'Wonderful, quality stock': third-generation buyers flock to Almondvale

It's a huge testament to the quality of a stud when buyers come back year after year.

This was the case for the Routley family on Friday, September 11 when again third-generation buyers were on the ground for its Almondvale Poll Merino and White Suffolk annual sale.

As usual, the Routley family's White Suffolk rams were in demand at the Urana on-property sale, reaching a top of $4250 in front of a large crowd of buyers from across NSW and Victoria.

In total, 106 of the 120 White Suffolk rams offered were snapped up for an average of $1955.

With some buyers unable to attend on the day, 19 of the 40 Poll Merinos offered were sold to reach a top of $3750 twice and an average of $2031.

The Almondvale White Suffolk rams were on fire right from the first lot, with lot 1, tag 23, making the top price of $4250, bought by Richard Davies, Lone Pine White Suffolk stud, Quialigo.

The 104-kilogram ram had an eye muscle area (EMA) of 35.07 square centimetres.

Mr Davies was thrilled with the "long length and super conformation" of the ram.

"He is a very well-built ram. I bought a similar Almondvale ram last year, and he threw superb lambs," he said.

"I put him over my maiden ewes and he threw five to six-kilogram lambs at birth.

"His progeny will look just like him and will be fast-growing.

"His eye muscle was the best of the rams, and he will throw the genetics for meat over fat.

"He is a wonderful ram for a good price."

Third-generation buyers, the Sweeny family, Rosemere, Bimbi, weren't mucking about, securing the equal top-priced Poll Merino ram for $3750.

The 100-kilogram ram, sold at lot 27, tag 53, was sired by Glenlea Park Wally, had a greasy fleece weight percentage (GWP) of 96, a comfort factor (CF) of 99.1 per cent, and an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 40 millimetres.

Graham Sweeny said lot 27 appealed to him in many ways, especially his 18.4-micron fleece.

"We really liked the size of him, his body conformation and his micron," he said.

The Sweeny family runs a self-replacing Poll Merino flock, and has been using Almondvale rams for years.

"We made the change from Bonds to Poll Merinos like Almondvale, and they have the kind of sheep we like to grow," he said.

The Sweenys didn't stop at one ram - they bought four Poll Merino and three White Suffolk rams in total.

It was the same story for Pam and Laurie Beer, who as well as buying the other top-priced Poll Merino ram, headed home with five Poll Merino and three White Suffolk rams.

Pam and Laurie Beer, Woodbury, Deniliquin, have been sourcing both White Suffolk and Poll Merino rams from Almondvale since 2010.

"They have really wonderful, quality stock. They are always well presented," Mrs Beer said.

"The thing is - they aren't grain-fed. If rams have been grain-fed all their life, what you are looking at isn't their natural state. The Almondvale rams are bred under normal conditions.

"They are really good to us. They have exceptional sheep and are continually working on their genetics. The rams are great to handle."

Their top-priced purchase, lot 13, tag 25, weighed 99kg with a micron of 17.9, a 99.7pc CF, a GWP of 105pc and an EMD of 36mm.

"I liked his general overall shape, good staple length and good style of wool," Mrs Beer said.

"He is broad across the back, which means plenty of extra wool and we can produce a good prime lamb.

"He ticked all the boxes. He was quite clean and not too wrinkly around the tail, because we don't mules."

Volume buyers included Australian Food and Agriculture at Deniliquin, which bought 37 White Suffolk rams for two of its pastoral properties.

Elders and Nutrien conducted the sale, with all remaining rams secured afterwards. The auctioneers were Tim Woodham, Nutrien, and Ryan Bajada, Elders.