Terrick West ram with 'lustrous wool' sells in massive private sale
Victorian stud Terrick West was still celebrating topping the Adelaide Merino ram sale when they were part of an even bigger deal with an ET bred brother - the private sale of Terrick West 240342 for $80,000.
This is believed to be the highest price for a Poll Merino ram sold so far this year, eclipsing the $70,000 paid for a Wiringa Park ram from WA at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic.
Paul and Josh Cousins from Cousins Merino Services negotiated the sale of the 133 kilogram ram which had a 18.6 micron fleece the McGauchie family had planned to retain.
The ram - which was a son of Wiringa Park 450 who is breeding so well - stood second in the biggest class of the Merino showing, the Fibre Meat Plus class and had been inspected extensively.
TW240342's other wool figures included a 2.5 standard deviation, co-efficient of variation of 13.6pc and comfort factor of 99.9pc.
Cousins Merino Services put together a deal that will see the ram used in flocks in at least three states with Kamora Park, Sandalwood, securing physical possession of the ram.
Semen sales have been sold to Rices Creek stud, Saddleworth and Tintinara, Stud Park South, Willaura, Vic, and Wiringa Park, Nyabing, WA.
Terrick West stud's Ross, Robyn and Claire McGauchie were ecstatic with the sale smashing their previous best price of $36,000.
"It is a huge honour to sell to such good studs. We have been very proud of the ram we have followed him since he was a little fella," Ross said.
Mr Cousins said TW240342 ticked all the boxes with "exceptional growth, a robust constitution and lustrous wool".
He was backed with exceptional Australian Sheep Breeding Values ranking in the top 5pc for three of the four Merino breed indexes - Fine Wool, Wool Production and Sustainable Merino.
"His breeding values reinforce his impressive phenotypic appeal, making him a standout in every way," he said.
Kamora Park has made a couple of strong stud sales at $40,000 and $20,000 this year so it was a chance to reinvest.
Kamora Park's Katelyn Boughen said the ram had an excellent pedigree being out of Wiringa Park 450 and a ewe with a Wallaloo Park background.
"Both genetic families have clicked really well with our ewe base in the past and we've always kept an eye on the Terrick West rams every year too," he said.
"There just aren't many really elite wools around like his and we've always chased a complete package animal - one that has a really solid outlook with good frame and structure as well as really exciting soft, bright-long stapled wool.
"His softness and silkiness carry right through to his face and ears too with a productive loose skin which we also pursue when sourcing new genetics."
Stud Park South's Pat Millear said the ram's proven pedigree also gave him confidence.
"His pedigree goes back to a lot of rams we have been using including Wallaloo Park 422 who has bred really well wherever he has gone, so he really folds the corners in for us and will continue to keep those skins and wools that we are breeding," he said.
Cousins Merino Services are selling semen in the ram.
