Focus on carcase and growth at Haddon Rig Merino and Poll Merino Ram Sale

Merino producers looking to add carcase and growth to their flock were out in support of the 42nd annual Haddon Rig Merino and Poll Merino Ram Sale at Marthaguy last Thursday.

Overall, the Falkiner family sold 246 of the 250 rams on offer to a sale average of $2504.

In the breakdown, it was polled rams leading the charge with all 130 Poll Merino sire prospects sold to a top of $16,000 to average $2662, while 116 of 120 horned Merino rams reached a top of $12,000 and averaged $2329.

With above industry averages for post-weaning weight and yearling weight, support for large-framed polls, that combined body with high yearling and adult clean fleece weights, was evident.

Long-term, loyal Haddon Rig clients, James and Jo Morris and family, Bonanza Merinos, Walgett, purchased the $16,000 top-priced ram, Haddon Rig 240821, sired by PB200780, that was the lead lot of the sale and described as the 'full package'.

Weighing 110 kilograms, with an 18.6-micron fleece, standard deviation of 3.2, coefficient of variation of 17.3pc and a comfort factor of 99.4pc, the ram had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) ranked in the top 5pc for yearling clean fleece weight (36.34) and the Wool Production Index (193.63), and top 20pc for yearling fibre diameter.

With a 4.73 post weaning weight and a yearling weight of 5.83, Haddon Rig stud principal Liv Falkiner said he was a well-rounded, well-balanced ram with good wool, carcase and growth.

"He is a well-covered, pure ram with soft, stylish, true medium wool," she said.

"HR240821 is a wool-cutting sire due to his extra staple length combined with fibre density that is still free and easy to shear."

Haddon Rig will use the top ram in its 2025 AI program as a semen sire.

The Morris family took home three rams in total, including the high-seller, to average $8333.

Haddon Rig 240689, sired by Wanganella 220310, was the $12,000 top-priced Merino ram sold to Tony and Rhonda Milgate.

He was a large-framed ram, with an 18.7-micron fleece that was soft, bright white, and well-defined.

Other notable purchases included Alastair and Dougie Wilson, from Wilson Pastoral Co, Walgett, who purchased HR240946, a polled ram sired by MP20G0388, for $12,000.

Support from volume buyers resulted in 10 clients buying over 10 rams each, as they look to take advantage of the current wether job using Haddon Rig genetics.

Haddon Rig stud principal Liv Falkiner said they were looking forward to continuing the stud's breeding journey and working with their clients to bring in more returns for their Merino enterprises.

"We've been really encouraged by the growth of our poll stud and the achievements of our clients in the saleyards, off the boards and at marking," she said.

"That's where it really matters for us - when the dollars hit their pockets, we know we're heading in the right direction.

"Going forward, we continue to focus on carcase and growth, to maximise returns for our clients in the wether job, whilst improving fertility and keeping that wool quality we're known for.

"The new clients through the gate are communicating to us they want to build that wool piece back into their flocks and to improve feet and structure, which have always been core focuses of ours."

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Wilson Russ, Warren, with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, taking the bids.