Major Merino stud player secures top-priced ram at Glenwood Merino sale
Buyers sought rams with plenty of carcase and low faecal egg counts at the Glenwood Merinos ram sale, at Glenwood, near Wellington, on October 10.
Chad and Louise Taylor, Mumblebone, Wellington, paid $7500 for the top ram, Glenwood 240855.
Sired by Glenwood 1113 and out of Glenwood 220962, the August 2024-drop ram recorded a fibre diameter at 19.77 micron, 3.26 micron standard deviation, 16.5 per cent coefficient of variation and 98.9pc comfort factor.
He also ranked in the top 5pc at +27.91 yearling staple length, top 10pc at +1.62 yearling fat depth, and top 20pc at +2.11 yearling eye muscle depth and -43.14 yearling faecal egg count.
Mumblebone stock agent Ed Johns said the ram's data backed up what they could see: depth, muscle and quality wool.
"He has beautiful wool with a good combination of fat, muscle and yearling weight," he said.
"He'll add value to our breeding flock and will be used within the stud."
While the Taylors are return clients, it's been about four years since their previous purchase.
"He has spectacular wool, as you would expect in a Glenwood ram," Mr Taylor said.
"He also has a combination of wool and particularly important values such as fat, low faecal egg count and staple length."
Mr Taylor said the ram would be joined to about 100 stud ewes.
The second top-priced ram, Glenwood 240092, was knocked down to KE and SJ Warner, Beechworth, Victoria, for $6750.
Son of Richmond 117 and out of Glenwood 190559, the August-2024 drop ranked in the top 5pc of the breed at +4.24 yearling weight, -2.58 yearling coefficient of variation.
He had 20.13 micron, 3.18 micron SD, 15pc CV and 99.3pc CF.
The Warners also purchased the Glenwood 1206 son, Glenwood 240431, for $3000.
Volume buyer Peter Barton, Brooklyn, Mudgee, secured a draft of seven rams to average $1571.
Soft wool, muscle, fat cover and a low faecal egg count topped Mr Barton's priorities.
He runs a mixed operation with crossbred cattle and 2000 18-micron Merino ewes, predominantly Glenwood blood, joined to White Suffolk and Hampshire Down sires.
A return client for three decades, Mr Barton said it was the stud's continual genetic improvement that keeps him coming back.
He aims to turn off his lambs at trade weights of 20 kilograms or above.
Norm Smith, Glenwood, said it was pleasing to see a number of new and returning clients.
"It's great to sell rams into four states; NSW, Vic, Tasmania and South Australia, to buyers who are chasing not only the wool that we're known for, but also carcase and worm resistance," he said.
Other out-of-state bidders included Classic Pastoral Co, Wirrate, Vic, who averaged $5250 for three rams, and Springmount Pastoral, Hindmarsh Tiers, SA, who bought five rams to $3000 to average $2050.
Patrick McShane, Avoca, Tas, averaged $1500 for two rams, while GJL Kiss and Co Pty Ltd, Spicers Creek, averaged $3875 for six rams to $5250.
Angus Maurice, Bonview, Gollan, bought seven rams to $5500 to average $2964, and David Russ, Pigeonbah, Warren, purchased six rams to $4250 to average $2375.
All up, 89 of 139 rams sold to $7250 to average $2830, up $442 on last year. A further four rams were sold post-sale.
Peter Milling and Company, Dubbo, and Elders conducted the sale with Danny Tink, Peter Milling and Company, and Martin Simmons, Elders, sharing the rostrum. StockLive provided the online interface.
