'Huge, long ram' with profit-driving fleece lifts Lachlan Merino results

Growth, fleece weight and micron were keenly sought after among the Lachlan Merino offering at the on-property sale at Warroo on Wednesday, September 18.

The sale averaged $5655 as 198 of 200 rams offered sold to a top of $34,000. A further 25 rams sold from an offering of flock rams.

The top-price ram was Lachlan Merino 250234, out of the stud's embryo-transfer program, and offered at lot 2.

The 134-kilogram Poll Merino was sired by Wiringa Park 220450 "King", from dam 230215, with Lachlan Merinos to retain a 50 per cent semen share.

He had fleece figures of 18.2 micron, 2.6 standard deviation, 14.5 coefficient of variation, a 99.7pc comfort factor and a 117pc greasy fleece weight (GFW), as well as a 44.5 millimetre eye muscle depth (EMD) and 8.5mm fat.

His Australian Sheep Breeding Values including a yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) of +37.9 and adult clean fleece weight (ACFW) of +33.9 - both in the top 5pc of the breed, as was the 198 Wool Production Index. His post-weaning weight (PWT) of +9.1, yearling weight of +10.5, yearling fibre diameter of -1.6 and Sustainable Merino Index of +158, ranked highly among his peers.

He was bought by repeat buyers Donald and Tracy Grant, Bundabarrina, Collarenabri, who paid the second-highest $20,000 price at the 2025 sale.

Mr Grant said the scale of the ram had caught their eye, as well as his breeding and wool characteristics.

"We bought his half-brother last year and he's grown into a magnificent ram, so we want to keep it in the family," he said.

"This ram probably has better wool, with magnificent lock, feel, handling and colour.

"He's a huge, long ram with great muscling, great fat and a magnificent fleece."

Mr Grant said it was important to have a dual-purpose ram with the potential income from lambs as well as the fleece.

The Grants have their own ram breeding program, joining elite rams to a flock of 160 selected ewes, for their own use, aiming for a 19-micron or finer wool cut.

This was the third time they had bought at Lachlan Merinos after seeing the stud at shows.

"Lachlan Merinos certainly know how important skins are," Mr Grant said.

For Lachlan Merinos' Glen and Mitch Rubie, this ram had stood out from a young age, encouraging them to use their DNA testing to identify his mother for their ET program. He already has four full sisters among their elite stud ewes, and expects to have more full siblings in the next drop of lambs.

Also capturing plenty of bidding interest was Lachlan Merino 250385, from their artificial insemination program, which sold for $20,000 to Kedlest Park Poll, Calivil, Vic.

By Lachlan Merino 220118, an influential sire within the stud, and dam 200502, the autumn-drop, twin-born ram had a 41.5mm EMD and 6mm fat, with a 17.4-micron fleece, with 2.4SD, 13.9CV, 99.9pcCF and a 117pc GFW.

He had a Wool Production Index in the top 1pc of the breed at +214, alongside his YCFW of +47.1 and ACFW of +38.7, while the Sustainable Merino Index of +164 was in the top 5pc.

A Wiringa Park 200037-son, Lachlan Merino 250199, from their ET program, sold for $16,000 to first-time buyers Jack and Bobby Jones, North Yalgogrin.

The 125kg ram had an 18.7-micron fleece, with 2.8SD, 15.0CV, 99.6pcCF, 99pcGFW and 42mm EMD and 6mm fat.

His other figures includes a YCFW of +36.1 and ACFW of +35.9, in the top 5pc.

The Jones selected two rams, alongside Lachlan Merino 250119 at $6000, to trial a new program on their property.

They have selected some of their better ewes and plan to breed some rams, which will then be joined to their 2300-strong ewe flock.

Jack Jones said 250199 stood out for his depth, topline and wool, particularly the staple length.

This ram has three full-flush sisters among their elite stud ewes.

Plenty of bidders sought bulk numbers, including Mark and Carol Jones, Condobolin, who selected 18 rams to a top of $10,000 and average of $5639.

Earlier this year, the pai entered wool into the Australian Sheep & Wool Show national fleece competition, with the eight-month, 11.4kg entry winning most valuable fleece - Merino performance, with a value of $219.44.

Also selecting a line throughout the catalogue were WN and FS Swan, Murrumbateman, who bought 14 rams to a top of $9000 and average of $7071.

While there were several new faces, long-standing clients made their presence felt, including the Knight family, Grenfell, and the Taylor family, Caragabal, who had both been buying from Lachlan Merino for more than two decades, even before the ram sale began 21 years ago.

The Taylors bought nine rams, bidding to $9000 and averaging $5389.

Matthew Taylor said the rams appealed with their frame size and fertility.

They operate a feedlot and appreciate the blend of wool and meat on their sheep.

The Knights selected six rams to $7000, averaging $6667, admiring the productive wool and carcase.

Len Knight said he was happy with where they had their wool, after years of buying from Lachlan Merinos, and were now putting a focus on finishing their wether lambs early, so appreciated the quick growth traits.

Mitch said they were "overwhelmed" with the strong support from new and repeat clients, some of who had been coming for decades and "still went home with a uteload of rams".

He said there was strong interest in those rams with high Wool Performance Index figures, which was made up of a balance of profit-driving traits, particularly growth, fleece weight and micron.

"Those were the three main profit drivers, backed up with good carcase, and if it ticked those boxes, people were happy to chase," he said.

Even with the addition of 40 extra rams in the sale this year, to accommodate their buyers, the average still lifted.

Glen said while the sale was strong, it was also pleasing to see there was plenty of value for clients, with several lots selling at $2000.

There was also plenty of stud interest from three states - NSW, Qld and Victoria.

Glen said they paid particular attention to their ewe flock, identifying the high performers.

"Top ewes breed top rams," he said.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien with John Settree taking the bids and AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.