BIDS flew from all directions at the second annual Ashrose Merino and Poll Merino on-property ram sale under the Graetz family's ownership, at Mundulla on August 28.
Many more bids were submitted in the helmsman sale than at the first sale, and they came in quick succession. This resulted in an extra 18 rams finding homes.
In the breakdown, 31 of 52 May/June and July/August 2013-drop Merino and Poll Merinos sold to a wide geographical area from Kangaroo Island to western Vic, for a healthy $1077 average.
For the second year in a row, long-time Ashrose clients Terry and Shane Rivett, Avenue Range, paid the top price - this year it was $2500.
The lot 47 ram was a 19.1-micron, May 2013-drop with wool measurements of 3.4 standard deviation, 17.7 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.0pc comfort factor.
It was one of three to make $2000 or more.
Four buyers secured four rams each - Buick and Campbell, Kingscote; LK Millard & Co, Merino, Vic; Brett Staude, Mundulla; and Mark Del Fabro, Delro Pastoral, Alaman, Woolumbool. Delro added four more in private selections on sale day.
Only four catalogued rams were horned and they sold for $800 to $1150.
The Graetz family had been breeding rams for 25 years under their North Rhine prefix when they bought one of Australia's oldest Merino studs in early 2012.
It had been operated by Glenstrae Pastoral Company at Willalooka for five years before that.
Stud principal Tim Graetz was pleased with the buoyant mood of the sale. They are continuing to grow their clientele and have a good number of loyal buyers.
"We are really pleased with the impact we are having, striving to breed plain-bodied, free-growing rams with long white wool," he said.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 4, 2014 issue.
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
