Stockman Merino stud again achieves near total clearance for its rams

Volume buyers were prominent at a leading Tasmanian Merino stud sale, buying up multiple lots despite challenging conditions for the wool industry.

Several Tasmanian and Victorian buyers bought between six and nine rams at Stockman Stud, Melton Mowbray's annual sale.

The stud again achieved a near total clearance of 67 of the 70 rams on offer.

Stockman easily surpassed last year's $4400 top price and exceeded the average of $2683.

This year, the top-priced ram sold for $7000, with an average of $2937.

The top-priced ram, lot two, was bought by Tom Shoobridge, Cleveland Pastoral, Ouse, Tas.

Stockman manager and wool classer Kip Gray said it had been an "extremely tough" season, and Stockman was grateful for the buying support.

The sale-topper was sired by Frame and had a 19.4-micron fleece.

He had a co-efficient of variation (CV) of 16.5 per cent and comfort factor (CF) of 99.2pc.

The ram had an eye muscle depth of 31 millimetres and fat measurement of four mm.

"He was a very upstanding ram, very correct on his feet, he had a great spring of rib, with a very good skin," Mr Gray said.

As a classer for Cleveland, Mr Gray said the ram "fitted the value we were looking for our breeding operation.

"Tom (Shoobridge) has a nucleus of a small stud he operates for replacements for his commercial operation; the ram is on the finer end of wool and will handle his conditions quite well."

Lot 36 went to Windfalls Pastoral, Campbell Town, for $5000, while Rob Paton, Ouse bought Lots 39 and 67 for $4750.

But it was volume buyers who dominated the sale.

They included Fergus and Dougal Morrison (nine) Oatlands, Tas; Frankie Fish, Rosehill, Jericho, Tas (nine); Ferdie Foster, Campbell Town, Tas (eight); Grant Monks, Rotherwood Pastoral, Lower Marshes, Tas (eight), Keeyuga Pastoral Company, Glenaroua and Dalmeny Park, Oatlands (six each).

"Our clients were looking for bigger bodies rams, for fertility, and sweet wools - these people are pushing ahead; they are drivers of the industry," he said.

"They are striving to get as much as they can out of their businesses to be profitable."

Mr Gray said the sale result supported Stockman's breeding program, with its quality and depth.

"We have been pushing towards breeding a more dual-purpose ram, for wool and meat, that obviously gives you two markets," he said.

"We are hoping that's helping our clients with their breeding aims and their programs as well."

Scanning for eye muscle and fat was important, particularly during tougher seasons.

"We need the sheep to have a bit more do-ability when things get tough, and obviously, that's what we have all been experiencing lately," he said.

He said five rams went to King Island, with four to Flinders Island and six to Victoria.

After the auction, Stockman sold another 60 rams at a private sale.

Nutrien Bridgewater, Tasmania livestock manager George Nichols said it was a "phenomenal result", given the recent downturn in the wool industry.

"It's great to see people committed to the wool industry, and its credit to the Stockman stud to produce a high-performing, commercial Merino in this day and age," Mr Nichols said.

"That's what growers are after," he said.

"When there is bidding competition as strong as that -and there is faith in the industry, despite low wool prices, people are committed to breeding good sheep."

The top-priced ram had "plenty of stylish, bright, white wool," he said.