SPIRITED bidding resulted in Merino rams reaching a $15,000 top and $3064 average at Towalba's 41st annual on-property sale at Peak Hill last week.
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Held in conjunction with AuctionsPlus and with 34 registered bidders in attendance, a flurry of interest had Towalba's average increase by more than $1000 compared to last year.
RELATED READING: Towalba Merinos 2020 sale result
The sale attracted both long-term and new buyers keen to secure Towalba genetics.
Galong based Ian Shaw, Whitefields, secured the $15,000 top-priced Poll Merino ram, tag black 0259.
A son of Malcolm, he weighed 111 kilograms with fleece measurements of 19.3-micron, 3.4 standard deviation (SD), 17.2 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and 99.7pc comfort factor (CF). Noted as an outstanding poll ram, he scanned an eye muscle depth (EMD) fo 35 millimetres and a fat depth of 5.5mm.
Mr Shaw also purchased the top-priced horned ram, tag orange 0008, for $12,000. A ram with great constitution and well-nourished wool, he was sired by Towalba TS, and weighed 129kg with a 20.7-micron fleece, 3.3 SD, 15.9pc CV, and 99.3pc CF, and carcase measurements of 30mm for EMD and 6mm of fat.
ALSO IN NEWS: Lach River Merinos sold to $10,000 top and $2925 average
In total Mr Shaw purchased five rams at a $7055 average.
Yarran Holdings, Armatree, a long-time client at Towalba, purchased six rams to average $3375.
Gooandra Pty Ltd, Gloucester, paid $8250 for a Poll Merino ram, tag Orange 3646, who was sired by Towalba SP. A 20.3-micron ram which weighed 103kg, he had a SD of 3 , CV of 14.8pc, CF of 99.6pc, EMD of 34mm and a fat depth of 5.5mm.
Eumarra Pastoral Company, Brewarrina, secured seven rams during the sale and added five quality grade rams immediately following the auction.
Towalba also offered 29 Prime SAMM rams of which 26 were sold to a top of $4500 and average of $2203.
With Kyoma Partnership, Tomingley purchased the $4500 top-priced ram, tag Blue 708, a 117kg son of Towalba/Lawral Park, holding a fleece micron of 23.6, SD of 3.8, CV of 15.4pc, CF of 92.8pc, EMD of 42mm and a fat score of 7mm.
New client and volume buyer KB Heinrich, Temora, purchased 11 rams to average $2409, while Todd Symons, Peak Hill, secured six rams to average $1500.
Long-term client Paul Wilson of Walgett purchased four rams topping at $2250.
Towalba Merino, Poll Merino and SAMM stud principal Warick Kopp said there had been interest from both NSW and Victoria and he was very pleased with the outcome of the sale.
"Sales have been very strong and have been a reflection of the season and the confidence in the industry,'' he said.
"It is always pleasing to see our regular buyers returning as this tells us the rams are doing the right job for them.
"It was also great to see new buyers keen to secure our genetics and purchase multiple lots. Seventy of the 80 rams offered at auction were sold with another 30 grade rams sold immediately after the sale.
"We've also provided 22 rams to fill an order for poll rams to go to South Australia so we are confident our breeding strategies are working well and fitting the bill for the many different needs of our clients.''
Selling agents were Elders stud stock with Paul Jameson controlling the bids.
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