The strong demand for quality merino genetics this year flowed into the selling ring for the King family, Avonside Merinos, Cooma, as they recorded a $927 rise on average for their 2018 offering.
Shifting from a Helmsman to auction format, all 40 rams sold to average $2135.
The $7200 sale topper, Avonside 7537, was sired by Rosville Park 442 and had a 20.7 micron fleece, standard deviation (SD) of 3.7, coefficient of variation (CV) of 17.9, spinning fineness of 19.6 and comfort factor (CF) of 99.2 per cent.
Avondside 7537 was bought on behalf of Adam Johns, Chalton Park, Melton Mowbray, Tasmania with Damien Meaburn doing the bidding.
Mr Meaburn said Mr Johns had been looking for a ram that was nourished with great wool and skin and had finally found him at Avonside.
“The ram ticked all the boxes for their breeding program,” he said.
Second top money of $3000 was reached on four occasions.
Roberts Pty Ltd, Launceston, Tas, purchased two rams; Avonside 7543, a Roseville Park 442 sire with a CF of 98.9pc and spinning fineness of 20.2 and Avonside 7501, a Brundenella 19 sire with a micron of 19.2 and SD of 3.7 for an undisclosed purchaser.
Connorville Station, Cressy, Tas, purchased Avonside 7513, a Cottage Park 064 sire that had a micron of 18.7 and SD of 3.3, and Avonside 7597, an Avonside 3031 sire that had a CV of 18.8, and a CF of 99.4 also for the second top money.
Connorville also purchased a further five rams to fill their requirements for an overall average of $2172.
Local volume buyers the Mackay family, Dry Plains, put together six rams, paying to a top of $2800 to average $1734.
Ged Mackay said they had been purchasing Avonside genetics for 10 years and every year the sheep kept improving.
“Buying locally from Avonside helps with the sheep handling our environment and we are happy with the philosophy of the King family’s breeding,” he said.
Also purchasing six rams was AT and WK Scarlett, Cooma, who paid to a top of $2600 for Avonside 7546 with a CV of 17.5 and CF of 99.5pc. Their purchases averaged $1633.
Le Tompe Partnership, Ando, purchased three rams for their requirements and averaged $2133.
Also averaging $2133 was Eveleigh Partnership, Cooma, with three rams and Tom Burke and Sons averaging $2667.
Speaking after the sale, Avonside principal Simon King said the sale exceeded his expectations.
“We were very happy with the sale, with the average price higher than last year, along with the complete clearance,” he said.
“The decision to change from a Helmsmen to an auction has proved a success.”
The sale was settled by Monaro Livestock and Property and Elders with Andy McGeoch, Elders, as auctioneer