Productive rams front of mind for buyers at Meadow View Poll Merinos

Buyers chased heavy fleece cutting rams at the Meadow View Poll Merino stud's annual ram sale held on-property near Henty on Thursday, September 10.

At the fall of the hammer, the Bahr family sold 49 of 56 rams on offer to a top-price of $4500 twice and for an average of $2592.

The first ram to hit the $4500 top was Meadow View 250563, which sold to Avmac Ag, Corowa.

The 102-kilogram ram recorded a fibre diameter of 19 micron with 3.2 micron standard deviation (SD), 16.6 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and a comfort factor (CF) of 99.6pc.

He scanned an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 38 millimetres, 88mm eye muscle width (EMW) and 5mm fat.

Return buyer Robert Mckenzie, Avmac Ag, said the ram had a good body with nice fleece, a good eye muscle and was the right shape.

"He has the meat and the good bit of wool," he said.

Mr Mckenzie joins 2000 Merino ewes to Merino rams and turns off wethers at 12 months after shearing.

Avmac purchased a total of eight rams for an average of $3188.

Simon Bahr, Meadow View, said the top-price ram was a big productive and powerful sheep.

"He has the fleece weight and is a heavy cutter but a plain-bodied type of ram and has good carcase shape," he said.

The other ram to reach $4500 was Meadow View 250050, which sold to long-term repeat buyers EA Friedrich and Sons, Gerogery.

The 92kg ram had fleece of 20.5 micron with 2.9 micron SD, 14.1pc CV and 99.6 CF.

He measured an EMD of 41mm, 90mm EMW and 5.5mm fat.

Buyer Ross Friedrich said he was a "nice wool sheep with a good barrel".

"Nice plain-bodied, good wool sheep," he said.

"We're trying to improve the wool on ours."

Mr Friedrich said they had been buying from Meadow View for many years and run about 500 ewes, of which two-thirds are Merinos, and sell lambs over the hooks finished on grain and crop, if the season allows.

The Friedrichs also picked up a second ram, Meadow View 250083, for $3500.

Mr Bahr said the ram had a big carcase and nice bright white wool with a long staple.

Another notable sale was Meadow View 250283, which sold for $4250 to GP Mazzocchi, Morven.

The 88kg ram's figures were 18.5 micron with 3 micron SD, 16pc CV and 99.9pc CF.

He scanned 42mm EMD, 90mm EMW and 5mm fat.

Volume buyers included RS and SA Carn, The Rock, who purchased six rams to a top of $2750 to average $1875.

A Zweck and Sons, Henty, took home five rams to a top of $3750 and for an average of $2550.

Mr Bahr said it was pleasing result with more rams on offer this year with some repeat buyers chasing more numbers.

"Everything is aligned at the moment - mutton, lamb and wool prices and the season as well, there's a lot of confidence," he said.

Mr Bahr said there was strong support from long-term repeat clients, alongside a couple of new buyers.

"Productive wools were definitely sought after," he said.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions with Jarrod Slattery as auctioneer.