Rocklyn Merinos sale achieves higher price, higher average and lifts clearance

Quality cutting wool offerings have paid off at the 2026 Rocklyn Merino stud's annual ram sale, held at on-property at Greenethorpe, on Thursday, September 24.

Of the 100 Poll Merinos offered, 83 cleared to average $2590, while bidding reached $6750.

The top-priced ram was Lot 4, 250098, which sold to long-time buyers TH Cooper & Co (Stephen Cooper), Myall Park, Caragabal.

The 14-month-old triplet is a son of CP221304, with a micron of 19.4, standard deviation (SD) of 3.1, coefficient variation (CV) of 16.1, and comfort factor (CF) of 99.5 per cent.

He is in the top 20pc of Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for post-weaning weight, yearling weaning weight, weaning rate, Wool Production Index and Sustainable Merino Index.

A volume buyer, Mr Cooper bought 13 rams on the day to average $3492.

Mr Cooper said he tried to buy the same type of sheep every year.

"We look for structure and good nourishment in the wool and sheep that have plenty of cutting fleece. We look at the clean fleece weight," he said.

"Visually, the numbers matched up. We look at a few things on the numbers but it's more visual. They've got to look sound as well.

"I like to put a hand on them and get a good feel for them."

Mr Cooper had been buying sheep from Rocklyn for 20 years and liked to buy 10 to 12 rams from there every year if he could, selecting 13 this year.

The Coopers join 3000 to 3500 self-replacing Merinos every year.

Stud principal Ralph Diprose said he was happy with the sale outcome.

"The result for the ram sale this year was pleasing with many long-time clients returning plus some new clients, which led to enthusiastic bidding," Mr Diprose said.

"Buyer interest was directed more to obtaining rams with better fleece weight data because of the upturn in the wool market from last year, and the Rocklyn sale team was well placed to meet this objective as the stud has maintained its focus on wool characteristics besides improving growth rates and carcase traits."

The second top-priced ram was Lot 70, 250065, sold to new clients, Hill Family Pastoral, Greenshades, Stockinbingal, for $6600.

Sired by 230857, the 14-month-old ram measures 19.2 micron, with a SD of 2.7, CV of 14, and CF of 99.6. He is in the top 30pc of ASBVs for post-weaning weight, yearling weight, yearling fibre diametre and Wool Production Index.

Alex Hill, Hill Family Pastoral, went to the sale after meeting Mr Diprose at the SWS Merino Breeders Field Day.

He was so impressed, he bought six rams to average $4233.

"This year we are looking to introduce some early growth into our Merino flock," Mr Hill said.

"I was doing some research into different studs. It was great to meet Ralph. He's a great bloke, and really passionate.

"His rams ticked a lot of boxes for us.

"We bought six rams to do a trial mob with. I wanted to see how the Rocklyns would go over our ewes and do some measurements on them all.

"Our flock is traditionally wool-type Merinos, but we were chasing higher-placed weaning weights, particularly. I'm very intrigued as to what they will do.

"We're pretty happy with what we picked up. I'm sure they will do the job."

Mr Hill runs a mixed farming operation alongside his wife Maddy. It is livestock-based with a self-replacing Merino flock and a small herd of trade cattle and they background steers, as well as crop wheat and canola.

The third top-priced ram was Lot 2, 250061, sold to Warralong Pastoral Co, Coolac, for $6500.

The 14-month-old son of R230187 is in the top 5pc ASBVs for post-weaning weight, yearling weight, and in the top 10pc for yearling clean fleece weight.

David Carr, Warralong Pastoral, has been buying for a couple of years. This year he bought six rams to average $4317.

Other volume buyers were CC and SM Braid, Frogmore; McKellar Farming, Grenfell; W&G Mendham, Grenfell; and GH and A Robertson, Junee.

The sale was up on last year's sale when 72 lots sold for an average of $2253, with a good percentage of the remaining lots sold straight after the auction.

Rocklyn proudly supports the Peter Westblade Scholarship and will donate 30 per cent of the proceeds of Lot 22, 250163, or $1500, to the cause. The scholarship develops the next generation of leaders in the sheep industry.

The sale was conducted by Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co and AWN with Luke Whitty the auctioneer.