The 42nd annual Monaro White Wool Merino ram sale conducted at the Cooma Showgrounds on behalf of Michael Green, Boudjah Merinos, Cooma, and Steve Tozer, Main Range Merinos, Cooma, attracted a top price of $8500 when 109 rams were penned last Tuesday.
Sale summary:
Boudjah Merino stud - 79/79 rams sold
Top price - $8000
Average price - $3,047
Main Range Merino stud - 29/30 rams sold
Top price - $8500
Average price - $4241
In his opening remarks before settling into the auction, Rick Power, Nutrien stud stock auctioneer noted the Monaro has experienced fantastic season with regular rainfall; so it was not surprising that the sheep penned were 'ringing wet', but Mr Power said they were here to be sold, not shorn!
Top price for the multi-vendor auction was $8500 paid by Mark and Jodie Pendergast, Cottage Park, Cooma, for a son of a Tara Park ram offered by Steve Tozer, Main Range Merinos, Cooma.
Mr Pendergast said the ram appealed for his scale and outlook, along with a superb fleece.
"He will fit in our program to continue breeding rams with good size and the ability to cut heavy fleeces with quality wool."
The fleece of the new sire for Cottage Park has the measurements of 17.5 micron, 3 standard deviation (SD), 17.2 co-efficient of variation (CV) and 99.6pc comfort factor (CF).
The second top price in the Main Range offering was $7500 paid by Michael Green, Boudjah Merinos, Cooma.
Mr Green said his sire acquisition appealed for the length of staple with a very defined crimp within a heavy fleece carried on a body with structural correctness.
Volume buyers included Fraser Brothers, Cooma, who bought four at $3750 each.
Top price in Boudjah draft was $8000 when Parkdale Grazing through Ray White Guyra bought a new sire with fleece measurements of 17.7 micron, 2.9 SD, 16.3 CV and 99.6pc CF.
Mr Green note major buyers included Coonerang, Cooma who purchased eight rams, Franita Pastoral Co, Crookwell, who returned to buy eight rams; while Ian Culley, Crookwell, BJ Donughoe and Son, Goulburn, AM Green, Nimmitabel and Ron Hardy, Sutton all purchased four rams.
"We had a buyers mix of repeat and some new clients from Guyra to Crookwell to the Bega Valley," Mr Green said.
"I'm extremely pleased with sale result which shows great confidence in the Merino industry."
The sale was settled by Elders and Nutrien, Cooma.
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