UP 10 rams on previous years, the 41st annual Koonwarra unhoused ram sale held yesterday at Little Range, Boorowa, hit a very solid average of $2568.
At auction 88 rams were sold of the 100 on offer for a 88 per cent clearance and $4750 top.
Emma and Lachy Webb, and son Bob, Leswell, Yass, put together an impressive draft of eight rams, including the sale-topper, Koonwarra 17062.
Sired by KWA Roseville Park 015, the ram was 19 in the micron with a standard deviation (SD) of 3, fibre diameter coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.8pc, spinning fineness (SpinF) of 17.7, a comfort factor (CF) of 99.3pc and a greasy fleece weight (GFW) of 115pc.
It weighed 87.5kg with an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 36 millimeters, eye muscle width (EMW) of 82mm and a fat scan of 4.5mm.
The Webb family also secured the second top-priced ram of the sale, Koonwarra 17034, for $4250.
With a micron of 18.6 it was an artificial insemination son of Poll Boonoke 026, that weighed 101.5kg with a EMD of 38mm, EMW of 82mm and a fat scan of 4.5mm. It was 2.9 in the SD, 15.6pc CV, 17.2 SpinF, 99.6pc CF and 111pc in the GFW.
The repeat clients of 12 years now said the consistency of the Koonwarra rams is what keeps them coming back.
“They produce a lovely product with nice bright wool and are good big strong animals. They are growing more wool and they perform well for us,” Mrs Webb said.
“The rams are getting better each year and they really suit our enterprise. The consistency keeps us coming back – you know what you are going to get and what they are going to produce.”
Koonwarra stud principal Jono Merriman said it was a good, solid sale with new clients in attendance.
“The sale offering was up 10 on previous years and we muscle scanned the rams for the first time. We had both new clients and a consistent number of return buyers,” Mr Merriman said.
“We are extremely happy with how the rams presented this year. They are an even group of rams that show consistency in our program.
“Comments from people were that they were a good even type, that were good growy commercial rams.”
After the auction a number of rams were sold to result in a clearance of 95 out of 100 or 95pc.
Rick Power was the auctioneer on behalf of selling agents Landmark, Boorowa.
- More information from the Koonwara Merino sale will be in next week’s issue of The Land.
