Braidwood district woolgrower Ian Flack returned to the seventh on-property sale of the McCormack family, Walwa Merinos, Gurrundah, and purchased two rams, paying the top price of $1800 for a Willandra Desmond grandson weighing 102 kilogram, and measuring 17.9 micron with a comfort factor of 99.6 per cent.
Mr Flack was attracted to the ram for his beautiful fleece, which he considered to be long-stapled, soft handling and very heavy.
“They are very good sheep, with a terrific frame and great wool cutters in our country,” he said.
On his southern tablelands property, Mr Flack shears three times in two years, and also lambs three times in two years.
“It is simple, but you have to be pretty well organised, and it works well,” he said.
Another long term client of the Walwa stud, Lindsay and Pauline Storey, from Duramana, purchased three rams paying to $1600 and an average of $1200.
The couple had recently sold their 16 micron wether wool to a top price of 2650c/kg and averaged $3800 per bale including crutchings.
“We are getting good results, and the rams are reasonably priced,” he said.
A total of 41 rams were offered during the auction with 23 selling for a $1078 average.
The Helmsman auction was settled by Elders, Goulburn, and was led by Daniel Tarlington, Elders Crookwell livestock territory sales manager.