The current bumper commodity prices for wool and sheep meat is expected to see a spike in interest at this year’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show ram sale.
This year’s sale will be the first for the season’s circuit to test the impact of wool prices that have seen the Eastern Market Indicator jump above 2000 cents a kilogram.
Market commentators are confident that wool prices should remain buoyant given supply on the back of sheep numbers.
The 2017 ram sale was a resounding success, largely on the back of a change from a Monday sale to Sunday.
A top of $32,000 was achieved on three lots with another ram selling for $30,000 being a measure of the success of the move.
A well as the top price of $32,000, the 39 studs represented also enjoyed a lift of more than $2000 in the sale average to $5556 eclipsed the 2016 result of $3383.
The result was achieved with 108 rams offered (up from 97 in 2016) and 89 selling under the hammer (up from 77).
The sale is conducted by the Victorian Stud Merino Sheepbreeders Association and the Australian Sheep Breeders Association - organisers of the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo.
Landmark is the duty agent for 2018.
Landmark account manager stud stock, Andrew Sloan, said the offering coming forward for sale was expected to be similar to 2017 when 108 were offered.
“I think the signs are excellent, particularly in the stud area, with wool prices the way they are,” Mr Sloan said.
“Moving the sale from the Monday to the Sunday was a great success, enabling the Western Australian studs to get involved.
“The atmosphere was terrific with a lot more people about. The bigger crowd gets the sale going.
“It was the best atmosphere since the event was moved from Melbourne,” Mr Sloan said.
The sale would give stud breeders the opportunity to bid confidently on top stud sires in the knowledge that flock ram prices should also improve, he said.