MERINO breeders looking for bulky woolgrower rams with good crimp and plenty of wool found what they were looking for at the inaugural Towonga Merino ram sale on the property at Peak Hill on Wednesday.
This was the first sale of Garry and Donna Kopp since the succession slip of Towalba stud last year and Merino breeders who know the wool qualities of the Wonga-based sheep took home 67 of the 80 rams offered at auction.
The sale averaged $1910 for all sold with 45 Merino rams averaging $1817 and 22 Poll Merino rams averaging $2103.
Buyer of the $4500 top priced Poll Merino ram, Mick Kelly, Kelvri, Crookwell, returned to the Kopp family sheep for the second year, having bought at the Towalba sale last year.
He said he liked the size of the ram and it rich crimpy wool type.
"It's a stylish crimpy type of ram with a nice frame underneath," Mr Kelly said.
He bought three rams paying an average $2433.
David Culley of John A Culley Jnr and Company, Woodbine Park, Crookwell, a repeat buyer of the Koop family's rams since 1996, returned and secured eight rams, paying to $3500 and a $2250 average.
Eric Wythe of Broadwater, Victoria, has been buying Kopp-bred Merinos since 1987 and purchased six rams for an average of $2083 while paying to $2500 each for four rams.
Paul Hando and family, Garryowen, Peak Hill, bought three rams for a $2167 average with the top at $2500 while the Ridley family, Kiora, Girral, paid an average $1583 for nine rams.
- Full report in The Land, September 19 edition
