High growth rams in demand at Bogo Merinos with long-term clients strong

High growth rams with fine white wool were in demand at Bogo Merinos on-property ram sale held near Cootamundra on Monday, September 29.

A total of 155 out of 173 rams on offer sold to a top price of $6500 twice and for an average of $2781.

The first ram to reach the top of $6500 was Bogo 240263 which sold to Markdale Station Pastoral Co, Crooked Corner.

The PH ram, by Bogo 220831, had a fibre diameter of 18.5 micron with 3.0 micron standard deviation (SD), 16.2 per cent coefficient of variation (CV), 99.6pc comfort factor (CF) and a greasy fleece weight percentage (GWP) of 12pc.

He ranked in the top 5pc on the fine wool (FW) and wool production (WP) indexes with figures of +197 and +199 respectively.

The ram also ranked in the top 10pc for yearling clean fleece weight with a figure of +34.1.

The top-price was one of five rams that Markdale purchased for an average of $4600.

On behalf of Markdale, Jack Finch, Schute Bell Badgery Lumby, said they were focused on Poll rams with early growth and bone structure.

"That overall constitution of what a ram should have and white bright wool with good loch structure," he said.

"What we bid on today had profit and production written all over them and are rams that the offspring's going to produce that dual purpose animal."

James Edwards, Markdale, said they run 4000 Merino ewes, predominantly focused on wool production with an average of 17.5 micron.

Mr Edwards said they had been buying from Bogo for about seven years with the rams having performed well for them.

"They have good genetics, good wool quality and consistency," he said.

Bogo stud manager Austin Grace said the ram was really well put-together.

"Length of body, nice white stylish wool and plenty of it," he said.

The other ram to reach the equal top-price of $6500 was Bogo 240680 which sold to Connen Hill Pty Ltd, Goulburn.

The PP ram, by Bogo 221009, was 19.3 micron with 3.5 micron SD, 18.2pc CV, 99.6pc CF and 128pc GWP.

The equal top-priced ram was one of six Connen Hill purchased for an average of $5167.

Mr Grace said the ram had beautiful soft handling wool with a good amount of nourishment.

A volume buyer of the sale was Sykes Grazing, Binalong, who purchased 13 rams for an average of $2769.

AJ Sykes said he was after good fine wool producing rams, to go into their commercial operation where they run 5000 ewes focused on wool production with an average of 17 micron.

Mr Sykes said the family had been purchasing rams from Bogo for more than 20 years.

"They are well-suited to our environment and they're good productive sheep," he said.

Garabray Pty Ltd, Greenethorpe, purchased nine rams for an average of $3667.

Mark Bryant, Garabray, said he was after dual purpose rams with good productive wool, good growth rates and were physically sound.

Mr Bryant said the rams would go into their mixed farming operation where they run about 2500 ewes and grow wheat and canola.

He said the wether lambs are turned off for the meat market.

Mr Bryant said they had been buying from Bogo for about 15 years.

"They're good quality rams and we've had a long association with Mal," he said.

Other notable buyers included Iando Pastoral, who purchased 15 rams to average $1500, and DA and H Painting, Bookham, who took home 13 rams to average $1808

MFA Elsegood, Clifton Gardens, purchased nine rams to average $3056.

C and H Baker, Orange, took home nine rams to average $3056 and Walpark Pty Ltd, Cullerin, purchased seven rams to average $2071.

Mr Grace said he was very pleased with the result with strong support from existing clients along with a number of new buyers.

"It was good to see the lift in the wool market which definitely brought a lot of confidence to the buyers, alongside the sheep and lamb prices," he said.

Mr Grace said buyers were chasing growthier types with nice white fine wool.

The sale was conducted by Butt Livestock and Property with Paul Dooley, Paul Dooley Pty Ltd, Tamworth, as the auctioneer.