Big bidding from loyal clients sees $900 increase in average at Beverley

Return clients drove a $928 year-on-year increase in average price at Beverley Merino stud's on-property ram sale at Redesdale.

The sale saw 28 of the 47 rams on offer sold, achieving an average price of $2598.

While the clearance rate was down compared to last year, the average price rose significantly from the previous year's auction.

The majority of buyers were long-term clients prepared to bid high.

Eleven of the cleared rams sold for more than $3000, with four of those fetching $4500 or more.

Lot 21, Yellow 119, secured the top price of the day at $5750.

The ram's fleece measured 15.7 micron, 2.6 standard deviation, 16.5 coefficient of variation and 99.5 per cent comfort factor.

Beverley stud manager Alex Lewis said the auction demonstrated strong demand from loyal clients looking for premium wool.

"We're very happy with the average," Mr Lewis said.

"Clearance is maybe down compared to previous years, probably just due to some buyers having fewer needs than in the past.

"Our clients know what they want and are quite happy to bid up on what they want."

He said Lot 21 stood out from the pack with an exceptional fleece and frame.

"He's an upstanding ram with a good frame, good soft-handling, crimpy, white wool," he said.

The biggest volume buyer of the day came from a neighbouring property.

Coliban Estate owner Tom James, Redesdale, purchased six rams for an average of about $2500.

Mr James said he had attended Beverley's ram sale every year for more than 20 years to source replacement rams for his flock.

He said he aimed to keep ram numbers at about 40 and these were joined to a flock of about 3500 ewes.

"We are trying to produce a wool that suits the European market, particularly the Italians," he said.

"Beverley is well regarded by wool mills in Italy and we are trying to provide an item that suits their requirements."

Greg Whinfield, Whinfield Farms, Kerang, purchased five rams for an average price of $1600.

Mr Whinfield said he had been buying from Beverley for a decade, usually purchasing three or four rams a year.

This year, he needed a few more to join to the 700 sheep on his mixed cropping and grazing property.

While he usually prefers polled rams, he bought a mix that included some horned Merinos.

"It's the type of wool we like - it stands up to the conditions well," he said.

"We have good feed and prices are a lot better than they were 12 months ago."

Nutrien stud stock specialist for the Riverina and Victoria Nick Farley said bidding remained fierce despite the lower clearance rate.

"It was solid enough, [although] it was a little bit lower clearance than what we've probably seen here at Beverley," Mr Farley said.

"That's probably just people still building numbers.

"I think people were selective with what they bought.

"What they chased, they chased pretty hard."