Eastern Riverina Poll Merinos top $5750 in Culcairn, NSW
The stellar season overshadowed concerns about the wool market downturn at the multi-vendor Eastern Riverina Poll Merino ram sale in Culcairn, NSW.
DEMAND for Merino’s was strong despite the wool market downturn at a multi-vendor sale in Culcairn, NSW last week — surprising vendors and agents alike.
The Eastern Riverina Poll Merino ram sale offered 115 rams, selling 103 rams for a top of $5750 to average $2284.
Nutrien Ag Solutions district wool manager for Southern Riverina David Johnson said amid concern for the wool market the sale was one of the most successful they’ve had.
“We are up $500 on last year’s average and we cleared over 100 rams which is as good as ever,” Mr Johnson said.
“Considering all things sheep and wool at the moment with this downturn in recent months, especially for wool, it was surprising and relieving to see the market as good as it was.”
Meadow View Poll Merino saw the most success on the day offering 44 Poll Merinos and selling 41 for the sale top of $5750 and greatest average of $2506.
The top-priced ram was Meadow View-bred with dual purpose attributes including fleece measurements of 20.3 micron, with standard deviation 3 and coefficient of variation 14.8.
He sold to Mark Dye from Corowa who purchased a total of six rams for average of $3667.
Meadow View stud owner Simon Bahr said he noticed the buyers favoured rams with better carcasses.
“People were chasing the bigger rams with plainer skins but still with a good wool cut. Most Poll Merinos are bred more to a dual-purpose role now; we’re chasing carcass attribute as much as we are the wool side of things now,” Mr Bahr said.
With the region recording 470mm so far this year Mr Bahr said the season is having the biggest impact on the market after several years of drought.
“We had record sheep and wool prices this time last year but the fact that the season was in decline at that point in September, so people were wary of buying rams going forward,” he said.
“People are looking at the big picture. We want to be in the position that we’ve got a good article and the numbers there when the wool market returns.”
Old Cobran Poll Merino offered 25 and sold 20 to top of $3750 to average $1662 while Valley Vista Poll Merinos sold 35 rams to full clearance for a top of $5250 and average of $2386.
Hurlstone Park Poll Merino similarly sold to full clearance with seven rams averaging $2321 and topping $4250.
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