First-time purchasers secure the top-price ram at The Yanko Merino ram sale

First time purchasers stepped in a the market at The Yanko Merino ram sale Thursday, September 25, held on-property, near Jerilderie.

Rams sold into three states, destined as far north at Mitchell, Queensland and as far south as Naracoorte, South Australia.

The sale resulted in 91 of 98 rams sold to a top of $6750, for an overall average of $2370.

In the breakdown, there was 77 of 79 polled Merino rams sold to the sale top price to average $2412, while 14 of 19 Merino rams sold to a top of $3750 for an average of $2412.

The top-priced ram The Yanko 240881, was purchased by first-time purchasers Marcus and Gen Wythes, Dundee, Eugowra, for $6750.

The polled ram sired by The Yanko 210006, recorded a fibre diameter of 20.8 micron with a SD of 3.2, a CV of 15.2 and a CF of 99.10 pc.

He also recorded a clean fleece weight of 136 per cent.

In his Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) he placed in the top 10pc for his yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) figure of +32.5 and his adult clean fleece weight (ACFW) of +25.2.

Mr Wythes said the ram was a good package, with the plan for the ram to join over a line of ewes throughout the 1700 Merino ewe flock, with a fleece average of 19 micron, which runs alongside a cattle and cropping program.

"He's got what the attributes we are after, good style, good body length, he stands up on all four legs square," he said.

"He's got the wool we're looking for, we want bale filers.

"We're after length and frame so it can keep us in the meat market, and diverse into that with our dry sheep."

The Eugowra-based family also took home The Yanko 240898, sired by the same ram as the top-price ram in The Yanko 210006, for $3250.

Many volume buyers were present throughout the draft with Weeroona Pastoral Company, Bribbanee, who secured six rams for an average of $2166, while six rams were also knocked down to S and H Extopn and Sons, Coolamon, for a top of $4000 to average $3583.

Kington Partners, Yarrawah, The Rock, took home 10 rams for a top of $5000 to average $3025, while McDonald Brothers Farming, Condobolin, secured eight rams for and average of $2718.

Clare Partnership, Clare Station, Hay, took home 16 rams for an average of $1312.

Rupert Lilburn, Hay Plains Livestock, Hay, purchased the line of rams on behalf of Clare Partnership and said the operation was soley The Yanko Merino blood.

"They're big sheep, they mature and their wools are a very big part of it with white nourished wools and suit the country well," he said.

Mr Lilburn said the 8000 ewe self-replacing operation aims for early maturing wether lambs to either sell as suckers, while also having the option to grow out and cut an average of 9kg of 20 micron wool.

Interstate buyers through the catalogue, first-time purchasers, Jolly Jumbuck Poll Merino stud, Mitchell, Qld, who purchased The Yanko 241000, for $4000.

Another northern buyer Don Perkins, Nelyambo Pastoral, Dirranbandi, Qld, took home six rams for an average of $2041, while South Australian purchaser Eldra Pastoral, Naracoorte, took home four rams for and average of $1875.

The Yanko Merino stud co-principal said he was thrilled with the result.

"I think there was a consistent average and the ability for clients to get in at the top and bottom end, there was value there throughout the sale," he said.

"There were a couple of new buyers there too, which is always exciting, as well as our long-term clients who consistently purchase."

The sale was conducted by Elders Jerilderie and Nutrien Deniliquin, with Peter Godbolt, Nutrien and Harry Cozens, Elders as auctioneers.