Bigga ram sale draws clients from three states seeking ultrafine genetics

A desire for "frame" and the "right" wool inspired this bidder to pay the top price at the Hillcreston Park sale, Bigga, on Thursday, October 16.

Buyers since the 1990s, Roger and Yvonne Connelly, Omeo, Vic, bid to the $4000 top for two-year-old Poll Merino, tag 24-1100.

Bred from a Green Poll sire, the ram had a 15.3 micron fleece with 2.1 micron standard deviation, 13.9 per cent coefficient of variation and 110 fibre curvature.

Mr Connelly is a regular at the Hillcreston Park sale, and has also bought from the Pickering family for years, saying he has learned a lot about wool and sheep from them.

He aims for a 16 to 17 micron across his property and supplies fine wool via contract to Italian fabric mill Vitale Barberis Canonico.

"We only buy a ram if it's got a good frame and stands up," he said.

"We're bloody fussy."

He said this kept him coming back to Hillcreston Park.

The Connellys bought five rams in total, a mix of horned and Poll Merinos, for an average $2300.

The second-highest price of the day was two-year-old horned Merino, tag 24-011.

The Commander son was 13.7 micron with 2.4SD, 17.5pc CV and 105 fibre curvature and was bought for $3750 by Merrin Ag, Penshurst, Vic.

Merrin Ag took home three rams all up, all horned and about 14 microns, for an average $2583.

Volume buyer Neil Carey, Kashmir Merinos, Wee Jasper, has been buying at Hillcreston Park for 25 years.

This year he picked up nine rams for an average $1667.

This included $3000 horned Merino ram, tag 24-54.

The two-year-old ram was described as the "best Hummer son in the catalogue" by auctioneer Rick Power, Nutrien, and had a fleece of 13.8 micron with 2.4SD, 17.1pc CV and 140 fibre curvature.

Mr Carey said they were targeting the finer market, averaging about 15.4 microns across their more than 8000-head flock.

"It's the only way to make money where we are," he said.

When selecting rams, he looked at the size of the sheep and the quality of the wool.

Another sale of interest was a two-year-old stud Poll ram, tag 24-001, which sold to first-time buyers from Tasmania, Kelvedon Estate Trust, Swansea, for $3000.

The first of the Poll Merino rams offered, the Grandio son had a 15.4 micron fleece with 2.0SD, 13.1pc CV and 110 fibre curvature.

It was the sole purchase by Kelvedon, who made the trip up to view the offering in person, although they were the underbidder on other lots.

The stud sold 33 of 49 lots for an average $1977, with some lots sold after.

Hillcreston Park's Danny Picker said they were on a path of constant improvement, having increased their wool cut by one kilogram a head in the past 15 years, while maintaining their superfine characteristics.

"We're trying to get sweeter, finer microns," he said.

"We've held on to the wool cut while still fining up the micron."

They also ceased mulesing about nine years ago and have been working to "plain the sheep up".

He said they were "chasing the Italian market" with their wools.

Mr Picker said it was great to see the returning clients as well as three new clients.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien with Mr Power auctioneering.