Local support bolsters 25th Carrabungla Merino and Poll Merino ram sale

Resilient animals suited to the conditions drew strong local support at the 25th on property Carrabungla Merino and Poll Merino stud, on Thursday, October 30.

The Laggan stud drew in buyers from Crookwell, Taralga, Goulburn and Laggan.

At the fall of the hammer, 57 of 71 rams sold to a top of $3600, and averaged $1851, with most passed in lots sold shortly after the sale.

The top-priced ram, Carrabungla 453, sold to long-term return buyers Martin and Nerida Croker, Rosevale, Fullerton.

The ram had a fibre diameter of 14.9 micron, 2.9 micron standard deviation, 19.4 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.9pc comfort factor.

Mr Croker said the ram was a good fit for his operation, and would help boost woolcut whilst reducing micron.

"He had nice, soft, wool, very stylish and well grown," he said.

"For his age, I think he'll do very well."

The September 2024-drop ram will be joined to ewes as quickly as possible, Mr Croker said, running about 1700 sheep along with cattle at Rosevale.

Volume buyers Maxons Pty Ltd, Primrose Valley, secured five rams to average $1600.

Repeat buyers with a combined half-century spent using Carrabungla rams, Brian Lowe, Pineville, and Casper McDonald, Aberdeen, both secured four rams each for their operations in Crookwell and Laggan.

Mr Lowe, who secured four rams to average $1750, said they would be put to the job right away.

"They'll be joined to our older ewes to try and get the best genetic gain from them, and fed a ration of lupines to help build them up for joining," he said.

"I'm chasing a little bit more wool cut but high fertility and good carcase shape, too."

Mr McDonald, whose four rams averaged $2150, said it was an order of 'long, nice stylish wools and a big frame,' to fit the bill at Aberdeen.

"They're consistent, you know what you get," he said.

Brian Evans, Laggan, purchased two rams, Carrabungla 556 for $1600 and Carrabungla 127 for $2000, to help drive down the micron in his flock.

"The ones I bought were around the 16 micron mark, but my flock gets up to 19," he said.

"I want to try and get in that 17 to 18 micron range."

Carrabungla 556 recorded 15.3 micron, 3.2 micron SD and a CV of 21.3pc, with a 99.8 CF, while Carrabungla 127 recorded 15.2 micron, 3.7 SD and 24.2pc CV with a 99.7 CF.

Despite a record 144 millimetres of rainfall through July, the paddock-reared rams were set for success, stud principal Neville McIntosh said.

"As far as the breeding goes, we're progressing each year, and we're very happy with the way it's going," he said.

"Now they're ready to go out with the ewes, and we know they'll do the job."

Mr McIntosh said recent returns of $70 a head and cuts between 4.2 and 4.3 kilograms, along with dressed weight prices of $278 per head for the wether siblings of the rams, was a positive sign for the industry.

"It's showing the Merino sheep is holding its own," he said.

"If you try to do it right, you'll be all right. Merino definitely has a place."

The sale was conducted by AWN Goulburn, with auctioneer Greg Miller, AWN Parkes.