Sale average up at Westvale Merino as repeat clients chase wool quality
Solid support from repeat buyers and several new bidders helped to lift prices at the Blanch family's Westvale Merino ram sale, held on-property at Wollun on February 11.
In total, 24 of 32 Merino rams were sold to a top of $3200 to average $1500, achieving a clearance rate of 75 per cent. A further four rams were sold after the auction.
Westvale stud principal Leo Blanch was pleased with the result, particularly the sale average which was up by more than $500 on last year.
"I think the recent lift in the wool market certainly helped, and the rams presented extremely well, which also contributed," he said.
"They were well-grown rams with a nice, traditional crimp and very white wool which was mentioned by many people on the day."
The $3200 sale-topper was lot 8, Westvale 240228, purchased by repeat buyer Ralph Price, Kooringle, Pryamul. Sired by Westvale Cr294, from the Conrayn family, the ram had a 16.1-micron fleece with a comfort factor of 99.9 per cent. Weighing 76.5 kilograms, he was one of the heavier rams in the catalogue.
Mr Price has been attending the Westvale sale for the past five years and plans to use the ram in his self-replacing Merino flock.
He currently runs about 800 Merino ewes, along with a prime lamb operation, and will join the new sire in mid-March.
"I thought he was the best ram in the shed," Mr Price said.
"I don't go chasing ultra-fine wool, I like a bit more wool on a bigger sheep.
"He was one of the broader micron rams in the draft, and I really liked his size and wool quality, it was nice and bright white wool with good style."
Volume buyers on the day included J and C Chappell, Dundee, who took home four rams paying to a top of $2800 for an average of $1975.
New bidders Southern Cross New England, Uralla, operating through Nutrien, Armidale, secured four rams, averaging $1250, while P and H Swain, Willow Tree, also bought four rams to average $1100.
Repeat buyers DL and SR Sweeney, Walcha, bought three rams averaging $1266, while SG and DR Morris, Bendemeer, took home two rams.
The sale was jointly conducted by Schute Bell Badgery Lumby, New England region, and Nutrien, Armidale, with Brad Wilson from Nutrien Stud Stock, Dubbo, as auctioneer.
