THE annual ram sale for Cassilis Park Merinos was held at the Armstrong family's Cassilis property recently to a good crowd of regular buyers.
Offering an increased draft of 100 Merino and Poll Merino rams a clearance of 100 percent was achieved breaking the stud record for both top price at $8250, averaging $2573 overall and most rams sold.
In the breakdown, 36 Merinos sold to $5,250.00 and averaged $2236 and 64 Poll Merinos sold to the top price of $8250 and averaged $2762.
Also an increase on last year, saw 16 of the 20 registered bidders taking home rams.
The top price went to Poll Merino Cassilis 200278, a twin September 2020 drop ram with top 10 percent post weaning weight (PWWT), greasy fleece weight (GFW), Merino production plus (MP+) and dual purpose plus (DP+). His figures included birth weight of 87.5 kilograms , birth weight percentage of 110pc, a fleece micron of 20.4 , comfort factor(CF) of 99, GFW percent of 138 , eye muscle depth (EMD) of 32 millimetres , and a fat depth (FAT) of 2 mm.
He was sold to return buyers Saxon and Anna Holland, Temerity Pastoral, Coolah.
They also took the second top priced ram Cassilis 201180, a September 2020 drop, with a birth weight of 83.3 kilograms , birth weight percentage of 105pc, a fleece micron of 19 , comfort factor(CF) of 99.5, GFW percent of 143, eye muscle depth (EMD) of 29mm , and a fat depth (FAT) of 2.5 mm.
They took home another eight rams for an average of $3932.
LJ and ML Collins, Tomimbil, Turill, purchased the top-priced Merino for $5250, Cassilis 200896, a September 2020-drop single-born ram, with a body weight of 77kg. He measured a 16.3-micron fleece with a 100pc CF, 123pc GFW percentage, 30mm EMD and 2mm fat depth.
Picking up 17 rams were return volume buyers the White family, Talbragar, Coolah, with Georgia White making the purchases to average $3412.
"We have been buying from this stud for over twenty years," Miss White said. "Cassilis Park aligns with our breeding program and the traits of easy care, fertility, good wool growers and suit our district, the stud is really good to deal with.
"I really liked lot 61, he follows our breeding objectives of growth, carcase and wool quality, I wasn't going to let him go."
James Armstrong, co-principal of Cassilis Park, thought the stud record breaking sale was great.
"We were very happy with the support from our existing clients who saw great value in the rams." he said.
"Our sale grew from our existing client base, who are backing our vision.
"The balance of the rams, with production versus non mulesing are still versatile and that has been great.
"We have a lot more depth and consistency in the polls and having more rams better quality through the catalogue."
The sale was conducted by Elders Mudgee with Paul Jameson controlling the bids.
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