Hard-to-fault ram secures top price at the 2025 Demondrille Merino ram sale
Repeat and interstate buyers bought in bulk from Patrick and Andrew Davis at the 35th on-property Demondrille Merino and Poll Merino ram sale at Harden on Tuesday, September 23.
At auction, 88 of 96 rams averaged $2547, with the top price $500 dearer than the previous year, at $5500.
The top-priced ram, Demondrille 240050, sold to long-term return buyers, the Burgess family, Hallmark Cherries, Wombat.
The ram had a fibre diameter of 17.4 micron, 2.3 micron standard deviation, 13.5 per cent coefficient of variation and 100pc comfort factor.
By Yarra 220289, he also had a greasy fleece weight of 116pc, a yearling fibre diameter Australian sheep breeding value in the top 30pc for the breed at -1.7, with an adult fibre diameter also in the top 30pc at -1.9. He weighed 97 kilograms.
Shearer Brian Ingram said the ram was a standout, with conformation driving up competition for bidders.
"When you start trying to pick faults for the ram, it was very hard ... he had lovely soft wool, he was really good value, and will do a tremendous job," he said.
"The farmers that I'm working for have always run a nice micron, that 16, 17, micron, and that's where the money is, that's what I'm trying to maintain."
With an average 16.8 micron within the Hallmark flock, Mr Ingram said the fine wool ram would be used on their commercial flock, to improve the stats across the board.
Three rams reached the second-highest price of $5000, all headed to repeat buyers,
Demondrille 240166 and Demondrille 240142 sold to Brian and Helen Anderson, Lower Sylvia Vale, Binda, while Demondrille 240083 was sold to Roberts Wool, Tasmania.
Volume buyer Tim Hobbs, Avondale, Gunning, said he was a 'devout' Merino breeder in the shed full of woolgrowers.
"I'm just a sucker for Merino," he said.
"A lot of people have been joining crossbreeds to Merino, I do to my older ones, but I'm just enjoying my Merino sheep."
Mr Hobbs purchased 18 rams, averaging $2264, to use across his 6500 ewes. Joining in February, he said the bloodlines suited his country, and simply fit the bill.
Stud co-principal Andrew 'Charlie' Davis said breeding for condition and wool cut had clearly met the mark for buyers, bringing repeat clients back for up to four decades.
"One thing I noted last year after the sale, we had about 14 shearers buying sheep, and they're all back again this year," he said.
"Shearers know good sheep that cut plenty of wool; it's a pleasing aspect of our sale, being shearers ourselves."
While the top 24 rams received the 'extra special' treatment before sale day, Mr Davis said drought conditions over autumn and winter had helped build resilience across the rams, making them well-suited for commercial environments.
"None of those sheep have been on feeders; they're doing it all under their own steam in the paddock," he said.
"When they're raised that way and they go off to commercial properties, they don't have a huge let down, they perform."
Robyn and David Kingham, Robindee, Lyndhurst, secured Demondrille 240027 for $2750, and Demondrille 240003 for $2500.
Richard Chalker, Lach River Merinos, Lachoona, Darbys Falls, purchased Demondrille 240900 for $3000.
Weighing 105kg, the ram ranked in the top 10pc of the breed for post-weaning weight, and in the top 30pc for yearling weight. He was 18.3 micron, with a 2.9 micron SD and 16.4pc CV.
South to Mansfield, Vic, Garry and Jill Breadon purchased four rams for an average $2537.
DJ and JM McGruer, Tumut, secured Demondrille 240090 and Demondrille 240525 for $3500 and $3000, respectively.
The Dawe family, Karoola, Young, secured 11 rams and averaged $1909.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions, with auctioneer Rick Power and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
