Terrick West ram sale: Success despite Covid-19
The first spring ram sale of the 2021 has been held, in Victoria. See the results from the Terrick West Poll Merino sale here.
Rams sold to a top of $5250 at auction and $20,000 privately at the Terrick West Poll Merino ram sale at Prairie yesterday.
After having to postpone the sale a week due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the McGauchie family were “very happy” with the results.
Overall, 75 rams sold from the 81 offered, for a 92 per cent clearance and an average of $2890 — an increase of $495 on last year. Last year they sold 76 of 80 rams to average $2395.
The $5250 ram, Terrick West 200067, sold to Almondvale, Urana, NSW. The ram, which was sired by Wallaloo Park 60, weighed 119.5kg and had a micron of 21.5. He had an eye muscle depth of 44mm and fat depth of 9.5mm, as well as fleece figures of 99.5 per cent comfort factor, a standard deviation of 3 microns and 14 per cent coefficient of variation.
The second top was ram, Terrick West 20008, which sold to Grass Creek Merino stud, Boorowa, NSW, for $5000. He was also sired by Wallaloo Park 60, had a micron of 16.9, weighed 118kg and had a 3.1 micron standard deviation, 99.8 per cent comfort factor and 18.3 per cent coefficient of variation.
The ram, Terrick West 200091, or affectionately named, Kiwi, sold for $20,000 to Dale West of Kilcoolan Pastoral Company, Balmattum East.
Terrick West stud principal Ross McGauchie said was intended to be sold at the Adelaide Ram Sale next month, but due to border restrictions it was unlikely they would be able to make it.
“He is a pretty special ram and thought if we could have got more people to look at him, we may have got more, but that offer came through and it was pretty good,” he said.
Mr McGauchie said they would retain 100 per cent semen rights, so would have lambs by him.
Major buyers included the Cook family from Nhill who purchased six rams to a top of $4500 and M Ipsen from Cape Clear, who bought five rams to a top of $4750.
Mr McGauchie said the sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus for the first time due to Covid-19 restrictions and this attracted a buyer from Broken Hill for the first time, who purchased three rams.
“Overall the results were fantastic, we picked up two or three new clients and we were constantly nervous about Covid-19 but we are very happy with the result.”
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