Melrose ram sale average jumps $315 after principal withholds 12 rams

A Victorian Merino stud principal's decision to withdraw a group of rams in the lead-up to its ram sale has paid dividends after recording a $300 jump in the annual average.

Warren and Emma Russell, Melrose Merino stud, Nurrabiel, sold 44 or 48 Merino rams on Wednesday to a field of return buyers, as well as one new surprise buyer from NSW.

The auction included a total clearance of eight horned rams to a top price of $3000 to average $2125, while 36 of 40 polled rams sold to a top price of $4000 and an average of $1771.

The stud recorded an overall average $1837, a $315 jump compared to last year's average of $1522.

Mr Russell said he made the decision to withhold a group of rams a month before the auction.

"We normally offer 60 rams, but opted to drop 12 out of the sale because we've had two tough seasons and most of our clients have experienced that," he said.

"As a result, people have destocked and there are fewer ewes, and after discussions with our clients, they advised me they either wanted fewer or no rams this year."

Mr Russell, whose grandfather started the fine and superfine wool stud in 1934, said he was nervous at the start of the sale, but pleased with the positive clearance and average.

"We play around the edges with a few different things to test the waters on the way the industry might go in the future, but we stick to our strengths, which are micron and fleece weight," he said.

"There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of fine and superfine studs around anymore."

The top-priced ram was purchased by Ashley and Kartina McErvale, trading as AJ & KM McErvale, Langi Kal Kal, who bought six rams at the sale.

Lot 36, 24RP8473, fetched the top price of $4000 and had wool measurements of 16.2 micron, 2.3 standard deviation (SD), 14.4 coefficient of variation (CV) and a comfort factor (CF) of 95 per cent.

"The ram was not outstanding in breeding values, but he had a good weaning rate, staple strength and fibre diameter," Mr Russell said.

The McErvales run a flock of 1000 Merino ewes, 1200 first-cross ewes that are joined to White Suffolk rams and 500 classed ewes that are joined to Border Leicesters.

The operation is spread across 1100 hectares of freehold and 400 hectares of leased land.

Mr McErvale, who also farms with his daughter Emily, said the Merino rams would be joined to a portion of the younger Merino ewes in March 2026 for an August lambing.

"Normally, we'll try and stick with a ram that is sired by a Roseville Park sire or a Yarrawonga ram, depending on the ram on the day," he said.

"The top-priced ram was a free-growing-type sheep, perhaps a little bit more of a modern Merino as opposed to a traditional type that is perhaps a bit tighter in the skin and shorter in the staple."

In a surprise move, two rams were bought by Waverley Downs Merino stud, Delungra, NSW.

One poll, Lot 20, 24GCG771, had wool measurements of 16 micron, 2.2 SD, 13.9 CV and 99.7pc CF.

A second ram purchased by Waverley Downs, Lot 11, 244O4116, was a horned ram with 16.8 micron 2.4 SD 14.3 CV and 99.7pc CF.

It was knocked down for $2000.

Among the volume buyers was Gerard Matthews, Brimgower Farms, Brimpaen, who bought eight rams, to a top price of $2500 and an average of $1593.

"We run about 2000 Merino ewes and a few crossbreds, which are phasing out to go back to Merinos to simplify the operation," Mr Matthews said.

"We also run a Border Leicester stud and sell a lot of the Borders as lambs or ewes to join, depending on the season.

"I was hoping to get at least seven rams, so I was pretty happy to get an extra one at the sale."

Besides sheep, Mr Matthews trades cattle and grows canola, wheat and beans, as well as oats for sheep.