Repeat buyers strong with focus on wool at Billa Burra Burra's ram sale
The draft of Poll Merino rams on offer at Billa Burra Burra's on-property sale were the finest micron sheep stud principal Keith McGrath had ever put up.
Held near Yass on Thursday, September 25, the top-priced ram was Billa Burra Burra 15 which sold for $7600 to Les and Sue Bush, Berremangra.
The twin-born April-drop ram, by Ridgeway Advance and from Mundy 48, had a fibre diameter of 17.1 micron with 2.4 micron standard deviation, 14.1 per cent coefficient of variation and a comfort factor of 99.8pc.
Mr Bush said he admired everything about the ram.
"It was my pick from everything he had there - the micron was good," he said.
Mr Bush said the ram would be joined with their young ewes from last year.
He said wool was their main focus, averaging 16 to 17 micron.
The top ram was one of four rams Mr Bush purchased for an average of $3100.
As a long-term repeat buyer he said the rams from Billa Burra Burra had always performed well for them.
"Here at our place the sheep grow well, they cut a good lot of wool - the grown sheep cut about seven kilograms," he said.
"The sheep have a good size about them."
Mr McGrath said the ram was a very good wool sheep and was well balanced.
The second top-priced ram was Billa Burra Burra 336 which sold for $3200 to Brendon Ostini, Orange.
The September-drop ram, by Gonosh 199 and from B401, was 17.6 micron with 2.6 micron SD, 14.5pc CV and 99.9 CF.
A volume buyer of the sale was Adare Pastroal Co, Bowning, which purchased 10 rams for an average of $800.
AJ and KA Hall, Gunning, took home seven rams for an average of $1000.
Mr McGrath said rams mostly went to repeat clients, however there were some new buyers supporting the sale as well.
"They were a very good lot of rams - they were bigger than we've had them before and finer in the micron and heavier cutting as well," he said.
A total of 38 of 65 rams on offer sold to a top price of $7600 and for an average of $1284. Further rams were sold post-sale.
The sale was conducted by Butt Livestock and Property.
