Significant volume buyers drive Egelabra's full clearance and average increase

Volume buyers from NSW and Queensland dominated the floor at the Egelabra Merino ram sale in Warren, on Wednesday last week.

All 152 rams sold to $20,000 to average $4062, up $1202 on last year.

Walter and Vera Reardon, Springmount, Warialda, secured the top-priced ram HEK-243099.

Son of HEK-170281, the 100-kilogram ram recorded a fibre diameter at 19.9-micron, 2.9-micron standard deviation, 14.6 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.6pc comfort factor.

He also scanned at 34 millimetres for eye muscle depth and 4.5mm fat depth with a 125pc greasy fleece weight.

Nutrien Ag Solutions wool agent Peter Stewart, Glen Innes, said Mr Reardon sought a deep-bodied ram with good muscle and growth.

Running 3400 Merino ewes averaging 18.5 microns, Mr Reardon aims to finish lambs over-the-hook to Thomas Foods International and Fletchers International.

A long-term Egelabra client, Mr Reardon consistently invests in the stud's top-end rams and breeds his own.

Willie, Marcelle and Hugh Chandler, Home Creek, Barcaldine, Qld, secured the top-priced grass-fed ram, HEK-240558, for $9000.

Sired by HEK-223772, the 19.3-micron, 93kg ram had 2.7-micron SD, 13.8pc CV, 99.6pc CF, 34mm EMD, 2.5mm fat and 133.2pc GFW.

Their total draft of seven rams averaged $5357.

Survivability, structure, and soft, well-nourished wool topped Mr Chandler's priority list.

As a former Egelabra jackaroo and repeat client, he knows and trusts the stud's depth of genetics.

Mr Chandler joins 9000 June-shorn Merino ewes, averaging 19.4 microns, across two properties, Home Creek and Oma, on herbage and Mitchell grass country.

He fills about 600 to 650 bales of wool each year, crutches in February, joins in March, and aims for a September-October lambing.

"With the average paddock about 5000 acres, they've got to be able to walk, so I need that structural soundness," he said.

"We also need easy-to-care-for, long-bodied rams with a true medium wool that has softness and nourishment."

Emma Bowman and Johno Martin, Tinman Farming Trust, Dunedoo, paid $8000 for HEK-241606.

Son of HEK-221980, the 20.3-micron, 94kg grass-fed ram had 2.9-micron SD, 14.2pc CV, 99.6pc CF, 37mm EMD, 3mm fat and 125pc GFW.

They also purchased three other rams to average $5750.

Andrew Last, Burra East, Muttama, averaged $4000 for 14 rams to $4500, while Jeffery Nuthall, Dutton Park, Young, averaged $4500 for 12 rams to $5500.

Another volume buyer, Peter and Angela Schuster, Benalong Pastoral Company, Dubbo, averaged $3760 for 23 rams to hit $5500.

The family runs a 15,000-head pure Egelabra blood, non-mulsed Merino flock, including 5500 to 6000 ewes averaging 19 microns.

Mr Schuster sought easy-care, free-growing sheep, with a keen focus on profit drivers such as fibre diameter and fleece weight.

"I can buy on visual [assessment] and conformation, confident that Cam [Munro] and Jack [Kelly] are doing all the work behind the scenes," he said.

"Then I look at the raw data, Egelabra FBV and ASBVs to make my selection."

Mr Schuster has obtained a number of certifications, including the Responsible Wool Standard, Authentico and Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme.

With over 270 people in attendance, including NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin, stud manager Duncan Lance said he was overwhelmed by the support.

"It drives and encourages us to keep breeding bigger and better sheep," he said.

"We aim to breed animals that perform in any environment, with a focus on key economic drivers such as fleece weight, body weight, fat and micron."

Mr Martin recognised the Kater family as an exemplar farming family.

"I want to acknowledge the leadership of Malcolm, John and the extended Kater family; they're absolute cornerstones," he said.

"It is so good to see the optimism and not just the care but the pride that the Kater family put into their sheep."

John Kater, Egelabra, said the driver behind the wool market's rise was simple; tight supply against strong demand.

"Prices [have lifted] and for buyers this makes things clear; security of supply and the reliability of genetics matters now more than ever," he said.

Elders conducted the sale with Paul Dooley as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.