Proven fleece and carcase traits deliver solid result for The Yanko Merinos

The Cameron family marked 50 years of ownership of The Yanko with a solid sale at Jerilderie on Thursday, September 24.

All but one of the 120 rams sold, with 119 rams topping at $6000, for an overall average of $3172.

The 111 Poll Merino rams topped at $6000, averaging $3247 and the eight Merino rams topped at $2750 and averaged $2125. Another 22 grade rams were sold after the sale.

The top-priced ram at lot 3, 250437, was bought by Ray and Bev Norman, GlenRay Merino stud, Illabo, to be used in their stud flock of almost 300 ewes.

He is by YKO 230023 and is in the top 5 per cent of the breed for yearling clean fleece weight, with an Australian sheep breeding value (ASBV) of +44.33, and adult clean fleece weight, with an ASBV of +40.17.

He had a Wool Production index of 203.93 (top 5pc) and a Sustainable Merino index of 162.27 (top 10pc).

The Normans also run a commercial flock, joining about 4500 ewes each year, alongside a large cropping operation.

"This ram matches really well with our bloodlines," livestock manager Nadine Stanton said.

"We look for heavy cutters and good staple length and we look for a ram that's above our ram team average.

"A few years ago we bought a ram with the same parentage, and he's worked well in our stud."

Two rams - 250196 (lot 9) and 250534 (lot 43) - sold for $5250, with the first going to Robert and David Nevinson, Spring Plains Pastoral, Wanganella, and lot 43 going to AF and LJ Naismith, Cowal Park, Goolgowi.

The sale was supported by multiple volume buyers, including Queensland wool and lamb producers Don and Tom Perkins, Nelyambo Pastoral, Dirranbandi, who have purchased The Yanko genetics for more than 25 years.

They bought 12 rams averaging $3404 and also bought 18 grade rams following the sale.

Tom Perkins said The Yanko sheep were well-suited to the environment in south-west Qld, where they join 3500-4000 ewes, depending on the season.

"They have good frame and body, and they're good woolcutting sheep that will handle our conditions and seasons," Mr Perkins said.

"And they've got the frame and meat characteristics for the lamb market, so we sell the wethers, and if we've got a good season, we can finish them, or if it's dry we'll sell them as stores.

"The meat job is so good now that you've got to be thinking about that side as well."

James McDonald, McDonald Bros Farming, Condobolin, bought 12 rams for an average of $3063.

He has a commercial operation, joining 4500 ewes each year - about 2500 to Merino rams and 2000 to terminal rams.

"They're easy-doing, with good fertility, and they cut plenty of nice, sweet wool," Mr McDonald said.

"We want the full package - three-quarters of our income is meat, so we want both wool and lamb traits.

"We need an easy-doing ewe that will get in lamb and raise a lamb also, as well as cut plenty of wool."

Naradhan-based mixed farmer Stuart Hart, Harts Kynwoor, was among the new buyers at the sale and took home 11 rams, averaging $2273, as well as two grade rams.

Mr Hart joins about 3000 ewes, with about 2400-2500 joined to Merinos and the rest to White Suffolks.

"I'd seen The Yanko's rams at Bendigo (Australian Sheep & Wool Show) and liked the look of them, and we were able to get what we wanted at a reasonable price," Mr Hart said.

"They're good, big sheep with great density in their wool and we were able to get some nice wool types that we liked."

Stud manager Ian Cameron was pleased with the sale and said there was strong support from repeat buyers, with four new buyers.

Rams went to four states - NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.

"We increased the offering by 30 rams this year and to sell all but one, we're thrilled with that," Mr Cameron said.

"It was a very consistent sale the whole way through which highlighted the quality of the offering.

"The demand shows what the market is looking for - structurally sound rams with early growth, high quality wools with plenty of cut, as well as the carcase attributes.

The stud was established by the family 37 years ago.

"It's been 50 years since my grandparents Ian and Margaret Cameron purchased The Yanko," Mr Cameron said.

"My parents Hugh and Heather continue to be actively involved with the running of the property and we now have the fourth generation of Camerons at The Yanko with my daughter Rose being born earlier this year."

The sale was conducted by Nutrien, with Peter Godbolt, Nutrien and Harry Cozens, Elders, auctioneering.