• Hazeldean Merinos Monaro Ram Sale 2011

Story courtesy BRETT TINDAL, The Land

 

The Annual Hazeldean Merino ram sale at Cooma was again the largest offering of Merino and Poll Merino rams at this year's Monaro ram sales week, with all 155 sellling to the top price for the week of $7500.


The Hazeldean sale always finishes the ram selling week on a positive note and this year was no different, with the 155 rams averaging $1716, up from $1296 last year.


Although a top sale, it was a sad day as long-time stud stock auctioneer Tony Dowe, Sydney, hung up his hat and gavel for the last time after a stellar career in the agency game. Mr. Dowe chose to hold his last sale at Hazeldean due to his 43 year association selling on-farm for the Litchfield family, and viewed it as a fitting end to a big chapter in his life.
Mr. Dowe said he stook over his first Hazeldean sheep at the old Goulburn ram sales 50 years ago, but had been selling for 43 years consecutively at the on-poperty sale.


Back to the real reason for the day and that was the ram sale, where return top price buyers from last year's sale Brett and Nick Tremain, Ferndale Partnership, Yeoval, bought the top-priced ram for $7500 and two others at $2600 and $3000 for the family partnership.


The top ram was a Stockman Jim son, ranked 18th in the contemporary group, with a 168.1 index and 1.5 for weight. The Tremains thought it had good figures with an equally as good, well-nourished staple and bright wool.  It will be used to breed rams for their operation.


Long-time client Buster Dawes, Yearling, Western Australia, paid $3000 apiece for two stylish rams with good productive wool and growth rates, while Curwin Maclure Dunedin Tarcutta led the charge at the top end buying eight rams including three at $3000, to average $2350.


Bulk orders were the theme of the day with 24 of the 32 buyers taking three or more rams home and 12 of these taking home more than five.
TonyTony Hill, "Springvale" Cootmundra, again put a solid floor in the market, buying 23 rams to a $2600 top to average $1843, while starting  the bidding on a large portion of the rams.


Chris Komor, "Willowbend", Boorowa, bought 13 rams for his merino operation, paying no higher than $1600 and averagin $1277, while John Cottle, "Shirley", Nimmitabel, again targeted good rams and averaged $1350 for eight.
Robert Gordon, "BIrkenburn", Bungendore, followed suit buying nine rams averaging $1067, while Dean

Smith, "Glenburn" Tarcutta, picked the eyes out of the sale securing six to $2800, averagin $2233, and David Glasson, "Jimenbuen", Dalgety bought three rams averaging $2267.

 

  • Hazeldean Merinos Riverina Ram Sale 2011

Story courtesy BRETT TINDAL, The Land


Poll Merinos continue to attract strong competition across the State as producers capitalize on the better genetics and more consistent types available.
The annual Hazeldean Merinos Riverina ram draft at “Rosevale” Hay last Thursday was no different with the polls drawing the most competition and topping the sale at $4200, as 94  merino and Poll Merino rams collectively averaged $1600, up from $1270 last year.
In the breakdown, the Merino rams topped at $3200 and averaged $1506, while the poll draft offered sold to the sale top of $4200, averaging $1780.


The top two poll rams were bought by David and Erica Shorter, “Boola”, Burren Junction, who purchased five polls in total, averaging $2640
Mr. Shorter said they wanted poll rams that could produce wether lambs which hit market weights earlier, with good wool.
The top ram was an 18.5 micron Stockman Jim son, with outstanding wool cut and micron, ranked number six in the entire Hazeldean lamb drop, indexing 171.3; 5.3 above the yearling weight average.


Coniston Pastoral Company, Ballyrogan, Victoria, set a strong pace from the start, securing seven stylish rams to $2600 and averaging $2286, while D. Chisholm and Sons, “Fernside” Seymour landed four at $1600.
D.E. and A Gibson, Rowsley, bought the top horned ram for $3200 in a draft of eight which included several polls, averaging $2175.
The top horned ram measured 16.61 micron, with a 2.51 micron standard deviation, 15.06 percent coefficient of variation and +1.7 for yearling weight.
Craig Wilson, Bluechip Livestock, Wagga, bought 12 rams for various clients, averaging $1383, while James Larritt,  “Woodstock”, Cooma, bought seven for $1357.
Warrigal Creek nominees, “Warrigal Creek”, Darriman, purchased 10 rams at $1450 chasing soft white wools on good testing rams, while P and G Hare, Cohuna, Vic, secured 10 at $1080.
Rounding out the sale, Robertan Pastoral, “North Woodlands”, Navarre, Vic, averaged $1425 for eight, and A. B. Eckert and Sons, Strathalbyn, South Australia, bought five at $1640.