Buyers new and old follow the data at Greendale Merino and Poll Merino
Long term repeat clients in search of consistency and supported by data bolstered sales at Greendale Merino and Poll Merino at Cooma, on Thursday, October 16.
At auction, 93 of 100 rams sold to a $5250 top to average $2223, with most passed-in lots sold shortly afterwards.
The top-priced ram, Greendale 240954, was purchased by the trustee for the Green Family, Longford, Tasmania.
By YG220557 and from Greendale 210119, the ram had a fibre diameter of 14.5 micron, 2.2 micron standard deviation, 15.3 per cent coefficient of variation and weighed 123 kilograms.
The ram ranked in the top 1pc of the breed for fleece weight at +230, and on the sustainable Merino and wool production indexes, at +171 and +213.5, respectively. The ram also recorded adult and yearling fibre diameters in the top 5pc at -3.5 and -3.3, and a yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) in the top 5pc at +34.2.
The single-born ram also ranked in the top 1pc on the fine wool index.
The Green family purchased six rams averaging $3417, including the second top-priced ram, Greendale 240567.
By Greendale 220012 and by Greendale 170554, the 96kg ram had a fibre diameter of 16.3 micron with 2.6 SD and 16pc CV. He ranked in the top 1pc of the breed for YCF at +44.4, ACFW at +45.2, and with indexes in the top 1pc for fleece weight and wool production at +205 and +213, respectively.
Volume buyers Meurer Pastoral Co, Bowna, secured 16 rams to average $2172.
Manager Richard Manion said the company had used Greendale bloodlines for over a decade.
"We're aiming to continue to increase fleece weight and put down the pressure on micron and Greendale, by far are the leaders in achieving that," he said.
Joining just under 6000 Merino ewes in March as part of a self-replacing flock, the goal is to stay in the 17 to 18 micron range, and 5kg greasy fleece weight. Fellow manager Pete Barker said a poor season didn't impact the number of rams on the shopping list, with the operation prepared to weather the challenges.
"It's been tough, we're looking at having a pretty ordinary spring, and we didn't have an autumn, it's not ideal," he said.
"We're prepared to feed again."
Jim and Clare Buckley, Jindabyne, purchased four rams to average $2818, while Woodstock Pastoral, Cooma, purchased 6 rams averaging $2875.
Charity ram Greendale 240323 was sold for $3000 to Dean Incher, Mayfield, Adaminaby, with proceeds supporting the Peter Westblade scholarship.
Mr Incher purchased a four rams to average $2325 and previously supported the scholarship through working dog training for recipients.
"I liked the sheep, he was one that I had picked out, but the fact that he was the charity ram was even better," he said.
"Young people are the future of our industry ... it's good if you have anything to offer, to try and help them out."
Miranda McGufficke, Greendale, said buyers showed a focus on wool, driven by data, with no animal in the 2024 cohort measuring below the industry averages.
"We're very consistent with our focus on fleece weight and micron, our data speaks highly of that, which is very powerful in this cohort," she said.
"For the longevity of the animal, we're focused on adult fleece diameter and clean fleece weight as our priority, and it's going to get stronger and stronger. Our confidence increases each year, and we can see that in the clients as well."
Ms McGufficke added that the 2025 ram sale cohort was the highest indexing Merino catalogue to be offered in Australia, with FW, WP, ACFW, YFD and AFD indexes all in the top 5pc of the breed. Each ram measured at least in the top 10pc for major fibre production indexes and traits.
D and P Hazell, secured Greendale 240824 for $3250, GW and J Mackay purchased Greendale 240827 for $1500.
The sale was conducted by Elders with Paul Jameson as the auctioneer and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
