Wurrook Merino stud's top ram a stand out for his 'beautiful fleece'

The result of Wurrook Merino stud's annual ram sale exceeded the expectations of stud principals Paul and Kylie Walton.

The top-priced ram sold for $10,000, while the overall average was $2929.

The stud sold 82 of the 91 rams offered at auction and sold a further 14 after the sale.

This was compared to a top of $7000 and an average of $2450 in 2025.

The Rokewood-based stud has endured a few very tough years due to dry conditions and low wool prices.

But Mr Walton believes the wool market has a positive future.

"We were happy with the result," he said.

"Some of the southern sales have been a little subdued compared to the northern sales - it's taking a while for the flocks to rebuild."

The top-priced ram, Lot 5, sold to return buyer James Davidson, Dalbeen, Lake Bolac.

The two-year-old polled ram was sired by Yarra Poll 22-1034 and had a 18.2-micron fleece, a standard deviation of 3.4, a coefficient of variation of 18.5 and comfort factor of 99.6 per cent.

Mr Davidson said the quality of the ram's wool stood out.

"He had a beautiful fleece on him," he said.

"The micron suited us and his composition body wise is very good.

"They don't come along every day, those type of rams."

He said his family had been buying rams from the Walton family for more than four decades.

Mr Walton said he believed a declining supply of Merinos had helped push up prices.

"This year there is not the quantity of wool about," he said.

"The amount of sheep in this area has certainly decreased."

He said he believed demand for "bigger, fine wool rams" was higher than the superfines at the moment.

"People want bigger sheep with more wool and more lambs," he said.

He said when you bred Merinos, you "got the best of both worlds" because they were dual-purpose.

Elders livestock agent Elliott Lindley, Ballarat, said it was a very successful sale.

Mr Lindley said the rams were in excellent condition.

"The poll genetics were very highly sought after," he said.

He said prices has increased due to a number of people destocking their Merino flocks in recent years.

But he believes a number of people are now looking to get back into the industry on the back of improved prices.