Growth and staple length top of the list for Weealla and Raby buyers

Buyers sought growth and staple length at Weealla and Raby Merino and Poll Merino sale, held at Weealla, near Balladoran, on September 19.

All up, 145 of 146 rams sold to $7000 to average $2172, up $455 on last year's sale.

In the breakdown, all 86 Poll Merino rams made $4500, twice, to average $2230, while 59 of 60 Merino rams hit $7000 to average $2089.

Peter Moppett, Noan Pastoral Company, Quambone, secured the sale topper, Raby-390.

Son of Collinsville Buddy, the 107-kilogram ram recorded a fibre diameter of 17.4 micron, 43.5 millimetre eye muscle depth (EMD), and 5mm fat depth (FAT).

He also had a 2.7 micron standard deviation (SD), 15.6 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and 99.7pc comfort factor (CF).

Mr Moppett found the right balance of carcase and wool traits in Raby-390.

"I want to put downward pressure on the flock micron to below 18, while keeping SD and CV low and tight," he said.

"EMD is also important not only for current lambing percentages but for fat and fertility."

The operation runs 3000 Merino breeding ewes, scanned in lamb at 135 per cent, shorn in June with March-April joining, alongside a self-replacing Angus herd on native pastures.

Having used Raby bloodlines for more than a decade, Mr Moppett has seen consistent gains in both wool production and carcass performance across his flock.

Equal-top Poll Merino ram, Weealla-177, was knocked down to Lindsay Brown, Wycott, Balladoran for $4500.

Sired TW-220041, the 93kg, 20.5 micron ram had 36mm EMD, 5mm FAT, 3.5 micron SD, 16.1pc CV and 98.5pc CV.

Staple length and growth were top of Mr Brown's list.

"I was really looking for a long staple and a more open ram as our sheep have been tightening up in the last 12 months, so I'm hoping to open them up," he said.

Classed by Scott Thrift, AWN, Mr Brown runs 450 Merino ewes, with 120 joined to Poll Dorset rams.

The flock is finished on oats in favourable seasons and on barley in drier times.

When the season allows, Mr Brown grows out the wethers, while crossbred lambs are sold as suckers.

Mr Brown also purchased Weealla-360 for $2250.

Steve, Rodney and James Brooks, Wattlebank Pastoral, Nagambie, Victoria, purchased the second $4500 Poll Merino ram, Wealla-56, ET bred by TW-220041.

The 110kg, 17.3 micron ram had 37mm EMD, 5mm FAT, 3.3 micron SD, 19.2pc CV and 99.8pc CV.

They also purchased four other rams to average $3000.

Returning volume buyer Andrew Wall, Wall and Neindorf, Goodooga, secured a draft of 26 Poll Merino rams, paying to $3500 twice and averaging $2192.

The mixed operation spans three stations, Arakoola, Bollon, Queensland, Karinga and Mallabar, near Goodooga.

It runs cattle, cropping and 9000-head Merino ewes, 120pc scanned in lamb, averaging 20.5 micron with a target of 19.5 to 20 micron.

Wether lambs are turned off to Dubbo and, thanks to a promising season, have recently been finished on clover.

When selecting his draft, Mr Wall said he looked for a balance of EMD and staple length, with a focus on improving the wool cover across the flock.

Stuart McBurnie, Wealla and Raby, said he was extremely pleased with the sale's result.

AJ and AT McIntyre, Hakrumun, Narromine, secured seven rams to $3750 to average $3214.

Nutrien conducted the sale with Matthew Campion, Nutrien, as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.