Laggan district buoys Thalabah Merino ram sale as buyers compete for the best

Neighbours and district locals showed up in force and wrestled for the pick of the pen at Thalabah Merino stud's 2026 ram sale at Laggan on Friday, October 30.

Of the 70 rams offered, 57 were sold at an average of $2623 and a top of $8250 for Thalabah 327, while another three lots were sold privately after the sale.

Strong competition for select lots help propel the figures upward on last year's sale, which averaged $1891 with a $6000 top from 58 of 80 lots sold.

The sale high ram, an AI son of Langdene 231001, was sold to Chris Croker, Ayrston, Golspie, and was 17.7 micron, with a standard deviation of 3.2 micron, a coefficient of variation of 18 per cent and a comfort factor of 99.5pc.

On the carcase front, the 90-kilogram sire had an eye muscle depth of 37mm and fat at 5mm.

Mr Croker said he liked the "growthy type" of the ram, which would also prove "versatile" on his country, where the wool operation was cutting up to 7kg greasy weight on the grown sheep at 18.5 micron.

"This ram will keep that going and hopefully going further forward," he said.

"I'll probably put some of my better ewes with him and just see how he goes with them."

Mr Croker was aiming to increase numbers on the 1300 ewes joined last year, while at the same time turning off Merino wethers earlier to take advantage of both the sheepmeat and restocker markets.

The two-year-old wethers were dressing more than 30kg, he said, after exiting crossbreds entirely.

"About three years ago I made the decision to simplify things and thought that I could make more money by concentrating on the wool and run a few wethers as well," he said.

"And yeah, the money's in it, so I pulled the right rein for a change."

The top-priced ram was one of five going home with Mr Croker, who paid an average of $4150.

Shannon Arnall, Carinya, Laggan, was the biggest volume buyer of the day, sourcing eight rams at an average of $2281 an to a top of $3000.

Mr Arnall said he was looking for "wool production on a well-structured frame" and had been buying from Thalabah for more than 30 years.

The operation hosts a self-replacing Merino flock, averaging a wool cut of 5kg to 6kg at 17.5 to 18.5 micron, but the wethers were also seeing great returns.

"If you've still got the frame, you can do your dual job on the Merino lamb now," he said.

"You don't have the hassle of trying to keep them in paddocks and separate wool, separate shearings."

The new rams would be essential as Mr Arnall attempted to lift the number of ewes joined from 1600 to hopefully 2000 next year.

Pictures by Dakota Tait.

Mr Arnall's brother, Smokey Arnall, Kea, Laggan, bought seven rams, averaging $1536 and to a top of $1750.

Bruce Offley, Yarrabee, Laggan, went home with five rams, paying an average of $2250 and up to $3000.

Thalabah Merino stud's Sam Frost said the family aimed to deliver sires with "good wool cut, good nourishment and good body structure".

The rams were only coming into bloom now, he said, after being born during a difficult season.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Stud Stock, with auctioneer Rick Power.