Ram sales ramp up, buyers prepared to pay for top traits: The Last Lot
With bull sales wrapping up after a big fortnight of results, agents say the coming week will set the pace for ram sales.
Early reports predicted ram sales could be strong and several studs have posted results that are up on last year.
Merino sales this week will kick off with Yarrawonga and Outback MPM, before being followed by several others including Lachlan, Wanganella and Poll Bonooke, and Roseville Park.
Over the past fortnight, Tullinga White Dorpers set the standard for meat sheep, recording a significant jump to average $5406 for 126 rams.
Other shedding breeds included the Dubbo Dorper national and Sans Souci, while Charollais sales included the Dubbo invitational terminal ram sale and Redline.
Talbragar, New Armatree, and Bindaree and Nundoone sold Border Leicesters, while White Suffolks included Coronga, Almondvale, Ashbank, Farrer, and Glenfinnan.
Poll Dorsets included Avondale, Rowallan, Deepdene, Cranbrook, and Felix, while some of the Merinos included Westray, Ballatherie, Haddon Rig, Meadow View, Merryville, Triggervale, and Pastora.
Scott Thrift, AWN, said ram buyers so far appeared to be focusing on growth, fat and muscle in meat sheep, and were prepared to pay for the better traits.
In the studs that offered Australian sheep breeding values, buyers were chasing the top five per cent and above in some traits, he said.
Mr Thrift expected the tight season in the south to affect some sales, particularly the later runs.
"With the way a lot of the sales have gone in South Australia, there's only been a couple of them where there average has been up - the rest have all been a couple of hundred bucks under where they were last year," he said.
"But the clearances have all still been pretty good.
"I just get a gut feeling most of the sales in NSW - the better known studs - will most probably not be too bad."
Results in the bulls included Millah Murrah's standout sale. Auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, said the huge result had a flow-on effect to the sales that followed.
He noted the fortnight's bull sales had drawn solid return support, and heifer bulls remained in demand.
Bull sales included Milwillah, Coffin Creek, Kenny's Creek, Hazeldean, Reiland, Ben Nevis, Springwaters, Burbong, Kunuma, Rosskin, Weebollabolla, Hicks Beef, Elite, Yulgilbar, Trent Bridge, and Wormbete.
