Repeat buyers strong at Koonwarra, while new client picks up top horned Merino

Repeat buyers within a small radius chasing dual-purpose rams were particularly strong during the Koonwarra Merino and Poll Merino ram sale held on-property at Boorowa on Wednesday.

At the fall of the hammer, 91 of 119 rams on offer sold to a top price of $6000 and for an average of $2588.

A further three rams were sold immediately following the auction.

The top-priced ram was Koonwarra 24012, which sold for $6000 to Murra Pastoral Co, Young.

The Poll Merino ram, by KQA Nerstane Poll 001, was March shorn and had a fibre diameter of 18.2 micron with a standard deviation of 3.1 micron, coefficient of variation of 17.1 per cent, 99.7pc comfort factor, spinning fineness of 17.2 and a greasy fleece weight percentage of 115.2pc.

The ram scanned an eye muscle width of 88 millimetres and depth of 38mm.

Buyer Charlie Boyd, Murra Pastoral, said the ram was a good all round sheep, that came from the same family of another ram they had purchased from Koonwarra two years ago.

Mr Boyd said the ram would be used in their self-replacing flock where they run 2000 ewes and focus on both wool and meat.

Murra Pastoral purchased a total of nine rams for an average of $2889.

He said they had been buying from Koonwarra for several years with the rams performing well for them.

"The lambs look really good this year," he said.

Jono Merriman, Koonwarra, said the ram had been shown and was a good safe ram.

"He's well built, well put together with good staple length and his scans all line up.

In the horned draft several rams sold to a top of $5000, including the first lot of the sale, Koonwarra 24235, which sold to Bidgee Creek, Middle Arm.

The Merino ram, by KWA Nerstane Horn 008, was March shorn and 17.4 micron with 2.3 micron SD, 13.1pc CV, 99.8pc CF, 16 SF and 105.4pc GFW.

He scanned an eye muscle width of 88mm and depth of 40mm.

Bidgee Creek purchased a total of four Merino rams for an average of $4500.

Jack Finch, Schute Bell Badgery Lumby, purchased the rams on behalf of Bidgee Creek, and said they were after size, depth, bone structure and stylish wool.

Mr Finch said Bidgee Creek was a commercial operation chasing early growth and recorded an average of 18.5 micron wool.

He said this was the first time they had purchased from Koonwarra, having looked through the rams at Harden earlier this month.

"They went through a lot and we've picked a few different types," he said.

Buying several of the higher priced lots, Mr Finch said they were largely focused on the old-school horned rams with high fleece weights and good loch structure.

"You buy quality, you breed quality is what we go off."

Volume buyers of the sale included Bonnie View Farming, Grenfell, who purchased 12 rams to average $2625.

Mr Merriman said it was a good result with repeat buyers within a 300-kilometre radius particularly strong.

He said with rams going to different areas, including south of Cooma, buyers were after different styles of rams to suit their environment.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions and Elders with Rick Power, Nutrien, auctioneering.