AUSTRALIAN Food and Agriculture’s (AFA) Wanganella and Poll Boonoke Merino studs had an impressive sale with rams selling to multiple states and hitting a $35,000 high during their annual ram sale at Boonoke, Conargo, on September 19.
Increasing the total offering by 20 rams on previous years, 216 rams were sold at auction of the 220 offered for a 98 per cent clearance and $3292 average.
All 25 shed rams offered by AFA were sold to average $9920.
Poll Boonoke 170145 kicked off the sale with a bang hitting the top-price of $35,000 paid by the Haddon Rig stud, Marthaguy, and the Cora Lynn stud, Peak Hill.
Sired by Poll Boonoke 140948, it recorded 18.1 micron, 2.7 standard deviation (SD), 14.9pc fibre diameter coefficient of variation (CV), a comfort factor of 99.7 and a body weight of 109 kilograms and eye muscle depth (EMD) of 43 millimetres with a fat scan of 5.5mm.
The 170145 tag ram had been previously shown and created a lot of interest from prospective buyers following its win of the Elders Riverina Ram of the Year award at the 10th annual Elders Riverina Sheep Expo held at Deniliquin in August.
George Falkiner and Andy Maclean from Haddon Rig Merinos said they were chasing the ram’s breeding.
“He is from a family we haven’t used before and he has a real sirey, good skin for a poll ram. He is also a pure poll, which means he will breed 100pc polls,” they said.
“We thought he was by far the best ram.”
It was in the top 5pc of the Merinoselect Analysis 2017 Drop for yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) with an Australian Sheep Breeding Value (ASBV) of 25.3 and the top 10pc for Merino Production Plus Index (MP+) at 158.1 and Dual Purpose Plus (DP+) at 156.9.
Semen from the upcoming sire will be collected and retained by the AFA studs.
The Lindsay family from Cora Lynn, Peak Hill, also secured the second top-priced ram of the sale, Poll Bonooke 170374, for $20,000.
With a micron of 20.5 and weighing 120kg, it was sired by Poll Boonoke 150026 and had 3.0 SD, 14.6pc CV and 99.7pc CF with an EMD of 42mm and fat scan of 6mm.
In the top 1pc for yearling weight with an ASBV of 11.0, the PB170374 was also top 5pc for YCFW with a figure of 27.4 and DP+ with an index of 162, and top 10pc for MP+ at 158.4.
Steve Lindsay from Cora Lynn Merinos said they realised the competition on the rams was going to be stiff following inspection at the South West Slopes Stud Merino field day and the Rabobank Dubbo Merino National prior to the sale.
“Both rams stood out. They are incredibly sirey, hugely productive rams that are large framed and weighed exceptionally,” Mr Lindsay said.
“The tag 170374 ram has a well nourished, dense wool and a lot of weight.
“Both will be specially joined with the $35,000 ram obviously through an AI (artificial insemination) program and the other joined naturally this November.”
Overall 77 Merino rams were sold to a top of $18,000 to average $2958, while 139 Poll Merino rams sold to a $35,000 top and a $3477 average.
Wanganella topped at $18,000 for Wanganella 173900, a Merino ram purchased by Michael Keatley, Jamestown, South Australia.
It was 19.8 in the micron with a SD of 3.0, CV of 15.2pc, CF of 99.6pc, and ASBVs in the top 10pc for YCFW and yearling weight (YWT).
Also heading interstate was Poll Boonoke 170458 secured by Gerald and Jodie Mullighan from Clare, SA.
Sired by Wanganella 130844 it was 20.7 in the micron and was top 1pc for YCFW at 30.8 and top 5pc for YWT at 9.0 and for the MP+ and DP+ indexes with figues of 166.6 and 166.5.
A total of 191 AFA paddock rams were sold of the 195 offered for a 98pc clearance and a $2424 average.
Volume buyers included Med McLeod of Killanin, Harden, who bought 19 rams, Geelong Lime Pty Ltd, Inverleigh, Victoria, purchased 24 rams, Wadona Partnership, Wagonga, Nyngan, took home 13 rams, and the Rollins family from Coolamon secured 11 rams while Griffiths Pastoral Enterprises, Green Camp, Nyngan selected 13 rams.
Another highlight included the private sale of Wanganella 173192 for $30,000 to Kurrajong Park Merino stud, Delungra.
The Kurrajong Park stud also secured Poll Boonoke 170341, a son of Poll Boonoke 150026 who weighed 107.5kg and was 18.7 in the micron, 2.6 SD, 13.9pc CV and 99.7pc CF with an EMD of 38.5mm and fat measurement of 6mm.
Landmark and Elders Deniliquin settled the sale.
