PACKED to capacity, the Bungoona wool shed was full of anticipation for the second annual ram sale for the O’Keeffe family held at their Molong property.
A total of 25 Merinos and 25 Poll Merinos were offered with 44 selling at auction, and additional sales after, for an auction average of $1656.
A top price of $3000 was achieved twice, both to the same purchaser, Cooyong Pastoral, Manildra, who run a commercial enterprise with 2000 breeding ewes.
Leo Gibson, Cooyong, liked the wool cut and big framed sheep.
“We want to put more wool on our sheep,” he said. He purchased three rams in total for an average of $2567.
Volume purchaser with a draft of five was Jack Fardell, Shepherds Creek, Euchareena, who was chasing Poll rams.
“They are big, heavy cutting sheep,” he said.
“I was here to buy five and I got five. There was very good value for money.” His draft averaged $1000.
Shute Bell Livestock’s Jason Harton said the sale was about $400 up on last year’s average with about one third more sold.
Bungoon principal Adrian O’Keeffe thought the sale was pretty good.
“It was a good clearance and an affordable average,” he said.
“Buyers are more discerning and are prepared to pay a bit more for the sheep.”
The sale was conducted by Shute Bell Livestock with Jason Harton controlling the bids.