Poll Boonoke ram with show success claims top price, average up at annual sale

A ram who had success in the show ring proved himself in the sale ring at the Wanganella Poll Boonoke sale held on property at Boonoke Station, near Conargo, September 17, with rams selling into five states.

The sale resulted in 199 of 200 rams selling to a top of $25,000 for an average of $3241.

In the breakdown, 49 of 50 Merino rams sold to a top price of $11,000, averaging $2892, while 150 Poll Merino rams sold to the sale's top price for and average of $3335, which was $625 more than last year's sale.

Poll Boonoke 240515 was purchased by Kurrajong Park Merino stud, Warialda, for the top price of $25,000.

By Poll Boonoke 190678, the ram also known as 'Barty' was champion fine/medium Poll Merino March-shorn ram at the Rabobank Merino National Sheep Show, held in Dubbo.

The young ram weighed 122 kilograms and measured a fibre diameter of 18.9 micron, standard deviation of 2.9 micron, coefficient of variation of 15.2 per cent and a comfort factor of 99.8pc.

In his Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) he recorded a yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) figure of +24.5, along with an adult clean fleece weight (ACFW) value of +25.

He recorded a post-weaning weight (PWT) value of +8.5, as well as a carcase weight figure of +4.5 and a yearling eye muscle depth of +0.9.

Purchaser Rodney Kent, Kurragjong Park Merino stud, Delangra, said he liked the ram since seeing him at the nationals in Dubbo.

"He's a fantastic sheep," he said.

"He just suits what we're trying to do, his wool quality, the size of him for his age, and what he is, he's a good pollie ram.

"The way I look at him, he is a stud sire."

Mr Kent said his operation had not long finished shearing their 2000 ewe flock. The new sire would be joined to a select line of ewes.

"He's got the type of wool that we can grow at home," he said.

"You can only grow a certain type of wool on a certain type of country, whether you like it or not, and that's our type of wool for our country."

The second top-price ram Poll Boonoke 240928, or 'Mick Mack', was purchased by Nyngan-based Mullengudgery Merino stud for $13,000.

The Poll Boonke 221383 son weighed 123kg, with an EMD of 38.5mm and a fat scan of 6mm, while also recording a fibre diameter of 19.9 micron.

He also recorded a standard deviation of 2.9, with a coefficient of variation of 14.5 and a comfort factor of 99.9pc.

He recorded a YCFW figure of +27.5, as well as an ACFW value of +21.5, along with PWT and yearling weight (YWT) values of +9 and +12.2, respectively.

Purchaser Tom Maxham said the young sire was a sound ram.

"He's got good structure, beautiful, soft, 19.9 micron wool and he'll be an excellent stud ram," he said.

Mr Maxham said the 20,234 hectare operation ran 2000 stud Poll Merino ewes, alongside 7000 commercial ewes.

The top Merino ram was Wangenella 240176, purchased by Thorr and Sons, Parkes, for $11,000.

Weighing 116kg and by Wanganella 210014, the ram was 19.6 micron, with 17.3pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

He also recorded an eye muscle depth of 41.5 millimetres, with a fat scan of 5.5mm.

There were many volume buyers active. Return purchasers SG and JH McCleod, Harden, took home 16 rams for a top of $3500 to average $2343, while 16 rams were also knocked down to Griffith Pastoral Enterprises, Nyngan, for a top of $2500 and $1890 average.

Pinehurst Pastoral Company, Pinehurst, Merrygoen, secured 10 rams for a top of $4000 to average $3200, while WH, NC, BM and MD Rollins, Walleroobie, near Ardlethan, purchased 11 rams for an average of $3090.

Studs and interstate buyers were also in the mix with return buyer Paul Routley, Almondvale Poll Merinos and White Suffolks, Urana, purchasing Poll Boonoke 240975 for $8000, while Marindale Pty Ltd, New Norcia, Western Australia, also secured Poll Boonoke 240752 for $8000.

Return Queensland buyers Ben and Oona Banks, Springleigh Merinos, Blackall, took home Poll Boonoke 240134 for $9000, while Roger Fiebig, Mount Pleasant, South Australia, purchased two rams for $6000 and $7000.

Nari Nari Tribal Council, Hay, took home nine rams for a top of $6000 to average $4111.

Jamie Woods, Nari Nari Tribal Council, Hay, said the operation decided to buy quality rams to take their breeding to another level.

"We want to get to a point in time where we can put our sheep in the sale and people we say, 'those sheep are from NNTC'," he said.

Mr Woods said the operation currently runs 3000 ewes in their Hay operation, as well as having a 35,612 hectare operation at Balranald.

Australian Food and Agriculture chairman Alistair Provan said the results were very pleasing.

"The sale was strong and well bid right across the board," he said.

"I thought the presentation was terrific and the rams looked very good, we're really happy."

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions and Elders Jerilderie, with Rick Power, Nutrien, and Nick Gray, Elders, as auctioneers.

StockLive provided the online interface.