Despite the widespread dry conditions, confidence in the current lamb and wool market was evident at the Karbullah Poll Merinos ram sale near Goondiwindi on Monday, which pushed to a top of $4000 twice.
All 160 rams offered were sold under Helmsman conditions, with Mark and Vicki Murphy’s draft averaging $1651.
Russell Beatty, Dunwinnie, Thallon, was one of the top-price bidders, taking home Karbullah 170070.
The 2017 July-drop, polled ram tipped the scales at 78 kilograms and had a standard deviation (SD) of 3.5 per cent, fibre diameter of 20.9 micron, and a co-efficient variation (CV) of 16.8pc.
Mr Beatty said Karbullah 170070 was one of three rams he purchased, and he was drawn to the ram because of it’s great figures and composition.
“He’s a good wool cutter, got great worm resistance, and he’s just got all the good attributes,” he said.
“Last year I didn’t come to the sale because it was so dry, but you can’t go two years without buying rams, so I came along today even though we’ve had to cut our numbers at home.
“He’ll get joined up with about 10 other rams and probably go in with 650 maiden ewes in March.”
The Beitz family of Middle Ridge, Amby, also paid the top price of $4000 for Karbullah 170016.
The 2017 July-drop, polled ram weighed 75kg and had a SD of 3.7pc, fibre diameter of 17.3 micron, and CV of 21.1pc.
A second-top price of $3600 was paid by Richard and Marisse Kinnon, Outamorella, Longreach, for Karbullah 170017.
Volume buyers on the day included the Murphy family, Dalmar, Thallon, who purchased 13 rams to a top of $1800 and average of $1453, and the Protheroe family of Grenfel, who also took home 13 rams to a top of $3500, averaging $1776.
Karbullah stud principal, Mark Murphy, said it was fantastic to see support from new and repeat clients.
“The rams have done up pretty well despite the season and we’ve had no problems there at all,” he said.
“The issue is the season, the wool market is brilliant, sheep market is brilliant, lamb market is brilliant, but most of the eastern side of Australia needs rain.
“There’s some clients not here and that was a bugger, but they’re not in a good spot at the moment because of the season.”
The sale was conducted by Australian Wool Network.