Bella Lana Merinos' average increases again with plenty of return support

Ram values continue to rise at Bella Lana on-property Merino ram sales, with this year's average lifting by $54 on last year's average, which was $372 higher than the 2023 sale.

At Scott and Anna Brien and family's 17th sale on September 19, 84 of the 92 rams offered at auction sold to a top of $5500 and averaged $2401.

Another four rams sold at $5000 and higher.

The top-priced $5500 ram, Bella Lana 240848, was knocked down to Accelerate Ag, a first-time buyer who stated only that it would be transitioned into a Southern Tablelands, non-mulesed flock.

The 17.3-micron ram's Australia Sheep Breeding Values included the top five per cent for yearling clean fleece weight and top 20pc for adult clean fleece weight, yearling weight, and yearling sample length.

Two rams sold at the $5250 second top price, with return buyers for the second year, Matt Cumming and family of Inverell, securing one among their six ram purchases for an average $2427.

This ram was a high performing potential sire in the top 10pc for yearling clean fleece weight of +30.5, and sustainable Merino index at 138.

The Cummings run 700 flock ewes growing 15.5-micron wool and returned after buying three rams last year.

Mr Cumming said Bella Lana progeny showed better bodies and more wool.

"They (last year's purchased rams) are breeding better bodied and more brighter wool," he said.

Another repeat buyer, Boris Ostini of Boomey, paid the other $5250 for a 16.7-micron ram in the top 10pc for post weaning weight in his two purchases.

Two rams sold at $5000 each with the first, a sole purchase of a partnership of A Cosgrove and T Pearce of Triangle Flat Lyndhurst, while the second, being the next lot sold, going to Warwick Leeson, Angleview, Dunedoo, who has been buying Bella Lana rams for close to two decades and securing two rams this year.

The Cosgrove families, located in the Rockley district have been consistent buyers of rams from Bella Lana, and another branch of the family bought three rams for a $2917 average.

Sourcing Bella Lana rams for nearly as long, Richard and Susie Marshall Wargandinna, Burren Junction, returned and secured five rams while paying to $4500 and a $3450 average.

O'Connell based John Bestwick Pastoral Company returned and bought eight rams for a $2188 average while topping at $3000 twice. The Bestwick flock has performed well at Bathurst Merino flock ewe competitions over the years.

Queensland flock breeders from the Mitchell region, Kym and Ian Handley, were looking for a new ram source and were told about Bella Lana sheep.

They finished shearing on their Tyrconnel Downs property at Mungullala on Wednesday and "jumped into their car" on Thursday, and went home on Friday with 10 rams of which nine were purchased at auction for a $2389 average while the other was bought post-sale.

Mrs Handley said they were running a 1700 ewe flock of 18-micron average and cutting 4kg fleeces.

Of the Bella Lana rams, Mrs Handley said they had the 'wow' factor.

"When you open their wool, that's what you feel," she said.

While chasing increased wool production, Mrs Handley said they also wanted that dual-purpose sheep and felt these purchases would turn their production around.

They had just finished shearing 3200 sheep and aim to increase their breeding flock to 2000.

Yeoval based Minnamurra Grazing returned and bought 10 rams averaging $1650 and topping at $2500, while the Clarke family of Mehruda, Bakers Swamp also returned and secured eight rams to $3750 and $1719 average.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Stud Stock, Dubbo, with John Settree the auctioneer.