An extra 33 rams sold at Bella Lana Merino Ram Sale last month
“I am very pleased with the results from our recent ram sale especially with the clearence and the number of grades sold after auction”, Stud Principal, Scott Brien said.
BELLA Lana Merinos reached a top price of $2600 at their annual on-property sale at Dripstone via Wellington last week.
Principals Scott and Anna Brien offered 62 rams and 61 sold to average a solid $1350 and a further 33 grades.
This was slightly back on last year’s average of $1348, with an extra eight rams sold, demonstrating good value for quality rams.
Buyers came from across the state.
The top price of $2600 was hit twice in the first three lots offered.
T. and C. Glover, “Clearview”, Coolac, paid the equal top-price for the first ram to go under the hammer.
It had a fibre diametre of 19.3 micron, with a standard deviation (SD) of 2.8-micron, coefficient of variation (CV) of 14.5 per cent and 99.6pc comfort factor (CF).
The ram was the single purchase at the sale by the Glovers.
Return buyers Warren and Mavis Leeson, “Anglewood”, Dunedoo, followed closely behind, picking up lot 3 for the $2600 equal top-price.
Their top selection was one of three rams they purchased in the first 10 lots to average $2133.
The ram was growing a fleece with a 21.9 micron fibre diametre, 3-mircon SD, 13.4pc CV and 99.1pc CF.
The Leesons also paid $2200 for the second highest price ram, with a fleece of 20.8 micron, 3.3-micron SD, 16.2pc CV and 99.2pc CF.
All three of the top rams were by sire 788-410.
Top-priced buyers from the 2014 Bella Lana offering, Dugald and Lachlan Campbell, “Burrandong”, Dripstone, and “Bonada”, Mumbil, returned to be one of the volume buyers this year. Putting a solid floor in the market, the Campbells took 16 rams to a top price of $1400, averaging $1338.
This was nine more rams than they selected last year, at a slightly lower average price.
Marrawarra Parnership, “Glenhurst”, Nyngan, and Wargandinna Partnership, “Wargandinna”, Burren Junction, both took four rams home, averaging $1550 and $1450 respectively.
Local buyers Fraddon Hills, “Hills Head”, Wellington, paid to a top of $1800 for their five lots, averaging $1100.
Clarke and Thompson, “Mehruda”, Bakerswamp, operated at the top end, paying to $2000 and averaging $1700 for their two rams, while K. and B. Rawling, “Charleville”, Merrygoen, averaged $1333 for the three they loaded.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Dubbo.