MUMBLEBONE Merino stud recorded a stellar result during its annual on-property ram sale near Wellington where the sale topped at $12,000, twice.
All up 200 early maturing rams with exceptional wool quality were offered with just two passed in at auction last Thursday.
The rest sold for an average of $2904 a head, $459 up on last year, which stud principals Chad and Louise Taylor said exceeded their expectations and was an amazing result.
"I could not be happier with the sale result," Mr Taylor said.
"There's been an unprecedented amount of interest in the rams this year as people look to tap into the opportunities the modern Merino has to offer. There were plenty of 'old faces' at the sale which are the foundation of what we do, but also many 'new faces' this year which is really exciting to see."
Both top priced rams were sold early in the sale at lot six and lot nine and this was a strong indicator of the solid competition which ran right through the sale.
Lot six was a twin reared poll ram sired by Moojepin 12-0652 - an outstanding wool sire with trait leading ASBV's right across the line.
Some of the standout figures included a post weaning weight (PWWT) of 8.9; yearling weight of (YWT) 12.2; yearling fat (YFAT) of 1.9, yearling eye muscle depth (YEMD) of 3 and number of lambs weaned of 8. Other trait highlights were yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) of 16; yearling fibre diameter (YFD) of -0.8; yearling stable length (YSL) of 21.3, and early breech wrinkle (EBWR) of -1.3.
The ram went to Andrew and Jodie Green, Aloeburn Pastoral Company at Boree Creek for $12,000 and was a standout for his growth and carcass figures.
"With its beautiful, white, long stapled, deep crimping wool the rams genetic contribution will only add to Aloeburn Poll Merinos mantra of more lambs more wool more often," Mr Green said.
Also hitting the $12,000 mark was lot nine which was a twin reared poll ram sired by Moojepin 12-0652.
Its ASBV figures included PWWT of 8; YWT 10.3; YFAT of 1, YEMD of 2.2 and NLW of 8. The ram also had a YCFW of 25; YFD of 0.4; YSL of 24, and EBWR of -0.5.
After some fast-paced bids, the ram was bought by Tim and Tom Mulholland, Operina P/L, Moulamein.
Tim Mulholland said he liked the rams balanced ASBV figures and its moderate, thick frame.
Wayne, Lindy and Matt Lehmann, Flairdale Poll Merinos, Cooke Plains, South Australia, picked up a ram early in the sale for $11,000.
This ram was by Mumblebone 16-0547 and also had a full suite of notable figure for growth and carcass with outstanding wool quality.
Its figures featured PWWT of 7.5; YWT 9.4; YFAT of 0.9, YEMD of 1.2 and NLW of 3. In addition, its numbers for YSL of 13.9; YSC of 3.8, and EBWR of -0.5 were also impressive.
Several rams hit the $10,000 mark.
Landrigan Partnership, Hopetown, Victoria, paid $10,000 for a son of Mumblebone 16-0536, while GJ and GM Grugger, Stonehaven, Victoria, forked out $10,000 for a ram by Moojepin 12-0652.
The third ram to make $10,000 was also a son of Moojepin 12-0652 and bought by Bill and Xavier White, FL White and Company, Wagin, Western Australia.
New Zealand buyer, Jimmy Butters, Glenallen, Waikari, NZ, bought two rams for a top of $5000 and average of $4250 for his ram breeding flock in the South Island.
Clients of nextGen Agri were well looked after with Caleb Hogan, Gritjjurk, Victoria, buying six rams to a top of $2500 averaging $1917; Adam Bussenshaft, Kangaroo Island, picking up five rams to a top of $2000 and an average of $1500, while Damien Florance, also Kangaroo Island, paid a top of $3000 and an average of $2250 for four rams.
Andrew Graham, Red Hill, Coolac, was a volume buyer taking home 15 rams for a top of $5500 and average of $3767. This was the first time Mr Graham had bought rams at the sale.
Long term clients, The Ridge family, Jandra Pastoral Company, Bourke, took home 12 rams for a top of $1500 and average of $1167, while Yambla Station, Morvew, another new buyer, bought 12 rams for a top of $3500 and average of $2208.
Buyers attended the sale from right across NSW, Vic and SA, Wagin in WA, Gretna in Tas and Eromanga in Qld. The sale was conducted by Elders Dubbo with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth.
