and $2000 while Steve Tozer, Main Range Merinos, Cooma, paid $3000 for a sire from the Davis family, Demondrille Merinos, Harden.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark with Steve Ridley and Andrew Wishart as auctioneers.
