Kurrajong Park Merino stud hit $1400 top price at on-property auction

Given the difficult seasons the area has faced for back-to-back years, ram sale clearances were expected to be impacted but successful buyers still showed plenty of confidence in the future of the industry.

Stud principals Rod and Graham Kent attracted a crowd of repeat buyers and even a new purchaser whom all helped to sell 23 of 40 rams with a top price of $1400 reached three times.

While they received 80 millimetres of rain in the last fortnight, a tough 2019 season meant their full wool rams, described by Rod Kent as some of their best, had been shed fed, but had still presented as solid upstanding rams.

Ashford's David and Irene Stewart secured three rams averaging $1266 including two rams for the $1400 top price.

The first ram, tag Red 1676 Poll, had an 18.5 micron fleece with a co-efficient variation of 16.1, a standard deviation of 2.9 and a comfort factor of 99.9. He was a son of Roseville Park 98.

Their second top selection, again by Roseville Park 98, had an 18.7 micron fleece, 19.3 CV, 3.1 SD and 99.8 CF.

The couple saw great potential in the future of the Merino industry having just spent three weeks shearing 5000 head including 2000 lambs.

Having been feeding them for 18 months, their two-tooth and main mob of ewes averaged 6.9 kilograms with a nice long staple.

Mr Stewart was looking for size and staple in his ram purchases as they prepare to reduce their cattle numbers and move more into sheep.

"We have reduced our numbers a long way with cattle," he said.

"We probably sold 1000 breeders and replaced them with 1000 ewes just to make it easier to manage."

Also sharing the top price bidding honours was Geoff Swain, Back Creek, Nundle, who secured three rams in total averaging $1133.

His $1400 selection was a son of Roseville Park 98 with an 18.5 micron fleece, 16.1 CV, 2.5 SD and 100 CF.

Mr Swain runs about 2500 ewes and weathers and usually joins 600 ewes to Merino rams and the remainder to White Suffolks for fat lambs.

Now with about 12 rams in his sire battery, he intends to increase his Merino ewe numbers.

"Last year we bought six rams (from Kurrajong Park) and they were a lot dearer but the year before we had a good wool check and the season wasn't too bad," he said.

"...this year we are going to breed a few more Merinos to get our ewes up a bit more. There is more value in ewes; you can grow wool or you can grow a flat lamb."

With such a diverse operation, size was again an important factor in his buying.

"(Looking for) nice soft crimp and good feet and rams not too close in the horns and a nice soft handling wool," he said.

Bulk buyer on the day was Byron Pastoral Co, Inverell, with five rams averaging $880 for a top of $1000.

The sale was conducted by Australian Wool Network with John Croake taking up the auctioneer duties.

Read the full report in this week's The Land.