Sires that can 'do both' in demand by clients at Grassy Creek Merinos sale
Longtime buyers and customers looking to get more wool and meat out of their Merinos have provided strong support for Grassy Creek Merinos 15th annual on-property sale on Monday, October 12.
Of a total 180 lots, 174 were sold for an average of $3635 and to a top of $10,000 for Grassy Creek 250300.
While the top was back on last year's of $12,500, both the clearance and average were improved on the 2025 sale's 153 of 180 lots for $3417.
The sale high ram went home with a Cootamundra producer and measured Australian sheep breeding values (ASBVs_ in the top 10 per cent for yearling clean fleece weight at +31.2 and a sustainable Merino score in the top 20pc at +153.
The March-shorn, homozygous poll sire, by Lachlan Merinos 220118 out of Grassy Creek 230871, also cut a 19.2 micron, with a standard deviation of 2.8 and a coefficient of variation of 14.5.
Grassy Creek 250471, by Yarrawonga 230903 out of Grassy Creek 211083, achieved the second-highest price of the day, selling to Max and Zoe Giles, Kuriong, Binalong, for $9500.
The sire was in the top 20pc for both yearling clean fleece weight and adult clean fleece weight and tested for a fibre diameter of 18.3 micron, with a 2.9SD and 15.8CV.
Mr Giles said he liked the data behind the ram, which would help to continue push the flock forward in the direction of a dual-purpose animal.
The couple run about 2500 Merino ewes, cutting an average of 6kg at 17 micron in an annual shearing.
Grassy Creek genetics had helped put meat on their wether lambs, he said, and to be able to turn them off at 26 or 27kg carcase weight.
"We're maintaining our wool quality, but we're starting to put carcase on our sheep," he said.
"When our wether lambs at the moment are turning out at $300, it's certainly the way.
"The wool job is extremely important, it has been a focus for us. We're just introducing the growth characteristics to have that article now that people are sourcing and wanting."
There were no particular plans for the lead ram or any of the six others in the team, although Mr Giles said it could mean some of the lesser rams at home could be moved to the bench.
The Giles paid an average of $5428 for the seven sires.
Alex Wheelwright, Phils River Grazing, Limerick, paid an average of $1750 for eight rams, topping at $2500.
The long-term volume buyer said the operation had been "pretty happy" with the Grassy Creek genetics, running a self-replacing Merino flock and joining 1800 ewes this year.
Mr Wheelwright said the sheep were cutting an average of 17 or 17.3 micron and about 4.6kg fleeces.
"We're just looking for getting a bit more growth and productivity in the animal, trying to put a bit more fleece weight on at the moment," he said.
"Our microns have held strong, we're just trying to get a bit more weight into them."
Pictures by Dakota Tait.
Blantyre Farms, Young, bought 15 rams to a top of $4500 and an average $2900.
Willow Bend Station, Boorowa, went home with 10 rams averaging $2750, paying $4500 for the best in the pack.
Old Springfield Partnership, Cooma, paid an average of $4625 and a high of $6500 for eight rams, while Peter and Lianna Whittaker, Oaklands, Gunning, also bought eight rams for an average of $2312 and a top of $3500.
Nutrien Stud Stock's Rick Power said a mix of loyal regulars and a few new faces had helped bolster the sale, which had buyers from the local district as well as toward Goulburn, the Monaro and the New England.
"It's probably as good a catalogue as Grassy Creek's put up from front to back," he said.
"Very well-presented, and probably some of the softest wools we've had our hands on this spring."
Grassy Creek owner Mick Corkhill said he was "stoked" with the results of the sale and wanted to continue producing sires that could compete in both the wool and sheepmeat markets.
"We're very focused on sheep that will deliver high fleece value and high carcase value," he said.
"We've always had that philosophy, we know you can do both and we are doing both.
"Just capitalising returns per hectare is our system."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, with Mr Power and Elders' Aaron Seaman auctioneering.
