Shalimar Park Merino hit $3000 as ram selling season begins

Shalimar Park Merino kicked off the New England Merino Ram selling season with a bang on Wednesday at the annual on-property ram sale.

All local-based New England Merino stud breeders' eyes were on the Carlon family's sale results as fellow local stud breeders eagerly watched on ahead of the influx of New England sales in the coming weeks.

The Walcha-based stud provided reassurance and confidence to the wool market, with 45 of 49 Merino rams selling to a top of $3000 and an average of $1800.

Results were up from last year's 91 per cent clearance rate when the stud achieved a $1752 average and $2800 top from 51 rams.

More than 30 registered bidders were in attendance, and all bidders were active throughout the sale. Up to 25 bidders successfully bought at least one ram from the sale.

All successful buyers were in-person at the sale.

The top-price ram was bought by new buyer Charlie White, Guyra, for $3000.

Mr White found out about Shalimar Park through word of mouth and after seeing the studs' progeny at the Armidale Housed Ram Show and Sale.

"After seeing their (Shalimar Park) rams year in and year out at the Armidale Housed Ram Show and Sale, they seem to had looked better each year, " he said.

"Their rams provided balance, good structure and were very consistent throughout the fleece."

Mr White, who joins more than 1000 Merino ewes each year, rounded out his sale draft with three rams for an $2200 average.

Volume buyers, all purchasing three rams, were CR and JL Osbourne, Inverell, AD and JM Cameron, Brairbrook, PJ and HE Swain, Willowtree, Wiltunga Properties, Dundee, and M and L Newsome, Dundee.

The sale was covered by Elders Walcha, Nutrien Ag Solutions Armidale with Nick Hall, Adcock Partners Property and Livestock the auctioneer.