Where have the top-priced Merino rams from major multi-vendor sale ended up?
A special Merino ram sale is held on the Sunday of the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo each year, with some of the event's show winners sold to studs across the country.
Rams which have stacked up ribbons during the three days of the event strut their stuff before a crowd of interstate buyers, eager to get their hands on top Merino genetics.
The top price for the rams in question typically flies high with some standout figures through the years.
Just a fortnight out before this year's event, held July 18-20, Stock & Land has looked at some of the more recent sale toppers to check out how the rams got on.
Did they deliver for their new owners?
2022 - Glenpaen Merino, Brimpaen ($20,000)
Glenpaen Merino, Brimpaen, sold their top ram at the 2022 ASWS Merino ram sale for $20,000.
Exhibited and sold by stud principal Rod Miller, the ram was knocked down to Kurrajong Park Merino stud principal Rodney Kent, Delungra, NSW.
The May 2020-drop ram was sired by Yarrawonga 1162 and out of Kamora Netley.
The sale-topper had a 20.3-micron fleece, a SD of 3, a CV of 14.8 and CF of 99.5pc.
Mr Kent said the nearly six-year-old ram was "still going" and had bred quality stock, true to type.
"He's got some pretty good lambs," he said, estimating that 400-500 had been born over the past couple of years.
"He threw them really well."
Mr Kent said the ram had "absolutely" done what he had expected it to do and suggested the sale-topper was good value for the $20,000 spent.
A good number of the ram's sons had been sold at the recent Kurrajong Park ram sales.
"Everybody is pleased with them," he said.
2023 - Rangeview Poll Merino, Darkan, WA ($24,000)
At the 2024 ASWS, Rangeview Poll Merino, Darkan, WA, travelled across the country to exhibit one of their top rams and then sold it for $24,000.
The ram was exhibited and sold by stud principal Jeremy King and was knocked down to Thalabha Merino stud manager Anthony Frost, Laggan, Crookwell, NSW.
The July 2021-drop ram was sired by Ban 190 and out of Blue 645.
The sale-topper had a 20.4-micron fleece, a SD of 3.4, a CV of 16.5 and CF of 98.8pc.
Two years later, Mr Frost said the ram had delivered well, with his first lambs born last year.
The ram's first sons will be available to the stud's clients at its ram sale in October.
There were about 100 lambs sired by the ram on the ground last, and Mr Frost estimated there would be 30-40 of its sons for sale in October.
"We'll also retain a couple ourselves," he said.
He had used the ram in artificial insemination and also joined naturally to his pedigree Merino ewes.
The next crop of lambs are about to drop soon.
"They're looking pretty good so far," Mr Frost said, adding that the ram had delivered "scale" and an improved wool cut for his offspring.
"He's done what we wanted him to do."
Mr Frost said while Thalabha had used Rangeview horned Merino genetics before, the 2023 purchase was the first polled ram they acquired.
He said the top-priced ram had definitely been a "boost" to the stud's operation.
2024 - Terrick West Poll Merino, Prairie ($25,000)
At last year's ASWS, the top-priced ram was sold by Terrick West Poll Merino, Prairie, for a tidy $25,000.
The ram, exhibited and sold by stud co-principals Ross and daughter Claire McGauchie, was bought by Overland Merino and Poll Merino stud principal Tony Magill, Bogan Gate, NSW, via AuctionsPlus.
The then 14-month-old ram was sired by Terrick West 0.81 and out of 013219 WP 93.
The ram had a 16.5-micron fleece, a standard deviation (SD) of 2.4, co-efficient of variation (CV) of 14.3 and comfort factor (CF) of 99.8 per cent.
The sale topper had been champion March-shorn all-purpose Merino at the show, and was third in the best carcase class.
The ram's first lambs were expected to drop this year, according to Mr Magill, who was looking forward to seeing their performance.
