Top ram breaks five figures at Tara Park Merino, as southern buyers pounce

Repeat buyers of nearly two decades battled it out to secure the top-priced ram at the Evans family's Tara Park Merino ram sale at Boorowa on Monday, September 22.

At auction, 86 of 90 rams sold to a top of $13,000 and averaged $2385, with all passed-in lots sold shortly afterwards.

The top-priced ram, Tara Park 5, sold south across the border to the Simpson family, Winjallok, Vic. Competitive bidding drove the price up to $13,000, and he was the only ram purchased by the Simpsons.

By Tara Park 740-47, the 103-kilogram ram had a fibre diameter of 17.2 micron, a standard deviation of 2.9 micron, 16.7 per cent coefficient variation, and 99.7pc comfort factor.

Greg Simpson said the ram would be used in their ram program, which utilised Tara Park bloodlines to keep dust and water out, while also keeping breeding numbers up.

"I bought a sire of this age two years ago, and he bred well, so we thought we'd try this one," he said.

"We join in December, but we wanted to get him down home long enough to acclimatise to our conditions. He'll get about 100 ewes, so he'll have his work cut out for him."

Second-highest priced ram, Tara Park 17, also sold south, to the Coryule Pastoral Company, Willowvale, Vic. The ram, by Tara Park BU 52, was 18 micron with 2.2 micron SD, 12.3pc CV, and a 100pc comfort factor.

Volume buyers Andy Stewart and sons, Derneveagh Pastoral Co, secured thirteen rams for their commercial flock at Harden, averaging $2480.

"We're buying to a micron range around that maximum of 18," Mr Stewart said, and added they had been using Tara Park genetics for about 30 years.

"They'll be used on our young ewes; they'll be going to work in February."

The Mattiske family, Yarraville, also secured 12 rams for $1000 each at the fall of the hammer, which are headed to Forbes for their woolgrowing business.

M J Green, Moles Station, Kybeyan, purchased Tara Park 14 for $5000, by Boudjah BJH. The ram had a fibre diameter of 17.8 micron, 2.8 micron SD, 15.8pc CV, with a 99.8pc CF.

Steph and Richard Hyles, Berremangra, secured 10 rams to average $2400, while Bruce and Narelle Nixon, Frogmore, bought six averaging $2208.

Greg Carmody, also of Frogmore, purchased Tara Park 99 for $1000.

Stud principal Greg Evans said the hard work of raising rams throughout drought conditions in the district had paid off, with nourished animals and rich wool available on the day.

"They were a good lineup right through, and people appreciated that," he said.

"You could have picked any one of the 90 rams and you would have been happy."

Sights are fixed on looking after lambs on the ground for the 2026 sale, and Mr Evans said conformation and a focus on quality would see the industry through following a tough 2025 season.

"Breeding consistency is the biggest thing, they know [the rams] are performing, so they stick with what they know," he said.

"If I can cater for people who breed their own rams, and in the flock end, where they're breeding good flocks ... everyone got their rams."

The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, with Rick Power, Nutrien, as the auctioneer, supported by Rachel Pritchard, Elders.