It was a successful sale for the Murphy family on Monday despite the dry conditions in Queensland, with the Karbullah Poll Merino sale making a top price of $5300 to an average of $1340.
More than 30 buyers attended, with 140 rams selling through the Helmsman auction system run by AWN Livestock and a further 10 grade rams selling after the sale.
The top price ram was purchased by TJ & MJ Clarke, Warialda, NSW for $5300. It has a soft, white 18.5 micron fleece, with Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of 8.9 for growth, 1.9 for eye muscle, 0.8 for fat, -45 for wec and 15.4 for clean fleece weight, with the ASBVs for growth and eye muscle being in the top 10 per cent in the country.
The second top price ram went for $4000 to Rosedale Pastoral, Yelarbon, with 19 micron wool and ASBVs of 5.8 for growth, 1.7 for eye muscle, 1.1 for fat, -41 for wec and 8.4 for clean fleece weight, with the eye muscle and fat being in the top 10pc Australia wide.
Repeat buyers KR & DL Moon, Burren Junction, NSW purchased 16 rams to an average of $1000, along with LR, NC & DF Brown, who purchased 12 rams to an average of $966 and Wharparilla Pastoral Co, who bought nine, averaging $922.
Rosedale Pastoral, Rissman family, bought five rams averaging $3000 and Littleton Partnership, O’Sullivans, Dirranbandi, bought four rams to an average of $1900.
JT Agri-source consultant and Bred Well Fed Well advocate Dr Jason Trompf was the guest speaker for the day, giving a presentation on lamb survivability and ewe reproduction to a rapt audience prior to the sale, pressing the importance of fat and muscle in improving lamb survival rates in Merino sheep.
Karbullah Saltbush Meat products were on the menu for the day with donations for food raising $366 for Blue Care Goondiwindi.
