A buoyant wool market lifts Merryville's 27th annual Merino ram sale at Boorowa to a $10,000 top as loyal clients drive superfine demand
Summary
A buoyant wool market lifted competition at Merryville's 27th annual on-property Merino ram sale at Boorowa on September 11, where a strong contingent of loyal, long-time clients drove demand. A total of 105 of 125 lots sold to an average of $2060 and a top of $10,000, with the top price almost double the previous year's $5750, while the average eased slightly from 2025's $2171. The sale high, Merryville 891, was a two-year-old ram by Merryville Giant Test, purchased for a superfine woolgrowing operation at Williamsdale in the ACT. The 110-kilogram sire cut a 17.5-micron fleece with a standard deviation of 3.4, a coefficient of variation of 19.6 and a comfort factor of 99.5 per cent, and was noted for its structure, with a 43-millimetre eye muscle depth and 6-millimetre fat depth. An uncatalogued ram, Merryville G141, also made $10,000 in private negotiations after the sale, testing 16.5 micron. The second top-priced ram, Merryville G30, sold for $7000 at 15.4 micron. Volume buying was led by a family from Coonabarabran who took 24 rams at an average of $1125, close to a quarter of the sold offering. Buyers travelled from the local district as well as northern New South Wales, Victoria and southern Queensland. The vendor said Merryville was staying true to its breeding roots while injecting more body weight into sires for the finewool Merino lamb market, and expected the strong wool market to continue supporting the ram-selling season.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Lots sold | 105 of 125 |
| Average price | $2060 |
| Top price | $10,000 |
| Previous year top | $5750 |
| 2025 average | $2171 |
| Sale-high ram | 110 kg, 17.5 micron |
| Second top price | $7000 (15.4 micron) |
| Uncatalogued private sale | $10,000 (16.5 micron) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What were the top price and average at Merryville?
A total of 105 of 125 lots sold to a top of $10,000 and an average of $2060. The top price was almost double the previous year's $5750.
How did the average compare with last year?
The average of $2060 was slightly back on the 2025 average of $2171. However, the top price rose sharply year on year.
What were the details of the sale-high ram?
Merryville 891, a two-year-old by Merryville Giant Test, was the sale high. The 110-kilogram sire cut a 17.5-micron fleece with a comfort factor of 99.5 per cent and was noted for structure, with a 43mm eye muscle depth.
Was another ram also sold for $10,000?
Yes, an uncatalogued ram, Merryville G141, made $10,000 in private negotiations after the sale. It tested 16.5 micron with a comfort factor of 99.75 per cent.
What was the second top-priced ram?
Merryville G30 sold for $7000. The 96-kilogram, two-year-old ram tested at 15.4 micron with a comfort factor of 99.9 per cent.
Where did buyers come from?
Buyers came from the local district as well as northern New South Wales, Victoria and southern Queensland. A family from Coonabarabran was the volume buyer, taking 24 rams at an average of $1125.
What is the outlook for the wool and ram market?
The vendor expected the strong wool market to continue supporting the ram-selling season. Merryville aimed to inject more body weight into sires for the finewool Merino lamb market while staying true to its breeding roots.
