Mount Ascot, Jolly Jumbuck horn and poll rams tie for top price at annual sale

Prices were equal across the board for both the top horned and poll rams at the Mount Ascot and Jolly Jumbuck Merino ram sale on Wednesday, January 15.

Emerald green grass greeted the regular crowd who returned for this year's sale, with last year's top horned ram buyer, the Little family from Noorama taking home the top priced Mt Ascot ram again, and David Sisson of Glenene, Guyra, NSW, purchasing the top priced poll ram from Jolly Jumbuck.

Each buyer paid $5000 for their respective animals.

Overall, 84 of 90 rams sold for 93 per cent clearance and the average sale price was $1783.

In 2024, 87 of 90 rams were sold under the hammer, a 96pc clearance, for an average price of $1962.

The Little family bought up big on the Mount Ascot lines on Wednesday, purchasing 30 rams for an average of $2526.

Mr Sisson purchased six rams for an average of $2450.

He said the top ram caught his eye because of his overall high quality.

It had a fibre diameter of 20.9 microns, a comfort factor of 99.3, eye muscle depth of 36mm, and a body weight of 121kg.

Mr Sisson makes the trip up to Mount Ascot from Guyra most years to purchase Jolly Jumbuck poll rams because of their fertility and size.

"I just think that polls are a bit more fertile," he said.

"More fertile and quicker maturing.

"You have to get a lot of lambs...at this stage, I average at about 125 per cent of lambs overall."

There were fewer bidders on the ground looking to purchase poll rams than last year, which Mount Ascot stud principal Nigel Brumpton attributed to potential purchasers fighting bushfires and being busy shearing.

The two studs also hold a northern ram sale each year, at Ilfracombe, and Mr Brumpton said they sell many of their poll rams at that sale.

"Most of the poll buyers are in the north and so then that takes away from [this] sale, so it is a balance, but we're happy."

The Jolly Jumbuck poll rams had an 88 pc clearance, with 32 of the available 36 rams purchased for an average price of $1487.

In 2024, the poll rams recorded a clearance of 94pc, with 34 out of 36 animals sold for an average price of $2235.

Aaron Little said the top horned ram "ticked all the boxes" for Little Merinos.

"He's got good frame and he's a good wool cutter so he hits both markets," Mr Little said.

"That's what you're chasing in this market today. You need the meat, and you need the wool, so we're always after a dual-purpose Merino."

Their top priced ram had a fibre diameter of 20.3 microns, comfort factor of 99.6, eye muscle depth of 39mm, and a body weight of 119kg.

Little Merinos purchase all their stud rams at the yearly Mount Ascot sale.

"We've been repeat buyers for 25-35 years," Mr Little said.

"We do tend to try and push at the sale and not go home without the one you want.

"We don't mind turning around and paying for it if it's what it's worth."

The horned rams had a clearance rate of 96pc, with 52 sold out of the 54 available and an average sale price of $1965.

In 2024, the clearance rate was 98pc, with 53/54 animals sold for an average of $1786.

Other volume buyers at the sale included Harry Glasson of Greenlaw, Yaraka, who purchased seven rams for an average price of $1400, and Lucas Pastoral Company of Cliffdale, Wyandra, who purchased 10 animals for an average price of $1120.

Mr Brumpton said this year's sale was tremendous, with more purchases made after the auction.

"We've basically had 100pc clearance," he said.

"We've sold everything, people were buying rams out of the flock afterwards, so basically we've had more than 100 per cent so we can't go wrong really.

"I think it's a bit of a buyer's market, so everyone got a good opportunity to get a few rams."

Mr Brumpton said he was especially pleased to see the Merino rams out of super-sire MTA Pat do well at Wednesday's sale.

"All of those highest-priced rams in the sale are all by Pat," he said.

"He's breeding exceptionally for us, and that's genetics. We've got our genetics working for us.

"All your life, you try to breed the super sire...and Pat won [Queensland] Ram of the Year twice...he's been exceptional."

• Selling agent: Elders