Victorian stud picks up 'unbelievable' ram at Bendigo for sizzling $40,000

A well-known Victorian stud picked up a Merino ram for $40,000 at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.

The price was settled privately ahead of the special Merino ram sale at the event on Sunday, and was the second ram to be sold privately on the day for $40,000.

Banavie Merino and Poll Merino stud, Marnoo, bought the ram from Laraben Poll Merino stud, Botobolar, NSW.

The sale was the culmination of a breeding partnership of sorts between the two, combining the best genetics of both studs.

The April 2024-drop ram was sired by Banavie 220004 and out of Laraben 180003.

Banavie stud co-principal Tim Polkinghorne said he had his eye on Laraben's top female lines for some time.

The ram's mother, an eight-year-old ewe, had 49 lambs on the ground and had raised a number of sets of triplets in her lifetime, including this year.

Mr Polkinghorne said these fertility traits could often be overlooked as the industry worked to "push the boundaries of production".

"This sheep has generations of fertility and production rammed into him," he said.

This production was a key driver of his decision to buy the ram.

Both studs are producing sheep with a finer micron while working to maintain good carcase traits.

"The combination of carcase, cut and production is one thing that we have in common," he said.

Mr Polkinghorne's new ram has a 17.9-micron fleece with a standard deviation of 2.5, a coefficient of variation of 14.1 and a comfort factor of 99.7 per cent.

He said these wool traits complemented the ram's "excellent carcase".

"He's got nice, drapey growth right up on his legs and good bone purity," he said.

"They're the keys that I'm chasing."

Banavie runs 1500 stud ewes and the new ram will be used in its artificial insemination and embryo transfer (ET) program with his genetics for sale from next year on.

"He's got a lot to offer the industry and I think he's right at the top end," Mr Polkinghorne said.

"It's very exciting where we can go with them."

Laraben stud principal Gavin Swords agreed the ram was one that would better the overall Merino industry.

"It's unbelievable," he said.

Mr Swords said he didn't come to Bendigo expecting to sell the ram, but there was very strong interest and he decided to let Banavie have a crack.

"He was one that I was planning to keep," he said.

"They're just great people and easy to deal with."

Mr Swords said the ram's mother was one of the most fertile and productive sheep in the Laraben stud, and it was great to see her progeny deliver.

"We did a little bit of showing with her when she was young, and she never got beaten as far as I'm aware," he said.

"She's just a beautiful-natured, big ewe.

"She's just got purity.

"There's just generations of it sitting there in the paddock, and that's what we aim for."

The $40,000 ram was the first she had raised a single, via AI, but she was back again raising triplets this year, albeit after ET.

"She's still going and she had triplets this year," Mr Swords said.

"I'll be going home to find her and make sure she's fit and well, and we might chuck her in the ET next year."

Mr Swords said the ram just oozed richness, purity and softness.

"The bonus with the ram, which I didn't really think was going to come into it, was the carcase traits that he's thrown," he said.

Mr Polkinghorne said the ram was well placed for the future of the Merino industry.

"I'm very positive about the Merino industry going forward," he said.

"We've had a drought, and I think it's really important that we invest in long-term genetic improvement of our flock."

Mr Polkinghorne's daughter Matilda, 16, was equally impressed with the new ram.

She, too, has a passion for wool.

"I've just grown up with the sheep, I love them, and it's really fun," she said.

"I love listening to Dad and Pop talking about all the wool and how they breed their sheep, how they've got their sheep to where they are, and what they look for in a ram when they buy them."

Mr Polkinghorne said Matilda was becoming increasingly keen on the stud operation.

"She's really starting to learn the data collection and working out where she wants to be in the industry," he said.

Nutrien studstock Merino specialist Brad Wilson, Dubbo, NSW, said the $40,000 sale allowed for the combination of two great Merino families.

Mr Wilson said the ram had a great "genetic package" for the fine wool job.

Kamora Park Poll Merino stud, Sandalwood, SA, also sold a ram privately for $40,000 at Bendigo.