Alfoxton sells Merino rams to four states

Armidale's Alfoxton Poll Merino stud sold rams to four states at its annual on-property sale on Monday, with repeat clients dominating the bidding.

Of the 64 lots offered, 51 sold to average $1941 and reach a top of $4500.

Last year's top buyer Peter Reimers, Pearsby at Stanthorpe, Queensland, returned to do the same, paying the top money for the homozygous poll Alfoxton 23-0157PP, a son of top industry sire RP17-1133PP from the Roseville Park flock.

Born as a single lamb he presented with 15.67 micron fibre diameter with Australian Sheep Breeding Values that included yearling clean fleece weight of +18.2, yearling fibre diameter of -2.49, positive yearling weight at +6.77 and a very low worm egg count at -29.74.

Running 4000 ewes with a wool focus, Mr Reimer said his top-priced pick from the Alfoxton offering reflected his desire for ram size, wool cut and fine micron.

"The worm count impressed me with that negative figure," he said.

Attending the sale with his daughter Georgia, Mr Reimers also purchased the first lot on offer for $3000 in Alfoxton 23-0178PP, by the legendary RP17-1133 with 16.08 micron, a YCFW of +20.44 and a PWEC of -17.75.

Across the Alfoxton draft of rams, live weight averaged 92 kilograms with 16.2 micron, a YCFW of 18.53 and a PWEC of -19.3.

Volume buyers were repeat clients Milparinka Pastoral Company, Guyra, who came away with 14 rams to a top of $4000, twice, to average $2535.

Of those highest-priced rams, Alfoxton 23-0009PP was by the wool producing ram RP21-0086, who cut 31pc more than his contemporary group and whose son presented with 16.1 micron and a YCFW of +16.63.

The other $4000 ram purchased by Simon Croft, from Milparinka Pastoral, was the twin 23-0044PH by industry favourite RP17-1133 with 16.3 micron and +22.65 YCFW.

"We like the big, plain-bodied types with length and depth and fat, and which produce a tonne of wool," said Mr Croft, who runs 2200 ewes in a self-replacing flock and does not mulse.

"We finish our own lambs, hoggets and wethers so we like the bigger framed bodies.

"The rams here today are 90 to 100kg - that's what we want."

Second-highest volume buyer was the CSIRO's team from the Chiswick Field Station at Uralla, repeat clients, taking 11 rams to a top of $3500 for the twin, Alfoxton 23-0818PH.

He was by RP17-1133 with 15.5 micron, YFD of -2.69 and greasy fleece weight of 178.1pc. The average of those rams purchased was $1772.

Neighbour of the top-priced buyer Rob Tulloch, Mid Lothian at Stanthorpe, bought two rams to $4000 to average $3500 with his best bid claiming Alfoxton 23-0118PP, also by RP17-1133, with 16.4 micron, +24.44 YCFW, and -2.09 for YFD.

The repeat client of nearly 10 years runs a self-replacing flock with a focus not only on micron but on weight, meat yield and frame size.

"What keeps me coming back are Chris' genetics," he said.

First-time Victorian client Tony Brennan, Maryvale at Sedgwick, bought three rams after seeing the potential of Alfoxton traits in other rams he has bought, paying an average of $1333.

Tasmanian clients the Shadbolt family, Mersey Valley, paid $2000 online for the twin, Alfoxton 23-0206, by RP17-1133, with 16.2 micron and +20.87 YCFW.

Alfoxton stud principal Chris Clonan said he was pleased with how the rams were prepared, with a ration of wheaten hay during the dry weeks just before Christmas.

"It is encouraging to hear the results of our clients in selling not only wool but prime lambs and hoggets," he said.

Mr Clonan said the effort of selling rams at Bendigo was justified with the draw of new clients from the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. The family now have just one week to prepare for their annual Dohne ram sale.

The sale was conducted by Elders Stud Stock with AuctionsPlus handling the online traffic.