Stud interest secures top ram at Rocklyn, aids next generation of producers

A dual-purpose ram with balanced figures will help encourage the next generation into the sheep industry, following the Rocklyn Merino ram sale.

Held at Greenthorpe, on Thursday, September 25, the sale offered 100 rams with 72 sold to $6250, averaging $2253, in line with the 2024 result.

The top price was paid for Rocklyn 220656, penned at lot 21, sired by Rocklyn 220656.

The 102-kilogram, triplet-born ram had fleece measurements of 17.8 micron, 2.5 standard deviation, 14.2 coefficient of variation and 99.6 per cent comfort factor.

He ranked in the top 10pc to 30pc for a range of carcase and fleece traits, including a yearling clean fleece weight of +30.1, yearling staple length of +18.6, post-weaning weight of +9.1 and yearling weight of +11.0 - all in the top 20pc.

His intramuscular fat of +0.4 and wool production index score of +186 were both in the top 10pc.

He also had a sustainable Merino index of +150.

After a fast bidding tussle, he was secured by first-time buyer Mark Blaxland, who runs a small stud, Blaxland Poll Merinos, as well as commercial sheep at Tamworth.

Mr Blaxland said he was aware of the Rocklyn rams due to a family connection, which meant the trust was there, but he had also been watching the breeding across a few years.

"I'd noticed the good genetics, which are very similar to what I'm trying to achieve," he said.

"The big bodies, good carcase and bold, crimping wool that's getting finer, so you can maximise the wool prices. The rams tick all the boxes."

He was especially impressed with 656 - his first choice ram - because it was a triplet but was still one of the heaviest rams in the sale.

He said it was rare to see big sheep with plenty of fine wool.

The ram will be used in their split-joining operation with 1250 ewes in the first year.

The strong success of 656 will also have other benefits with the ram selected as the stud's charity lot in support of the Peter Westblade Scholarship.

Rocklyn stud principal Ralph Diprose said they were proud to be contributing to the PWS Stud Fundraiser, donating 30 per cent of the proceeds from Lot 21 to go towards educating, mentoring and creating opportunities for young people in the industry.

While he had not predicted the ram would make the highest price, he had selected it as a "well-balanced ram that should donate a bit of money to the fundraiser".

The second-highest price of the day was $4750, paid by regular top-end bidder Stephen Cooper, Caragabal.

The 99kg Rocklyn 240042, by Rocklyn 110371, was a triplet with 16.7M fleece, 3.0SD, 18.2CV and 99.5CF.

His post-weaning weight of +11.3 was in the top 5pc, with a yearling clean fleece weight figure of +29.4, a sustainable Merino index of +151 and wool production index of +183 (top 10pc).

All up, TH Cooper bought 10 rams under the hammer plus another two, averaging $2971.

Andrew Baker, Greendale Family Trust, Grenfell, paid $4500 for Rocklyn 240505, at lot 17, sired by $20,000 ram Ejanding Poll 215492.

The 98kg ram had a sustainable Merino index of +150 and wool production index of +174, with an 18m fleece.

This ram was among six selected by Greendale, averaging $2817.

The sale's volume buyer was Stuart McKellar, McKellar Farming, Grenfell, with 13 rams to $2500, averaging $1623.

Also bidding in bulk were Warralong Pastoral Co, Coolac, with nine rams to $4000, averaging $2383, and Susan Robertson, Old Junee, with eight rams to $2250, averaging $1781.

Mr Diprose said it paid to "have a foot in both camps" of meat and wool traits, and that was what he was breeding for, using DNA and genomic testing to back up the visual assessment.

"We can see by the data our growth rates and carcases are improving every year, our wool cut is going up and we're reducing our micron," he said.

He said there were also some "free lunches" alongside profit-driving traits, such as reproduction and growth, in worm resistance and breech score, resulting in a "product that makes it easier to look after them".

The sale was conducted by AWN and Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon & Co, with AWN's Greg Miller auctioneering.