Yarrawonga sons attract top prices at Cottage Park Merino stud's ram sale

Repeat local buyers were strong during Cottage Park Merino stud's ram sale held near Cooma on Thursday, October 23.

Progeny from Yarrawonga 002-22-0142, which was purchased by Cottage Park in 2023, attracted the top prices with rams sold to a top of $7500.

The top-priced ram was Cottage Park 98, which was sold for $7500 to Adam Walters, Numbla Vale.

The 120-kilogram ram, by Yarrawonga 002, recorded a fibre diameter of 17.5 micron with three micron standard deviation, 16.9 per cent coefficient of variation, 99.8pc comfort factor and a greasy fleece weight percentage of 130pc.

Mr Walters said the sire attracted him, with this being his first purchase from Cottage Park.

"He's a good wool type, stands well on his feet, a really good free growing wool with a good front end and good sirey head on him," he said.

Mr Walters said he would class ewes out for the ram for an artificial insemination (AI) program.

"I'll try and get a better ewe base," he said.

Mr Walters said he runs about 300 ewes, focused on wool production, mostly opting for 18 and 19 micron.

Mark Pendergast, Cottage Park, said the top-priced ram was a free-growing sheep that was very correct.

The second top-priced ram was Cottage Park 116, which sold for $7250 to Martin and Liz Walters, Numbla Vale.

The 120kg ram, also by Y002, was 18.8 micron with 3.1 micron SD, 17.9pc CV, 99.4 CF and 126pc GWP.

Mr Walters said being horned and the length of body, along with the Yarrawonga sire, attracted them to the ram.

"The structure for his length of body and I thought he stood up very well," he said.

"He's got good heavy cutting wool and a good head."

Mr Walters said they run 1500 Merino ewes, mostly breeding their own rams, with a focus on wool production, averaging 19 micron.

"We love to breed heavy wool cutters," he said.

Mr Walters said they had bought from Cottage Park a few years ago.

Another notable sale was Cottage Park 59, which sold for $7000 to Bindaree Merinos, Berridale.

The 116kg ram, by Y002, was 18.9 micron with 3 micron SD, 16.9pc CV, 99.8pc CF and 138pc GWP.

Lawrence Clifford, Bindaree, said he was a good, long-stapled ram with length and depth.

Mr Clifford said the ram would be used in his stud operation, where he runs 300 stud ewes, to help free up the wool and add more staple length.

He said he aimed to breed heavy-cutting sheep with bright white crimpy wool that stand square and have width and depth.

Mr Clifford said he had bought a ram from Cottage Park before, which was also by a Yarrawonga sire.

Volume buyers of the sale included Allen Trust, Temora, who bought 10 rams for an average of $2225.

Coolamatong Partnership, Berridale, took home six rams for an average of $3083.

BM and RM Adams and Sons, Cooma, purchased five rams to average $1250.

Mr Pendergast said it was a pleasing result with strong support from long-term local buyers.

At the fall of the hammer, a total of 62 of 84 rams were sold to a top of $7500 and for an average of $2819.

Further rams were sold immediately post-sale.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders with Rick Power, Nutrien Stud Stock, taking bids as the auctioneer.

AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.