Aloeburn Merino rams hit $2400 top

At least seven new to stud clients spread from Orange to western Victoria as well as return buyers purchased rams on the day for an average price of $1344.

A total of 321 quality, surplus 13-month-old Poll Merino ewes sold for an average price of $200/head going to new to stud clients at Towcumwal and Coolac.

It was the ram Aloeburn 170162 who topped the sale after he was secured by repeat buyer, APC Trust of Narrandera, for $2,400.

The young sire weighed 94.6 kilograms prior to sale with a post weaning weight of 6.7, yearling weight of 9.7, yearling eye muscle area depth of 1.2, yearling fat of 0.9, yearling clean fleece weight of 12.1 and 18.8 micron fleece on his second shearing. 

Volume buyers were BT and JM Lane of Lockhart and HJ and SM Bull of Boree Creek, purchasing eight and six rams respectively.

Vendors Andrew and Jodie Green were delighted with the quality of the rams presented.

“The wools are impressive and all 60 rams offered for sale were positive for fat and muscle in their breeding values,” they said. 

The couple welcomed guests with an explanation of the measures that are taken at Aloeburn to ensure accuracy, reliability and integrity of their Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs).

“Every stud born lamb is tagged and weighed at birth to confirm accurate birth date, birth weight and birth status, which greatly enhances the value of the ASBV’s allowing them to be relied on for a lifetime of performance from the Aloeburn Poll Merinos,” they said.

“This process also allows for the maternal traits of all Aloeburn stud ewes to be measured and recorded.”

Aloeburn fleece data isn’t measured on the lambs first shearing, they added. 

All lambs are shorn after weaning with young rams shorn again five months later.

This is so mid-side samples and measurements are taken from a part of the fleece that has been growing for a common time frame across the drop.