Excellent result for 2021 Rocklyn Merino Stud On-Property Ram Sale

It was a near perfect day for the 2021 Rocklyn Merino Stud On-Property Ram Sale on Thursday 9th September, with a sunny, calm day topping off terrific seasonal conditions near Greenethorpe, where the Stud is situated.

Seventy July/August 2020 Drop Merino Rams were offered in the sale, which attracted 22 registered buyers. This included 6 new buyers as well as some dedicated return buyers, which set the scene for some competitive bidding resulting in a full clearance at an average price of $3,225.

The sale was conducted by Elders Young with Aaron Seaman doing the auctioneering. The line-up of mainly poll rams featured many rams with high dual-purpose characteristics. The average DP+ index was in the top 10% as was the YWT and YCFW, showing a great balance between wool and meat traits alongside being plain bodied and having high fertility.

The top price ram sold for $6,000 to Trevor Knight, bidding on behalf of HB & VJ Knight and Son from Grenfell. The ram, which was lot 10 in the sale was sired by one of Rocklyn’s own, Rocklyn Poll 180215, has excellent dual-purpose qualities and is a trait leader (top 5 %) for YCFW. With figures such as FD 17.9, SD 2.8, CF 99.7 and ASBVs of 33 for YCFW, 9.1 YWT and -0.63 EBWR and a DP+ index of 177, the Knights certainly chose well.

The Knights, who are long-term return buyers, picked up five new rams altogether for an average price of $5,200.

The second top-price of $5,750 was reached three times. HB & VJ Knight and Son from Grenfell purchased one of these rams, lot 14, which was sired by Poll Boonoke 160612. Another great dual-purpose ram with terrific wool figures including FD 17.5, SD 2.8, CF 99.75, a YWT of 9.4, YEMD 1.3, and DP+ 181.

The other two second-top price rams sold to long-term buyers, TH Cooper and Co. of Caragabal. The first of these two rams was lot 20, an Anderson Poll weighing 101kg that has outstanding dual purpose figures, in the top 1% for DP+ (208) and MP+ (201) and the top 5% for YCFW (35.0) and YWT (12.2). The second ram was lot 25, a horned ram sired by Rocklyn 180149, again with fantastic qualities, with figures of FD 18.4, SD 2.6, CF 99.75 and in the top 1% for YCFW (42.0), top 5% for MP+ (191) and top 10% for DP+ (183).

Volume buyers on the day included TH Cooper and Co. of Caragabal who purchased 11 rams for an average price of $4,523; McKellar Pastoral Co of Grenfell who took home 12 rams for an average of $2,688; and GH and A Robertson from Old Junee who averaged $1,688 for their pick of 8 new sires. Return buyers from Springfield, Grenfell, added another 4 Rocklyn sires to their flock for an average of $4,625. New buyers, Iandra Pastoral from Greenethorpe, were also pleased with the quality of the rams, purchasing 3 rams for an average of $5,250.

“This is certainly a good result for Rocklyn and is a reflection of the high-quality rams on offer here today and the work that Ralph puts in to them” commented Aaron Seaman of Elders, who has been the auctioneer for the past nine on-property ram sales at Rocklyn.

Stud Principal, Ralph Diprose said he was extremely pleased with the sale

“It has been one of our best on-property sales to date” Ralph said

“I wish all our buyers every success with the rams they have purchased and welcome feedback on the rams to continually improve the genetics to meet client needs” he added.

Ralph thanked buyers and underbidders for attending the sale and indicated that private, on-farm sales will commence on Monday the 20th September.