Pooginook Merino and Poll Merino stud sold all 300 rams offered for a $3367 average, $8500 top and $1,010,000 gross on Tuesday, their best sale results and biggest on-property auction to date.
In the breakdown the Jerilderie stud sold 230 Poll Merino rams to a $3404 average and $8500 top and 70 Merino rams for a $3243 average and $5500 top.
Pooginook principal John Sutherland said they were thrilled with the overall result, thanking both repeat and new buyers.
"I was very pleased with the consistent prices throughout the sale, and had positive feedback from clients that they were able to buy rams to their budget and there was plenty to select from," Mr Sutherland said.
"We've also had a busy time in the flock yards filling orders."
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The large majority of the draft sold for between $2000 and $4000, prices remaining consistent through the mammoth catalogue with commercial long-term volume buyers underpinning the result.
It was Western Australian clients Narelle and Ian Knapp, Craigmore Pastoral Company, Katanning who purchased the top priced ram, Pooginook 201446, for $8500.
The Poll ram was by Pooginook 180458 and stood out for his balance of figures.
"I think he's got a real balance of growth, carcase, wool production and high number of lambs weaned," Mr Sutherland said.
"It's quite rare to see a ram at the top end of ASBVs for all of those traits, he's a bit of a star.
"You want an athlete that can come second or third in every race...not just win the 100m sprint."
He was in the top five per cent of the industry for growth, with a post weaning weight value of 10.6, yearling weight of 14.3 and adult weight 13.
Several traits were in the top 20pc - yearling fat value of +0.9 and yearling eye muscle depth of +1.5; as was his breech score (-0.8) and wool production (YCFW of 28). His Number of Lambs Weaned (+10%) was also in the top 20pc.
This resulted in a dual purpose index of 195 (top 10pc).
Purchaser, Narelle Knapp, Craigmore Pastoral, said they had been buying from Pooginook for generations, at close to 60 years.
"We've done really well with the bloodline, that ram seemed to have an uncomplicated body structure with high growth rates, good figures and crisp white, well-nourished wool," Ms Knapp said.
"He also had a good staple length, which we need because we're six month shearing," Ms Knapp said, noting they bred their own rams for themselves and commercial producers.
"Poogi, the whole team, did an awesome job this year, in difficult circumstances."
Craigmore Pastoral Company bought a second ram at auction for $6000.
The top priced horned Merino, Pooginook 207628, sold for $5500 to AE and PJ Inder, Nyrang, Wellington.
He was by Pooginook 174094 and had a YCFW of 31.6 (top five per cent), staple length value of 16.6 (top 20pc) and growth values, including YWT of (top 20pc).
"There was a lot of strength in the horn sale," Mr Sutherland said.
"The top priced ram was a well regarded sheep here, he again displayed good growth and wool production, with white, crimpy wool, with good spring of rib."
He was one of three the Inder family bought for an average of $4667.
There were two rams who sold for the second-highest price of $7000 to Greenvalley Props, Eurongilly.
Volume buyers included AJ and DM Cook, Glenidol, Tottenham, who bought 16 for an average $3656.
Tony Cook said he had been buying from Pooginook for more than 20 years for their self-replacing Merino flock.
"We're looking for well-grown rams, the wool's got to be a good quality-type," Mr Cook said.
"We like buying Pooginook because they have a really good constitution, do well on our country and are good promoters of wool and meat, for when we sell our wether lambs."
WK Langley and Co, Midgeon Park, Narrandera bought 14 for an average of $3893 and Western Australian buyers JH Nazzari and Co, Tambellup also took home 14 sires for an average of $2750.
Overton Pastoral Company, Goonambil, Corowa bought nine rams in the sale for $3333 average and picked out 21 flock rams.
Rams went all over Australia, including a strong contingent of 46 rams headed to Western Australia with six long-term clients.
AuctionsPlus was a crucial component of the sale and there were 130 registered bidders on the online platform, who competed on nearly every lot offered.
"Given the border restrictions impacting people's ability to attend the sale, AuctionsPlus with our videos and photos of the wool and rams, and full suite of ASBVs, played a key role in maximising competition and allowing our clients to select their rams," Mr Sutherland said.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien, Finley and Elders, Deniliquin with Nick Gray (Elders) and Rick Power (Nutrien) taking the bids.
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