Yalgoo Merinos to $11,000 with 106 rams averaging $3405

Overall, 106 rams sold at auction for an average of $3405, with seven passed in. After the auction there were further sales.

The top-priced ram, sold for $11,000, was bought specifically for its capacity to improve fleece weight in a flock of 16-micron sheep and was described by one of the parties involved with the purchase as being phenotypically excellent.

Sean Duggan, Laurels Pastoral Company, Woodstock, said the ram will join a nucleus breeding flock on the property Eupon Downs at Hovells Creek, near Cowra.

"We're happy with the micron; it's the fleece weight that is our primary attention," Mr Duggan said.

Laurels Pastoral Company bought six rams in total to average $5416.

The volume buyer of the day was Grampians Farm, Cavendish, Vic, with their agent Dale Bruns, AWN Dunkeld, making the selections.

They bought 25 rams to a top of $4250 and an average of $2538.

Mr Bruns said the rams were for establishing a Merino flock on a newly purchased property that had run composite sheep in the past.

"We were after a number of rams with the micron and wool type that suited what we were going to do with our flock," he said.

"We're aiming to keep the flock a 15-micron, and we'll be running nearly 20,000 sheep."

John Coughlan, Cudal Park, Cudal, near Orange, purchased the second top-priced ram, a Poll Merino at $9500, and another poll ram for $4500.

Alan and Janet Hall, Wisanger, SA, bought the third top-priced ram for $9000 and another ram for $4500.

Yaccaboon Pastoral, Tatyoon Road, Langi Logan, Vic, paid $6000 for a Poll Merino ram.

A repeat buyer for more than a decade was the Rummery family, Wandjina Pastoral, Bendemeer, near Tamworth, who purchased six rams to a top of $7000 to average $4750.

Rachel Rummery said the Yalgoo genetics had been doing "an extremely good job consistently, year in, year out" in their flock.

"We've got access to ASBVs (Australian Sheep Breeding Values), which helps us select for genetic gains," she said.

"We're prepared to pay for those good genetics. That's where we make the money."

Tom Rummery said the country they run their flock on is "skeletal granite soils".

"So we're looking for a more moderate sheep in our 16-micron flock," he said.

There were two repeat volume buyers from the pastoral regions of western Queensland.

Grant and Susie Laidler, Kappa Ki, Longreach, Qld, bought seven rams with Elders Walcha's Tom Henry acting for them. Their top selection sold for $7000 to average $4750.

Mr Henry said the Laidlers were looking for rams with the constitution to handle the distances to water and grazing conditions of the pastoral country around Longreach.

"The Yalgoo rams give them lambs with good weaning and yearling weights, and their lambs are quick to get up and going," he said.

PF and K Tomas, Beaconsfield, Ilfracombe, Qld, bought 10 rams to $5500 and an average of $2900.

Another volume buyer from Dunkeld, Vic, was Wandobah Pastoral, with six rams to $3000 and an average of $1166.

The Swales Partnership, Torryburn, bought six rams to $4000 twice, to average $2750, while Alesya and Michael Frost, Clifton, Thalgarrah, near Armidale, bought four rams to $4000, to average $3375.

The selling agents were Elders Walcha and Adcock Partners, with Lincoln McKinlay as the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.