Buyers from five states purchase Mertex stock in massive 200-head auction

Mertex Texel and White Suffolk stud cleared 200 rams and ewes at its on-property sale, with buyers from five states making purchases.

The Antwerp stud offered 209 lots, with a cross of the stud's two breeds, the 28 Texel/White Suffolk rams, making the highest average at $2507.

The stud cleared 109 White Suffolk rams for an average of $1751, while 21 Texel rams averaged $1828.

Fifteen East Friesian/Texel/White Suffolk rams sold of the 22 offered, recording an average of $1340.

In the ewes, 18 of 20 White Suffolk ewes averaged $822, and nine Texel ewes averaged $1044.

The top-priced lot of the sale was a White Suffolk, Lot 4, Mertex - 250486, which made $7000.

Sired by Felix 230417, Lot 4 had strong growth numbers, including a 0.47 kilogram birth weight (BWT), 13.9kg weaning weight (WWT), 22.49kg post-weaning weight (PWWT) and a 4.48 millimetre post-weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD).

The 124.5kg ram scored a 5.84 per cent lean meat yield and -0.59 square centimetres intramuscular fat.

The ram was purchased by first-time buyers Banjanda stud, Waubra.

Banjanda stud co-principal Justin Hobson said the stud had been looking at Mertex's program for a few years and decided to include their genetics in their program after seeing Lot 4's figures.

"He has really good figures across the board," Mr Hobson said.

"It suited what we need for what we are looking for for our stud."

Texel rams peaked at $5400 for Lot 111, Mertex - 250118.

Lot 111, at 116kg, recorded a BWT of 0.42kg, a WWT of 9.34kg, a PWWT of 13.42kg and PEMD of 2.91mm.

The ram was purchased by James Millner, Blayney, NSW, who was another first-time buyer at Mertex who came away with two rams from the sale.

Mr Millner runs mostly cattle, but he has a few Suffolk ewes that he will join with both Texel rams.

He said he went to Mertex for its strong genetics.

"[Lot 111's] phenotype is pretty impressive," he said.

"I've been on the lookout for a Texel ram for a while and I liked him as soon as I saw him.

"I had done a little bit of research and they just looked like they had some good-quality stock and they have been doing it for a while."

Mertex stud principal Tim Jorgensen said the sale included a mix of new and returning clients eager to buy foundation and crossbred sheep.

"We have 30 years of breeding Texels, we offered some ewes for the first time in the sale," Mr Jorgensen said.

"The sheep all went to five different states, which is good."